VS 600 Dovetail Jig - Seeking feedback

[sanangelo]

Hello All,

I am looking at getting a dovetail jig soon and would like to get some opinions on the VS600 vs Other manufactures.

I have never owned a dovetail jig before and I am needing to make some drawers for a set of cabinets I plan on making this summer.

Does anyone have an opinion on the VS 600 in relationship to ease of use/ versatility vs other brand of jigs.

Any and all comments are welcome

Thanks

D

 

[Kev]

I would say I've researched this to death and I was initially looking for info that would convince me to get a VS 600.

First on the VS 600, it does what it's intended to do, makes a range of specific joints with fixed templates, reasonably well. It's certainly not the most popular of dovetail jigs and doesn't have any real "system" tie in other that compatibility of guide bushes and router bits. I believe you can get much cheaper options if you just want to make standard dovetail joints for a few drawers.

I started my journey years ago looking at the Leigh, now that Leigh have released their Isoloc templates I think their offering is the top end of town ... you have all of the flexibility of the variable fingers, plus the option to create uniform template based joints.

I've read reviews on everything I could find and am going to settle on the Leigh D4R Pro and all of the accessories I can get for it. The VS 600 won't meet my creative goals.

Kev.

 

[John Stevens]

If you're OK with fixed DT size, it's very easy to use.  I owned one for a week or so...sold it because the dust collection was awful.  At the time I bought mine (2005?), there were replacement parts (knobs for the ends of the fixture) that would have reduced the problem, but they weren't included in the VS600 and Festool USA hadn't gotten the word out to consumers about the existence of the replacement parts.  If I'd known about the replacement parts I'd still own the VS 600, so I'd recommend asking whether the VS 600 has the new knobs.

Regards,

John

 

[ajones]

I have the trend dc400 badged as akeada in the states and I know there are supply issues with this jig. unlike the festool offering you can lay out as you wish with the dc400 I would never buy a fixed template jig. unless I was in a production situation.

I think Kev is spot on with his recommendation of the Leigh jig and if I had to replace my jig that's what I would buy..