Need recommendations on dovetail jigs

[joraft]

Ron,

I recall that as well, but like you, not the details.  I am sure Mr. Rafferty Raftery will refresh our memories.   [scratch chin]

I think his methodology is to buy a tool and set it aside.  Then when he goes to use it he won't because it has developed into an antique with a beautiful patina.  

I'll bet no one takes more kidding or is more appreciated than anyone else in this Forum.

Thanks for the kinds words, Neill, and especially for assuming I actually have a methodology.  [big grin]

The short story is that I decided to pursue a life long dream when I retired several years ago, which was to build my absolute dream woodworking shop. I soon realized that it wasn't going to happen in my garage (my crazy wife thinks garages are for cars), so I rented a space in an industrial building. I start purchasing tools and equipment thinking it would be easier to lay out the shop if I knew in advance what I would be putting in there. Then a fews years back I ran into Ron (RonWen) and he brainwashed me suggested that I needed the capability to do metal working also. So, I started acquiring metal working machines as well, all along changing the shop layout to make sure everything would fit. At some point I had so much stuff in the shop that I had to rent a second place to store it (a whole story in itself) to give me room to work in first one. I wound up with a small warehouse of stuff, and until recently I never made a formal inventory. Since this has all taken place over a period of years, and my memory isn't what it used to be, I do not always remember what tools I have already purchased and have come close to ordering duplicates a few times. Although with the bigger machines that  hasn't been a problem.  [smile]

At some point this project took on a life of its own, I lost all perspective, and I'm running WAY behind my original plan. I'm hoping that 2012 will be a year of great progress.

I guess it's not such a short story, or a particular happy one. But I'm still hoping it will have a happy ending.  [big grin]

 

[Neill]

John,

I am sorry I misspelled your last name.  I promise I won't do it again.

Most of all, thank you for the great story.

Neill

 

[joraft]

I am sorry I misspelled your last name.  I promise I won't do it again.

That's okay, it happens ALL the time.

When I first met my wife it took her months to get it right.  [smile]

 

[RONWEN]

I'm reminded of a year or two ago over on the other forum we were discussing ordering something (I forget what) pretty pricey, I think it was a Bridge City item -- John was rummaging around his "warehouse/shop" and found that item (along with others) unopened that he had forgotten he bought.   [blink]  Perhaps he'll chime in & fill in the details that I've forgotten although it quite possibly is a daily occurance for him.   [big grin]

Ron,

I recall that as well, but like you, not the details.  I am sure Mr. Rafferty will refresh our memories.   [scratch chin]

I think his methodology is to buy a tool and set it aside.  Then when he goes to use it he won't because it has developed into an antique with a beautiful patina.  

I'll bet no one takes more kidding or is more appreciated than anyone else in this Forum.

Neill
[/quote]

The important thing is that he knows our kidding is good nature fun -- i wouldn't mind having those same problems.   [wink]

 

[Neill]

Ron,

I have been a member here for 3 1/2 years. (Hard to believe it has been that long)  I have enjoyed reading your posts as well, both here and in Talk Festool.

I love the good natured kidding.  It makes it fun being here.  Hopefully no one takes this Forum or themselves too seriously.

John has kept me smiling for a long time

Neill

 

[RONWEN]

Ron,

I have been a member here for 3 1/2 years. (Hard to believe it has been that long)  I have enjoyed reading your posts as well, both here and in Talk Festool.

I love the good natured kidding.  It makes it fun being here.  Hopefully no one takes this Forum or themselves too seriously.

John has kept me smiling for a long time

Neill

Of course the next thing to be said is we try to keep the off topic kidding to the other forum and maintain the FOG to more informative & useful information -- really.

 

[ccarrolladams]

Nearly 40 years ago my then employer kept me on the payroll and also paid the cost of enrolling me in grad school. For a year as a grad student part of my time was devoted to writing speeches for Alan Greenspan, one of my economics professors. He had a reputation for not always making himself clear. The joke was (and still is) that: Greenspan speaks no English and none of us speak Greenspan.

The point is that usually we benefit when we take the time and effort to understand other folks. The magic of FOG is that we have members all over the world. The good thing is conversation and contributions happen 24/7 because someone is awake somewhere. We learn all kinds of slang and local expressions This is a good thing.

Sometimes the talk becomes personal and not friendly. This is when our administrators and moderators must step in. Although this is a public forum, it is sponsored by a corporation which has potential liability.

The well-respected philosopher Rodney Glenn King said it all: "Why can't we all just get along?"

 

[RONWEN]

Nearly 40 years ago my then employer kept me on the payroll and also paid the cost of enrolling me in grad school. For a year as a grad student part of my time was devoted to writing speeches for Alan Greenspan, one of my economics professors. He had a reputation for not always making himself clear. The joke was (and still is) that: Greenspan speaks no English and none of us speak Greenspan.

The point is that usually we benefit when we take the time and effort to understand other folks. The magic of FOG is that we have members all over the world. The good thing is conversation and contributions happen 24/7 because someone is awake somewhere. We learn all kinds of slang and local expressions This is a good thing.

Sometimes the talk becomes personal and not friendly. This is when our administrators and moderators must step in. Although this is a public forum, it is sponsored by a corporation which has potential liability.

The well-respected philosopher Rodney Glenn King said it all: "Why can't we all just get along?"

I've read ALL of his books.  [wink]

 

[tiralie]

At some point this project took on a life of its own, I lost all perspective, and I'm running WAY behind my original plan. I'm hoping that 2012 will be a year of great progress.

I guess it's not such a short story, or a particular happy one. But I'm still hoping it will have a happy ending.  [big grin]

Good luck John.
At very least it's (the story) certainly has provided (me) a lot of entertainment and lots of education.
Tim

 

[stairman]

I'm a "Tradie"  and I am an Artisan.

I upsell when I can, and if I can get the client to pay for truly custom built drawer boxes, I use a Leigh.  variably spaced TDT's,  Isolok joints,  all sorts of trick joints can be done easily with the Leigh.

if it is production dovetails,  a Dovetail machine is hard to beat.

for general purpose cabinets,  I look at it like this,  if I am busy,  I will sometimes buy the boxes and doors.  if not, and I need the work,  I make them.
to make or to buy both have their place...

as for the Dovetail Jig advice sought here,  it seems Leigh rates very highly around here,  and I certainly can attest to why this is.  GREAT custom jig...  no 2 ways about it.

but there is another system you may want to look into.
I intend on picking one of these up soon,  and if you watch the video and study each facet of the system,  it is the SIMPLICITY that will encourage you just as it has encouraged me to start looking for one of these,  (or to just pony up and buy one new as soon as I can afford it)

http://www.woodrat.com/

I have a feeling I could keep up with a dovetail machine if I had one of these...

the Leigh will always have a place in my shop,  but this WoodRat is just very well thought out and so SIMPLE  that it may very well change the way you think about a lot of things.
-very "Festool like" in that regard...

 

[Kev]

I'm a "Tradie"  and I am an Artisan.

I upsell when I can, and if I can get the client to pay for truly custom built drawer boxes, I use a Leigh.  variably spaced TDT's,  Isolok joints,  all sorts of trick joints can be done easily with the Leigh.

if it is production dovetails,  a Dovetail machine is hard to beat.

for general purpose cabinets,  I look at it like this,  if I am busy,  I will sometimes buy the boxes and doors.  if not, and I need the work,  I make them.
to make or to buy both have their place...

as for the Dovetail Jig advice sought here,  it seems Leigh rates very highly around here,  and I certainly can attest to why this is.  GREAT custom jig...  no 2 ways about it.

but there is another system you may want to look into.
I intend on picking one of these up soon,  and if you watch the video and study each facet of the system,  it is the SIMPLICITY that will encourage you just as it has encouraged me to start looking for one of these,  (or to just pony up and buy one new as soon as I can afford it)

http://www.woodrat.com/

I have a feeling I could keep up with a dovetail machine if I had one of these...

the Leigh will always have a place in my shop,   but this WoodRat is just very well thought out and so SIMPLE  that it may very well change the way you think about a lot of things.
-very "Festool like" in that regard...

I just watched the video ... that is impressive - though a little complex fiddly. I can see now that the VS600 is a vanilla jig and this Woodrat is a real flexible tool. I would have like to see a bit more of an "on-board" calibration capability (but the good thing is it has got me thinking!).

So the Leigh is probably somewhere in the middle (and it's a jig - not a calibrated guide).

Very interesting - thank you.

Kev.

 

[extiger]

Kev, there is a touch of bluster in WoodRat advertisements. It is not simple to learn. If you'll send me an email I'll send back a pdf file of a short woodrat course that will give you a better notion of the machine. Send to:  gary.curtis@hotmail.com.

There are a few advantages over the Leigh Jig  that I see:  Good dust collection. Great safety. No box of fiddly parts and jigs needed. And , most important to me, it mounts on the wall so it doesn't take up valuable floor space or require storage.

Gary Curtis
Northern California

 

[tbellemare]

Did Santa Monica move, Gary?

Tom

 

[extiger]

My wife and I built a 2nd home in the mountains just south of the Oregon border. That's where my shop is. But I'm at that age where I have be near doctors so I spend much of the year near Santa Monica Airport  ---- without a shop. The drive is not a lot of fun. It killed my truck and a Mercedes diesel. Sure would love to get another truck and I'm begging friends involved  in real estate to find me a 3 or 4 car garage to use as a shop.

 

[Kev]

Kev, there is a touch of bluster in WoodRat advertisements. It is not simple to learn. If you'll send me an email I'll send back a pdf file of a short woodrat course that will give you a better notion of the machine. Send to:  gary.curtis@hotmail.com.

There are a few advantages over the Leigh Jig  that I see:   Good dust collection. Great safety. No box of fiddly parts and jigs needed. And , most important to me, it mounts on the wall so it doesn't take up valuable floor space or require storage.

Gary Curtis
Northern California

Thanks Gary, email sent.

The mounting on the wall thing looked super tidy ... I really like the idea. Can't do that with a traditional dovetail jig with stock running back from the jig!

Kev.

 

[RONWEN]

Thanks Gary!   http://www.thecraftsmangallery.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?page=W/CTGY/M

(By the way, Santa Monica is at Latitude:N 34° 2' 28.6102" and I'm up around N 41° 25' 12.2688" so I may be way up north.  [smile])

 

[tiralie]

Nearly 40 years ago my then employer kept me on the payroll and also paid the cost of enrolling me in grad school. For a year as a grad student part of my time was devoted to writing speeches for Alan Greenspan, one of my economics professors. He had a reputation for not always making himself clear. The joke was (and still is) that: Greenspan speaks no English and none of us speak Greenspan.

Working for Greenspan must have been an interesting experience. I have a book (another on my list of "to read") on him written after his stint as head of the Federal Reserve. In terms his policies etc. I always thought he was as "lucky" as he was smart.

The point is that usually we benefit when we take the time and effort to understand other folks. The magic of FOG is that we have members all over the world. The good thing is conversation and contributions happen 24/7 because someone is awake somewhere. We learn all kinds of slang and local expressions This is a good thing.

Well put. Definitely  the value of and why I keep coming back to the FOG to see what's going on.
Tim