Replies

1. 
   Jellyrug | Feb 16, 2005 04:25am | #1

   You can buy Shopfox, directly from Grizzly.

   I have one and it works fine, no complaints.

    

2. 
   sedna | Feb 16, 2005 07:03am | #2

   I assume you read the reviews in Feb. 2005 Fine Woodworking. Based on that article I went shopping. The local House of Tools had a General in stock. When trying to demonstrate it, they could not make it work. The salesman and I finally dismantled it and he offered to sell it to me at cost. I turned that down as, although I could have fixed it, why bother. I then ordered a Delta 34-184 from Timberline Woodworkers supply. It came promptly and was ready to go after cleaning up the preserving goo it was shipped with. I touched up a few spots with a file and lapped the base to make it slide a bit smoother. I have never had another to compare it with, but it seems well made and the course adjustment is much, much better than the General, just push a button and slide it. I filed the pointer so that it actualy can register on the scale provided, it was so thick as to make measuring a joke.

   Actually when you look at them they are all very similar so it gets down to manufacturing, machining and minor details. I am happy with it and see no reason to doubt the rating in Fine Woodworking.
   Keith

1. 
   Manchild | Feb 16, 2005 07:47am | #3

   I'm not sure if i got that FWW. Which # was that? The Shopfox looks different than the Delta and others like it. Was the shopfox in the comparison?

1. 
   highfigh | Feb 16, 2005 08:22am | #4

   I saw the review, too. Most of them are the same, just like the bigger tools and machines. Just a matter of how well they're finished. I went to Woodcraft and Rockler to compare them, then bought the one from Woodcraft for $59.95 because it was the same as the others. When I played with theirs, it fit the slots better, seemed to be at least as well finished as the more expensive ones and everything fit better in all positions compared with the Rockler. I couldn't see any reason to spend more and get the same or worse. Cleaned it up and assembled it in about 15 minutes. The first tenons I cut were in some hard maple and they came out really well. I expect to give it a good workout when I make my kitchen cabinet doors soon. One thing I noticed about some of the different jigs is the position of the handles. Some have one horizontal and one vertical, some have both horizontal and some, both vertical. Something for each to test, I guess.
   "I cut this piece four times and it's still too short."

1. 
   Manchild | Feb 18, 2005 07:27am | #7

   If you look at the pic i posted they aren't all the same. The shopfox looks like it has a much bigger side plate and bottom plate.

   I've never seen one up close and personal like but from the pic it looks alot different.

   I think if you had a long board you were putting a tennon on it would be helpfull to have a bigger base.

   My point is they do have differences. I live in the middle of nowhere so i can't go see them very easily. I wish i had them lined up in front of me.

1. 
   highfigh | Feb 18, 2005 07:38am | #8

   Where did you post a picture of them?If you haven't actually put your hands on a tenoning jig, you may want to before you buy one(if you haven't already) since the handle placement varies by maker. None of them is particularly light, so a longer board won't make it too unstable unless it's a large one. I honestly don't think you'll have any problems with whatever you buy unless it happens to be loose in the slot and resting above the table surface, like some of the ones I checked out.
   "I cut this piece four times and it's still too short."

   Edited 2/17/2005 11:40 pm ET by highfigh

2. 
   Manchild | Feb 18, 2005 08:04am | #9

   Here it isView Image

2. 
   sedna | Feb 16, 2005 07:38pm | #5

   That is in the current issue. Feb. 2005 # 175.
   Keith

3. 
   TonLoc | Feb 16, 2005 11:01pm | #6

   I bought the general from tools-plus .com It works great. It's a tank. It was to replace a very old delta that was stolen. The delat weighed about 35 pounds. They don't make them any more but the General, even though lighter, works nearly as well.

4. 
   Eric | Feb 18, 2005 10:10pm | #10

   Dave,

    

   I spent almost $100 on the Delta several years ago and all it does not is collect dust in my shop. 

   Personally, I think that there are two many easier ways to cut a tenon than with a t-jig, so unless you are cuting angled tenons or something clever, I'd save your money.

   Frankly I can't recommend one better than the Delta, because after my expereice with it I pretty much went back to using my dato blade.

   Best of luck.

   Eric

1. 
   Jellyrug | Feb 19, 2005 12:15am | #13

   Eric,

   It all depends on the accuracy.

   On a table saw, the tenon jig really works well after initial set up.

   If you want a perfect fit, repeatable, it's not easy to do with a dado, as the slightest variation in your board thickness, or the slightest amount of twist or cupping, will affect the thickness of your tenon, unlike a tenon jig where you cut off the same face as your reference.

5. 
   bakesale1 | Feb 18, 2005 10:48pm | #11

   Vega also makes, or used to make, a jig that people don;t mention much.  check it out.  It has a nice feature that allows you to set a stop for both cheeks so that you can cut without unclamping the wood. 

    

6. 
   DonC | Feb 18, 2005 10:50pm | #12

   I made one same as Frank Klaus.(Contributor to Fine Woodworking) It works great and was free. His jig is in a back issue of Finewoodworking. The index should steer you there.

7. 
   BG | Feb 19, 2005 03:04pm | #14

   David,

   The jig in the picture you posted looks like the Shop Fox Right Angle jig that's been modified to accomodate tenons by adding clamps...don't know for sure. On the Grizzly sight they have that jig holding stock to a shaper bit. If it is the same, it's considerably more expensive than other tenon jigs.

   However, the picture does point up, perhaps, an important design aspect for your consideration.  My General tenon jig allows me to flip it so I can operate it from either miter slot. It also allows me to remove all hold down parts from the jig face, thereby allowing larger stock to be held to the face with supplemental clamps (like the picture).  I use this setup recently to cut raised panels on the TS...and after looking at the picture...I'll see how the jig can be used on my router table too.

     

    

    

8. 
   sedna | Feb 20, 2005 02:32am | #15

   Those who looked up the tenon jigs in issue FW 174 will know this, but for those who did not see it, there are two Delta models the 34-183 and the new 34-184. The 184 is the one I bought and is the one recomended in the article. Our local tool supplier told me a couple of days ago that the 183 is discontinued. Discontinued by Delta or by his organisation I am not sure. There have been some comments about the guide bar fitting the slot. There are three set screws in the slider bar so that you can adjust it as tight as you want. I like the coarse adjustment which operates by pushing a spring loaded button to disengage a split nut on the screw, then just push it. Turn the fine adjustment knob to where you want to be and tighten the locking knob.

   What would I like changed - the lock knob is hard to undo if you really tighten it. A lever would be better. The fine adjustment could have a finer screw and the pointer and scale could be improved. Still, I don't think the others are any better.
   Keith

1. 
   Ribeye | Feb 22, 2005 09:58am | #16

   The Tenoning Jig available through Woodcraft ( http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx?familyid=4847 ) is a dead-ringer for the Delta 34-183 Tenoning Jig. It just costs a lot less.

   The Woodcraft version is presently on sale for $69.95 and is a "good deal" for the price. I've been quite pleased with mine.-- Steve

   Enjoy life & do well by it;

   it might well be the only chance you get.

   http://www.ApacheTrail.com/ww/

9. 
   VomSorb | Feb 23, 2005 12:17am | #17

   Inca made the best one I ever used.