Porter Cable Dovetail with Long Stock
I’m new to more advanced word working and am going to try to get started with dovetail joints. I’m starting with some “tables” that will be for a model railroad. The design is more of a drawer than table to hold the scenery.
I picked up the Porter Cable jig, as I’m planning to use this skill throughout the future many times.
The challenge I’m trying to to figure out is that these “drawers” are 18×48”. The jig is designed to mount to a table and for a through dovetail hold the stock vertically towards the floor. This would need a 48” table to clear the floor with the stock, which I am not working with.
Has anyone had a similar situation and have any. Restive solutions? I’m trying to be very observant of router safety since I’m just building up my skill set.
My only thought presently is to work with the jig rotated 90 degrees, but I don’t have a good way to mount the jig. It seems that using the router at this angle may be awkward as well.
Thanks for any help.
Replies
put a few blocks on the bench till she's the right height
I built a box to elevate my dovetail jig for just such a dilemma. It's a simple four sided box built using plywood and dado joints. With the box clamped to my tall workbench, I can cut 4' long tail boards. I've never needed anything more than that, although I did build a dovetailed trundle bed that was closer to 7' long. However, the long boards were pin boards of HB dovetails, so vertical clearance wasn't an issue.
Just find a way to safely elevate your jig, and you should be fine.
Thank you both. I have the jig and all the accessories now and made a couple test Dovetails. I have a much better sense as to how this thing works and sounds like your recommendations of just raising it up some will work well now that I have seen it in action.
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