Advice needed on Dovetail Jogs

Dummy

OK, a woodwork course was done last Setember, and woodwork has really gripped me as a great hobby that I am really enjoying. Even though I have done a number of projects, I am still the novice.

Anyway, I want to get a dovetail jig. B&Q have a 300mm jig for €126. My question is: would this jig limit me to working with 300mm timber or can I slide it along timber of longer lengths?

As you may guess from the question, I have very liitle experience with these jigs.



D

JoeB-

Hi Dummy

Axminster is a UK company that sells via mail order or the internet. The dovetail jig below is about £43 at the moment, marked down from £48. £43 = approx €70 + €15 delivery. I have one and it's alright, probably a little better than the B&Q one... Axminster also do a cheaper version for about €45 but it's probably a bit crap. They are both supplied with a router cutter I think. They do require a bit of setting up but the instructions are included, post questions here if stuck.

http://www.axminster.co.uk/product-Axminster-Dovetail-Jig-21973.htm

I think you would be restricted to using 300mm timber, that's enough for drawers but not enough for blanket boxes or stuff like that.

You can get jigs that do 610mm but they are more expensive... €500 or more for a Leigh one from Axminster but these are professional jigs... i.e variable spacing and through dovetails possible.

Someone else may be able to give some info on how longer lengths can be dovetailed without an expensive jig and without doing it by hand.

Cheers
Joe

Dummy

Thanks Joe - this looks like a great site.

I'll have a good look at it when I get home.



D

Alun

Dummy wrote:

Thanks Joe - this looks like a great site.

I can recommend their catalogue too ... pure "tool porn"

carpainter

Alun wrote:

I can recommend their catalogue too ... pure "tool porn"

Great bloody site altogether, only problem is it's costing me a small fortune every couple of months!:( ....

Fingalian

Sorry to hijack your thread , but did you guys notice that Axminster are now doing fixings as well?( handy, seeing as ScrewFix don't deliver to the Republic) Really good prices on stuff too and fast delivery.

Dummy

Joe,

Thanks for the intro to Axminster. Got the catalogue and have already ordered stuff. Really impressed with service. Had everything 3 days later.

Their prices are good. I expect Axminster will have a path well dug to my front door over the next wee while.


Thanks again.


D

dubtom

Spend over 50 sterling Dummy and they deliver for free. I've still not opened some of the stuff I got recently. A porn site is right.
I think that b+q jig you mentioned is the trend one, I have it and as mentioned 300mm is the max width it will take.

here's a link to an ebayer selling clocks,although they seem to have gone up in price since i last looked.:rolleyes:
http://cgi.ebay.ie/CD-CLOCK-KITS-100-X-QUARTZ-MOVEMENTS-HANDS_W0QQitemZ110154906911QQihZ001QQcategoryZ3126QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

JoeB-

dubtom wrote:

Spend over 50 sterling Dummy and they deliver for free.

I don't know if that's true.... they have never delivered to me for free. They have free delivery for UK customers but not us, or at least in my experience.

Cheers
Joe

carpainter

JoeBallantine wrote:

I don't know if that's true.... they have never delivered to me for free. They have free delivery for UK customers but not us, or at least in my experience.

Cheers
Joe

I think if your package is very light (is it under 1 kilo?) and value of over a certain amount , then delivery may be free, but again I've never benefitted from free delivery either. I bought a load of screws and other fixings from them recently; even with delivery and exchange rates boxes of screws are coming from them at less than €1 per box, which is fantastic value. This is for their own branded screws which seem fine to me.

dubtom

Yes I think there is a weight limit. I've got 12x12 boxes with chisels and clockmaking bit and bobs, not too heavy, delivered free.

david1two3

Dummy wrote:

OK, a woodwork course was done last Setember, and woodwork has really gripped me as a great hobby that I am really enjoying. Even though I have done a number of projects, I am still the novice.

Anyway, I want to get a dovetail jig. B&Q have a 300mm jig for €126. My question is: would this jig limit me to working with 300mm timber or can I slide it along timber of longer lengths?

As you may guess from the question, I have very liitle experience with these jigs.



D

You dont need a jig as you can mark it up with a bevel and square making different sized dovetails or just one different to show it was done by hand ,it is twenty years since i have done any and that was on my tool box .You cut one out and mark the other from it.You must do the right one first,the one with the Ys and mark the other from it .To get your straight edges use a hardwood chisel guide on the pencil line and chisel the lot of them to a shallow dept.turn lt over and do the same on other side.mark all lines with a very sharp pencil.when you put the pieces together you want a very tight fit but fit it is not force,Cascomite is the glue to use as it doesnt mark the wood .when it is dry you will plain or sand or both,the overhang on both edges of the joint .The sanding down should always be done with a block and it magically makes the joints look perfect.Uyo must take care when sanding to go with the grain.You must also mark your face sides and face edges so as not to get confused ,also number both parts of each joint .If you find later that you have used the same piece to mark two others you can still get awaty with it by making a copy of othe odd piece.If I have confused you Im sorry ,its one of the most satisfying things to make.Practicing on pine at first will give you confidence,enjoy.

When planing joints go as close as you can with a very fine sharp blade you then sand it to a finish ready for final tratment,varish ,oil or other.Once you have started sanding you must never revert to the plane as the fine bits of sads on the wood will blunt the plane almost immediately.

tomdk

Hmmm... I too am looking to buy a dovetail jig... but don't know a lot about them. Whats the difference between the following two jigs?

http://www.axminster.co.uk/product-Leigh-Dovetail-Superjigs-659724.htm @ £130
- or -
http://www.axminster.co.uk/product-Leigh-DC1600-Dovetail-Jig-370576.htm @ £230

(Besides the price that is!). Also - do I need to be careful that the jig will be compatible with my router - or are they all generally compatible?
Cheers for any advice!

tomdk

... I guess that was a dumb question... but I'm still none the wiser...