Dovetail question from a newbie

[Robert Mayer]

I bought a porter cable 4212 this week. I finally got it all set up and cut my first dovetail. Didnt do too bad either. I bought some cheap pine lumber to try out. I had two problems. I havent quite the hang of how to align it side to side, but I can figure that out. The dovetails are also too tight, but the that easy to fix by moving the template foward or back.

My question is why are my pins and tails too short? You can barely see it from the picture but you can definitely feel it when you rub a finger accross it. Its this a bit depth issue?

http://www.imagehostplus.com/v2/usr/158/fry_tank_7.1.05.jpg

[Bob Noles]

Robert,


Can't help you with your question, but wanted to comment on how great those look. My 4212 is due to arrive by tomorrow and I can hardly wait after seeing your pictures.

I'm sure one of these experts will be along shortly to answer your question for both of us :cool:

[Robert Mayer]

Robert,


Can't help you with your question, but wanted to comment on how great those look. My 4212 is due to arrive by tomorrow and I can hardly wait after seeing your pictures.

I'm sure one of these experts will be along shortly to answer your question for both of us :cool:

Just ignore the top left corner and it looks good, haha.

I returned some stuff to wood craft on a trade and got the jig from them, even though they were like $15 more expensive than everyone else. But nothing beats instant gratification.

[Thomas Becknell]

hi robert,

i don't know much about this but i think you have to set the bit to cut a little deeper than the material you are using.:rolleyes:

[John Lucas]

Tom is right. Use your mating board to mark the depth that you need on the bd you are about to cut. If all the boards are the same, then set scratch awl to that and lower bit to that mark and a skosh more. The skosh more will give you slightly proud tails and pins that can be sanded super smooth.
http://www.woodshopdemos.com/dts-ro24.jpg
It is not the same jig but they work the same way.
Here is "Dovetail JIg Shootout" page.

[Robert Mayer]

So the bit height should be just slightly more than the thickness of the board?

[Mike Weaver]

So the bit height should be just slightly more than the thickness of the board?

Yes.
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-Mike

[Keith Hooks]

Robert, nice job! Grats on the new dovetail jig and even more on getting such nice results so quickly. Just a minor tweak to the bit height and you're all set.