Question for Keller dovetail jig users

[J. Z. Guest]

I have the imitation Keller jig put out by MLCS Woodworking.

I like it, except for one thing. Tear out.

Since the jig is mounted to a board to work, the first time you route dovetails, your workpiece is backed up. Every time after that, it is not, and it causes splintering and tear-out.

How do you Keller fans get around this?

So far, I've only done Ash & Red Oak with it. I know those are splintery woods, but I should be able to do it on any wood.

[Jamie Buxton]

If the thickness of your drawer sides is always the same, the indentations in the backer board fit the holes you're cutting in the workpieces, so there's no tearout. As it happens, I pretty much always use Tandem slides, which like 5/8"-thick drawer sides, so that's what my dovetail jig has indentations for. I also occasionally use it for other thicknesses, and I don't see horrible tearout, but my definition of horrible and yours may be different.