This item caught my attention this evening while trolling the Rockler website for things “I wish I could have”.
It kinda seems like cheating, and though i’m still trying to master the hand-cut dovetail, this thing looks like it could be mighty handy! Does anyone here know anything about, or have any experience with this jig? I have been drooling over the video all night!
http://www.rockler.com/articles/display_article.cfm?story_id=60
~Malice
Replies
An overly complicated devise designed primarily to remove money from hobbyist woodworker’s wallets. There are so many things that are a far better use of ones resources.
I dunno, I read through the manual (pdf) and it doesn't seem too complicated at all, and even with ALL the bells and whistles you can get with it, it's still half the price of a high-end dovetail jig...
What other things are a "far better use of one's resources" for dovetails and box joints? I love using my resources wisely and would really like to know what else there is :)
I have a box joint blade set for my tablesaw, but have yet to get an accurate jig made to work with it LOL. And for dovetails, well, i'm still struggling to get those accurate by hand.
~Malice
You have to take Napie's assessment with a grain of salt. He thinks that any jig is one jig too many.
The Incra jig is probably worthwhile if you're doing work where a lot of little bits of wood have to be just the right size in order to fit together, such as with some kinds of inlay and geometric marquetry, segmented turnings, etc. For ordinary joints, it's likely to be overkill.
-Steve
Hear, Hear!!!!
Jig free and proud!
Hear, Hear!!!!
Jig free and proud!
LOL LOL I'd guess your are a expert!
Far from it, but when I screw up it is only me to blame! Not some store bought contraption.
Napie me man,
Do you cut many dovetails?
I have but one jig for DTs and it's the Prazi. What I like about it is its simplicity and ease of use and no limit as to the board sizes. It does involve the use of a router however. Perhaps the thing I like most is that it requires a user made template to space them!
But, my overall preferred method is handcut DTs. All the others, even the Prazi, look, well, made in China!
Jiggin on the dancefloor,Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
well, made in China! DANG BOB .. My Grandaughters were.. They are VERY special to me. We have no idea who the Mother was or no way to contact.. Both from different parts of China.. VERFY different parts of China.. We love them like our own and then some! They are beautiful and VERY smart children! I love them a bunch!
My Spice Girl is from Hunan? The other I forget but she must have been destain to be an acrobat!
Yes. Hand cut are my preferred method and are best when there are not a whole kitchens worth to do.
<!----><!----> <!---->
As to a DT jig, I own the Keller’s. Back when I was building a lot (400+) blanket chests they saved me. Most customers didn’t know or care about the spacing of the tails, but they liked the through DT’s. The Keller’s kick a** in a production situation.
The Incra jig is probably worthwhile if you're doing work where a lot of little bits of wood have to be just the right size in order to fit together, such as with some kinds of inlay and geometric marquetry, segmented turnings, etc. For ordinary joints, it's likely to be overkill.
Well that makes sense I guess. I will continue to keep an eye on it and keep practicing with what I have, i'm bound to get good at joints eventually! But if this thing works as well as they claim (and I know most things don't), it may be something to look at in the future if I end up with a need for higher quantity - quicker production. It looks like it could be efficient for mass producing small box pieces.
Thanks for the info.
~Malice
A propose built jig with no adjustments will be your best bet for production runs, it stays the same all the time. I will use home built jigs when they make sense.
And the Incra Miter 1000 or something like that.. I works great!
For production work you should make a jig that keeps the dimensions "fixed" all the time. Box/Finger joints are strong and decorative joints that can be easily made on either a table saw or router table without needing the master craftsman skills. It does take a bit of practice. If you are having a challenge with making this joint without the Incra, this jig will likely not be your answer. You have to move it an exact distance for every cut on each board. Then reset it to the exact location and repeat the adjustments for each cut. This introduces a propensity for error.Something like this:http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/SkillsAndTechniques/SkillsAndTechniquesPDF.aspx?id=2709The above jig can easily be adapted to dado blade or a router table. Or if you are looking for more adjustability, here is another. Check out the video that is online:http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/subscription/Workshop/WorkshopArticle.aspx?id=29166All that said, if you want to try the Incra, it is $63. You are not going to break the bank with this one and could probably get 1/2 your money back on eBay if you didn't like it.I'd suggest building your own first. My measuring stick these days is people like David Marks and sometimes Norm. The pros are building their own jigs. I have never seen one of these types of jigs on a pro's router table. The higher priced jigs, router gizmos, etc, even when they work well— are generally very overpriced. You can build even the more complicated jig for much less than $63.Experience the pleasure of building a tool and then using it to build your furniture.Greg••••••• Exo 35:30-35
Edited 5/20/2008 7:25 am by Cincinnati
Hey Greg,
Believe me when I say I have watched all the videos and read all the articles I could find here on FWW, many of them 3+ times. With the help of these I have successfully built all of the sleds for my TS, and the other night I built a keycut cradle for the TS, and put together my first box with keyed miters yay! I agree that building jigs grants a wonderful feeling of satisfaction!
The problem with fixed dimension jigs is I get orders for boxes of ALL sizes. I am still trying to work out the box joint jig, and i'm sure once I get it right I probably won't need anything else for quite some time. I don't even own a real router (I use my dremel with a plunge router attachment fixed under a crude shop-made wannabe router table LOL) but do plan to get one eventually now that I see just how versatile they can be... and the jig in question just seemed cool to consider getting when I get a router. But after thinking on it and reading the responses, I agree that i'd be better off mastering what I DO have, for now atleast, and that's a box joint blade set for my TS and a determination to master handcut dovetails :)
Thanks for all the responses!
~Malice
It seems you have a good handle on where you are going. The catalogs tempt many of us with cool gizmos and bobbles. Apply the $63 toward a good router — consider used if funds are tight. I recommend you standardize on a few things. For example, you get orders for different size boxes. If you are using finger joints, begin with a 1/4 or maybe 3/8 finger joint. Size the height of all your designs in these increments.(First thing I realized was that I needed a flat top blade to cut them cleanly.) Presently I prefer the router, probably because I was using a dado blade and disliked the tool change-over. But a single flat tipped blade on the TS, and nibbling out 1/4" slots using the pegged jig is very doable.With the income from your boxes, set some of it aside for new tool purchases (new to you not necessarily new out of the box). Just do enough research to learn how to avoid the junk - new junk and formerly owned junk!Greg
<!---->•••••••
Exo 35:30-35<!---->
I'd saw any 'JIG' that works for you! Is about as good as it gets.. I have a few!
41839.2 in reply to 41839.1
An overly complicated devise designed primarily to remove money from hobbyist woodworker’s wallets. There are so many things that are a far better use of ones resources.Napie.. What you like! And somebody else has another opinion! Your opinion counts.. HOWEVER If you can live with the adjustments hard to find something that can cut anything more accurate!
That is why they call them opinions, otherwise they would be “maybe’s”.
I DO NOT have one those.. However, I have ALOT of Incra stuff I have collected over time. Their stuff WORKS as advertised.. Period. My two-cents.
Another 'however' is... However, I rarely use it these days. Not sure why.. It is NOT because it does not work..
You can and do get very accurate cuts. It all boils down to the 'little plastic teeth' --Plastic.. NOT AS IN BAD--that does the positioning or increments.. I do however use all of their metal measuring devices very often.. Bit pricey but then AGAIN they work!
In my opinion cutting dovetails with one is sort of a PAIN in the you know what but they come out perfect. At least from my experience. I'd say for the price it you will either LOVE it or HATE it. OK, so like any other tool..
If you need to cut many thin strips of wood all the same size.. Can't be beat!
Malice,
I bought an Incra jig quite a while back, maybe 15 years ago. I have used it for half blind dovetails for drawer fronts and for box joints and it works fine. It stays on my router table as my primary fence and gets much use. Like most dovetail jigs (I suppose) the set up is sensitive to bit height for getting a tight joint and although I always approach it with some trepidation (because I don't do dovetails unless really necessary) they have always turned out fine.
For routing rabbets or groves it is great because I can go back and exactly duplicate a cut a little later if I need to (assuming that I haven't adjusted where the jig is attached to the table.
As was pointed out, it is not very much money and I have always thought it was a good jig to have around.
Malice,<!----><!----><!---->
<!----> <!---->
I own one of those (actually the newer metal version). It’s a well built, well designed router fence that makes very precise and reproducible cuts. <!----><!---->
<!----> <!---->
However, I only used it once to cut dovetails and found that it’s very, very slow. Each operation (pins/tails) requires you to stop the router, accurately reposition the fence and then make the cut. There’s a lot of opportunity for error and you must follow the templates precisely. The upside is that you can make almost any type of dovetail although it is an arduous process.<!----><!---->
<!----> <!---->
My recommendation is the Keller jig. It’s simple, accurate and although it is not as flexible as other jigs on the market, it does a really nice job.<!----><!---->
<!----> <!---->
Neil<!----><!---->
I bought one of these 10+ years ago at a woodworking show. I put it on my router table and left it. It has thousands of uses besides half-blind dovetails. It gets used on almost every project, if only for its fence.
About 5 years ago, I tried to replace it with a metal Incra jig, but I found the original was the best size.
I now cut my dovetails by hand, but I have not outgrown that simple jig, and doubt I ever will. I will be real surprised if anyone on this forum tells you they had one and removed it.
Regards,
Dan
I picked up an early Incra Jig at a garage sale (mostly aluminum with few plastic parts)for a steal. I was about as excited as you must have been watching the videos on the Rockler site.
After getting it home and looking at the master template set, I determined that this fence would be better used adapted to my drill press. The fine adjustability has served me well, along with the Incra right angle jig and stop blocks.
The many adjustments required to achieve the unusual joints that can be made with this jig on a router table seemed too overwhelming for me. The Keller Jig is my choice for dovetails made with a router. Admittedly, I can't make those fancy "corner-post" dovetails with it.... but I don't want to either!
This forum post is now archived. Commenting has been disabled