dovetail jig suggestions
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- This topic has 3 replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 11 months, 1 week ago by
wendy morris.
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22 December 2022 at 3:32 pm #784402
Hello everyone
I just joined this site on a recommendation of a member on this site.I’m a newbie for woodworking. I am making a shoe bench for a family member and would like to have the corners detailed with a dovetail design.
I recently purchased a dovetail jug and would love to add this detailing to the design.
I have never used the jig and would like help with recommendations on how to use this to add the additional detail to this project.
Thank you
22 December 2022 at 3:37 pm #784403By the time you get the jig figured out and all the bushings bought you could be done doing it by hand.
Go to the sister site common woodworking and learn the fundamentals they are quick simple and a lot quieter and safer than a spinning router.Hi Wendy, you say you got a jig to cut dovetails. Do you mean you have a jig to make dovetails with an electric router ? Deanbecker took that to be your meaning.
They are sold by companies like Leigh. I had a cheap one years ago and it worked okay, and was even fun for a while. If it is a jig for an electric router, it should come with directions. There are probably also youtube videos for whatever jig you bought.Or did you get a small magnetic jig to guide a saw for hand cut dovetails? Folk on Paul Sellars’ website are interested in hand cut dovetails, not electric router cut dovetails. Paul teaches us to cut them without any jigs, except a marking tool for laying out the dovetails at set angles. But I know a number of places sell jigs, usually magnetic, to help guide saws to keep them straight in the cut. For example, Veritas (Lee Valley) sells one. Amazon also has some.
If you are interested in handcut dovetails, this is the website for you! Paul has detailed videos for how to cut them, along with other basic woodworking joints. I think they are found on his Common Woodworking site but I first saw them on youtube — those free youtube videos were my first introduction to Paul. Again, he does not teach us to use a magnetic guide, but there is no reason you cannot use one. However, I would suggest first practicing a bit without a guide till you get a feel for how dovetails work — some folk, and that means me, can have trouble visualizing how they fit together at first. Once you get that down, you can use the guide to cut straight, though you may soon find it more fun to try to cut straight without a guide.
In any event, whether you use an electric router to cut your dovetails, or try it by hand, practice first or scrap. You do not want to mess up your project. An electric router guide system can be complex and you can screw up. Hand cutting, even with a magnetic jig, requires some skill. Handcutting with out a jig can take some time to get decent at.
22 December 2022 at 4:38 pm #784413Hi everyone
yes to a dovetail jig that is used with a router.I’ve watched a few youtube videos and will try this on extra wood pieces not being used for my project.
Thanks for the suggestions and info.
One of the members provided a go to option which provides a template to make dovetails by hand.
My bil is coming over during the holidays and is able to build furniture. together we will learn how to do this.
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