Warren White
04-01-2005, 12:42 AM
Well, thanks to a lot of helpful suggestions from you Creekers, I climbed back on the Leigh Dovetail jig horse and tried again. Success!! I found myself singing "I'm back in the saddle again..."
The secret (as suggested) was using something a bit more hefty than the 1/4" shank bit that chattered so much it loosened up.
It was suggested I buy a Leigh 8 mm collar, which I did. Ordered it one afternoon, and it arrived the next afternoon. I used 8 mm cutters, kept a close eye on the collet nut, dialed the speed down a bit, and carefully cut the pins and tails. Nary a problem to be seen. I would post pictures, but I have to glue, clamp and sand before I share this story with the world. The dovetails aren't the elegant ones that are cut by hand, but they are just fine for this application. All equally sized and equally spaced. I don't have much of a talent for the esoteric.
The case is made up of two pieces of cherry with a piece of curly maple in between, so the effect is seeing the light wood wrap around the box.
Now the next question: What is the preferred method of attaching cedar (my plan is to use a kit for closet flooring) to the plywood bottom? Are there any secrets to this particular part of the project you would care to share? Do I leave some room for expansion, or trim the pieces right to the inside dimension of the box? I don't think I want to run the cedar up the sides, but I am open to suggestions.
You folks were great to offer suggestions and keep me trying. I really am pleased I didn't give in to my first inclination and give up on the dovetails.
Thanks again,
Warren
The secret (as suggested) was using something a bit more hefty than the 1/4" shank bit that chattered so much it loosened up.
It was suggested I buy a Leigh 8 mm collar, which I did. Ordered it one afternoon, and it arrived the next afternoon. I used 8 mm cutters, kept a close eye on the collet nut, dialed the speed down a bit, and carefully cut the pins and tails. Nary a problem to be seen. I would post pictures, but I have to glue, clamp and sand before I share this story with the world. The dovetails aren't the elegant ones that are cut by hand, but they are just fine for this application. All equally sized and equally spaced. I don't have much of a talent for the esoteric.
The case is made up of two pieces of cherry with a piece of curly maple in between, so the effect is seeing the light wood wrap around the box.
Now the next question: What is the preferred method of attaching cedar (my plan is to use a kit for closet flooring) to the plywood bottom? Are there any secrets to this particular part of the project you would care to share? Do I leave some room for expansion, or trim the pieces right to the inside dimension of the box? I don't think I want to run the cedar up the sides, but I am open to suggestions.
You folks were great to offer suggestions and keep me trying. I really am pleased I didn't give in to my first inclination and give up on the dovetails.
Thanks again,
Warren