I just bought the Porter Cable 2412 Dovetail jig to do blind dovetails for a bunch of drawers for a vanity. I’m sure I am missing something simple, but have now given p and am relying on your help. Here’s the problem: the drawer back is 1/2″ short so that I can put bottom mounted slides on. When I cut the dovetails for the left side – no problem, the top of both pieces are up against the gauge (set after I center the drawer side) at the correct placement (i.e., the top edge of the drawer bottom is over to the left past the top edge of the drawer side. This results in the top of both pieces being even. Problem is that when I go to do the other side of the back by flipping the piece around, the top of both pieces is now not against the gauge – i.e., the bottom ob both pieces are against the gauge. This doesn’t work because the bottom of the back is not flush with the bottom of the right side. Any ideas? I have tried taking a block equal to the 1/2″ difference and putting it against the gauge and the back and between the gauge and the bottom. Didn’t work.
I am also going to try posting this on the ask the experts forum. Thanks in advance for any advice
Edited 9/14/2008 8:00 pm ET by cohnaudio
Replies
Try doing the dovetails before cutting the back to the narrower width.
Keep the pieces in the proper order. I mark the corners A,B,C,D. I cut each corner, pins & tails, at the same time. Don't cut the back down until you cut the dovetails. I find that if I follow these steps the dovetails come out every time. I'm using an Omnijig, but I would think these steps hold for all jigs.
First, you've already gotten good advice i.e. slice the bottom off last. However, you really don't need stops. They are there to make the work go faster. Study the offset on the working side and apply that to the side you're having trouble with and the relationship of fixed cut width & finger spacing should become clear. In fact, I often cut DT's in the center of the jig if I'm just making just 1. Remembering that everything will be cut except what's directly under the fingers helps visualize the result.
Anyway, good luck
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