which box joint jig to buy Rockler or Woodsmith

[tom coleman]

I am going to buy a box joint jig this week to be used on my router table for small gift boxes. Looks like Rockler and Woodsmith have the best offerings. Any strong feeling for one or the other. I will also purchase up spiral router bits for this project. I'm looking at MLCS router bits, is this a good choice?

[Ray Newman]

Can you wait about a month or so?

See below for a revolutionary box joint jig from INCRA:
http://www.woodworkslive.com/index.php/topic,11570.0.html

And
http://www.woodworkslive.com/index.php/topic,11625.0.html

[Bill Trouard]

I have the Rockler and MLCS carbide 3 piece bit set, it seems to work fine. the plastic fence does flex a bit if your not careful

[John Fabre]

Can you wait about a month or so?

See below for a revolutionary box joint jig from INCRA:
http://www.woodworkslive.com/index.php/topic,11570.0.html

And
http://www.woodworkslive.com/index.php/topic,11625.0.html

Ray, do have a picture, the link wants a log in.

[Bill Huber]

Here are two threads on the Rockler one, now at $60 which is not a bad price.
I get most of my router bits from Eagle America,not the Price Chopper ones, the bit are very good and the price are as good as any.


http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthre...ight=box+joint

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthre...ight=box+joint

[Dan Bowman]

A different link to the new Incra box joint jig: http://www.woodmagazine.com/woodwork...f=wd200&page=4

[John TenEyck]

Why spend money on a box joint jig that you can easily make yourself for almost nothing and less than a half hour of your time, that is customized to the job and will work just as well (or better))? Makes no sense to me.

[Richard McComas]

Why spend money on a box joint jig that you can easily make yourself for almost nothing and less than a half hour of your time, that is customized to the job and will work just as well (or better))? Makes no sense to me.

May I see a picture of the one you made?

[Alan Schaffter]

Tom, tomorrow, I will make a separate post about the new INCRA jig mentioned in the links in Ray's post and at Dan's link to Wood Magazine's web site (Wood selected the jig for one of their "Innov-8" awards)

It won't be out until January but I think it is well worth waiting for. It uses a mechanism totally different from any previous jig, that is incredibly easy to set, no calipers needed, works on both router table and tablesaw and is continuously variable- no need for templates, will make any size joint with tiny 1/8" up to robust 3/4" fingers and a few special finger joints as well.

[Bob Wingard]

As usual, INCRA stuff looks to be exceptionally well built ... BUT ... way too pricey for what it does. The plans for the WOODSMITH one look very similar in function to the INCRA, just not as elegant ... and no where near the $$$$$. I built two of them yesterday, and the total cost was under $20.

[Carroll Courtney]

This what I have which is for sale,at the Wood Working Show it was very impressive.Will do more than just box joints.I lost interest in making jewelry boxes and never use it.
http://www.ptreeusa.com/multi_jjoint.htm

[Alan Schaffter]

As usual, INCRA stuff looks to be exceptionally well built ... BUT ... way too pricey for what it does. The plans for the WOODSMITH one look very similar in function to the INCRA, just not as elegant ... and no where near the $$$$$. I built two of them yesterday, and the total cost was under $20.

Once you look at all the features and how the INCRA works, I think you'll see the DIY or retail Woodsmith jigs just don't measure up in any category; once you use it, you'll be convinced. About the only "similarity" is they both have a fence and at least one knob. The biggest difference is the INCRA "Positioning Engine." You turn two knobs and need calipers to adjust the finger size on the Woodsmith jig, the INCRA uses one knob to set precise finger sizes and you don't need calipers or other measuring devices to do it. The retail WS jig MUST be mounted to your miter gauge- the INCRA is self-standing with its own precision, adjustable miter bar (so it will fit any TS or router table). The WS fence uses a special backer strip only available from them- you can make your own, inexpensive replacements for the INCRA. The INCRA comes with guards- none supplied or available with the WS. At one time or another, I've built most of the DIY jigs out there- Woodsmith/Shopnotes, Wood, Lynns jig, jigs with multiple replacement pin fences, etc. They all have one or more issues not present with the INCRA jig. There is just no comparison.

[Steven Wayne]

Great! I want one... now

[Phil Thien]

I made one that attaches to my router lift. It is similar to the one offered by the Router Workshop guys, but offers very fine adjustment via the pivoting action and the locking knob.

The downside is that the unit is dedicated to 1/4", you need separate ones for each size finger.

[John TenEyck]

May I see a picture of the one you made?

This is the fanciest one, a Woodsmith design I believe, that I used with my old router table.
IMG_6767.JPG

But now I generally use something as simple as this, screwed to my miter gage. It works equally well on a table saw or router table. IMG_6768.JPG

For example, these were cut with the later jig and a dado blade on my TS:

IMG_6630.JPG