Dovetail Jigs

[George Bokros]

I want to get a dovetail jig and would like your input on which one to get. i believe I want one that will do through dovetails, half blind dovetails and sliding dovetails.

Hit me with your reccommendations and the pros and cons of each one as you see them.

Thanks


George

[Ray Scheller]

You'll find that there are many excellent jigs on the market and as many advocates for each. This topic has been breached numerous times on this site so my recommendation is do a search for dovetail jigs and you'll find many threads with lots of information on the different jigs and their pros/cons.

[Bruce Wrenn]

The PC 4212 meets all you criteria.

[Ray Newman]

How much do you want to spend?? No use recommending something that is above your limit.

Now having said that, I am aprtial to the Keller and the Leigh. Again, they maybe more than you want to spend.

[frank shic]

you'd be surprised how easy dovetailing is by hand if you watch frank klausz's dvd and practice a few times :)

[Van Huskey]

In general DT jigs are love and hate, most people love theirs and hate the rest. In the end I would be happy with the PC 24" Omnijig or Leigh D4R pro but they are at the upper end of the price range.

[Cary Falk]

I have the Porter Cable 4212 and I am very happy with it. It will do everything you listed and more. I think it is the minimun jig I would go with.

[David Kumm]

How many drawers do you make? If you plan to do a lot even the jigs are less than perfect. I gave up and found a used Omec 650M- similar to a Dodds SE1 with pneumatic clamps and would sell the dog before I let it go. Dave

[frank shic]

How many drawers do you make? If you plan to do a lot even the jigs are less than perfect. I gave up and found a used Omec 650M- similar to a Dodds SE1 with pneumatic clamps and would sell the dog before I let it go. Dave

alright, that got me drooling:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ywp7UJthB4

i'll still stick to a hammer and chisel though ;)

[Todd Brewer]

alright, that got me drooling:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ywp7UJthB4

i'll still stick to a hammer and chisel though ;)

You're kidding me? It takes an operator? :D

[Roy Harding]

I like my Leigh D4R Pro - but it is pricey.

That said - as someone else pointed out, hand cut is fast and easy for through dovetails. I make a LOT of dovetailed boxes for sale online and the local farmer's market. If I have only one or two to do, I hand cut. When I have more than that to do, I set up the jig.

[Bill White]

Porter-Cable. Price/value is good.
Bill

[Prashun Patel]

I did research on this a year or two ago. My conclusions:

Frequent use and > $500 to spend: Leigh D4R
Frequent use and < $500 to spend: Porter Cable
Infrequent, budget use: Plate style jig that you mount onto a block and use yr own clamps/supports for (e.g. MLCS)

I have the MLCS. It works just fine. It's not fast, dc friendly or as flexible as the other jigs.

[Troy Turner]

George -

As others have said, there's a broad spectrum out there.....frequency and budget will be a good start in what you're needing. If you need a one-time use for a quick drawer, run down to harbor freight ;) If you need dead on accuracy (not saying other aren't) where you can adjust the fingers, then you're going to pay for it.

I'm a hobbyist and just got a Porter Cable 4212. Spent an afternoon reading the book and playing around and came up with these.
http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?185209-Pulled-the-trigger-on-a-PC-4212-w-gloat&highlight=

You can't adjust the fingers, but I knew that when I bought it. All the DT are equally spaced apart. It is a solid jig and I'm really happy I added it to my shop.