Any Akeda Dovetail Jig Users Here?

[Spike]

Hi All,

I bought the Akeda DC 16 Dovetail Jig, very nice set up. I'll use it for my larger commercial jobs. I just cut a sample drawer with my new 1400. I find it is really difficult to view the guide fingers while routing. I had to squat down and look through the dust shield.

Any tips?

Thanks.

BTW....Cuts dovetails very nicely.

 

[woodshopdemos]

Spike, congrats on the acquisition. You found what  I thought was probably its weakest link. Scrouching down to get a view from the front side is a bad idea. First your dust pickup should be there and secondly, that is where wood splinters are exhausted. There is a better way. If you lean over the top, you can look straight down and see the finger where it is atached to the frame. I found that all you have to do is line up your router on these bits and the router will find the finger and not in betweem.  At first, I drew a pencil line across the aluminum top to make it easier but once you visualize the fingers, it is pretty easy.

 

[clintholeman]

Ahh John, you beat me to it!!!  Though I mount mine on my work bench and sometimes squint through the plexiglass.

I have had an Akeda jig for some time now.  I used it for some commercial jobs - before Domi Drawers.  I really like it.  You'll find it accurate and simple to use - a great feature if you don't use it daily. 

 

[Tim Sproul]

I don't use a Festool router on mine - a simple PC 690 works for me.  I do use a clear subbase from Pat Warner that provides visibility when there is adequate lighting.

 

[woodshopdemos]

Tim, you rpost reminded me that I have a laser light on a Dewalt that is on the Woodrat. It's purpose is to generate enough light on the bit area so you can see thue the dust. The laser was courtesy of the Woodrat dealer for the US. Here is their website: www.chipsfly.com/  their owner Louis Stepp is the one to talk to about the laser.