VS 600 jig

[hrrb]

I just made a simple jig for my VS 600 dust collector.
VS 600 Dust collector? I can hear you asking  ???
Yes! That is the VS 600 that has been collecting dust standing on a shelf in my work shop since I bought it second hand 3 or 4 years ago.

But the other day my dear son asked Dad when are you going to make some drawers for the desk you made for me? Ooops! So I had to do some practising with a few pieces of scrap wood.

After reading the Festool manual and of course Jerry Work's fine tutorial it was quite easy to set up the VS 600 and the router. Well okay I have to do a little further training to get the cutting depth correct without too much fine tuning each time. But basically it was easy. (And of course I started with half-bind dovetails. Maybe the sweating and swearing will come when I try the through dovetails or some finger joints. One step at a time  [wink] )

But one thing that annoyed me was that the router sometimes tilted a little bit. Maybe because I used a OF 1400. I don't own a OF 1010 so I don't know if it's smaller size and weight would have made it easier to handle on the VS 600.

So fighting with both gravity and a dust hose pulling in the wrong direction I convinced myself that this device obviously needed a jig.
(Your welcome to say that it was me who needed the jig and not the VS 600  [big grin] )

After a cold beer while staring at the VS 600 my mind had come up with the construction. Please see photos below.

I planned to make the jig using aluminum profiles like the 80/20 but I couldn't find any danish dealers. That is I found a few dealers with similar products but their prices made me faint! So until then I'll use this crude prototype.

Feel free to suggest improvements!

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Height adjustment for various board thickness and removing the cross bar for easier access when setting up the VS 600.
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Kind regards
Henrik

 

[John Stevens]

Beautiful, thanks for sharing.  No, your OF1400 isn't the problem--I had the same problem using the OF1000 with the VS600.  Glad to hear that you found a way to use yours, and easily at that!  I hope you'll find that your jig will make the VS600 a tool you enjoy using frequently.  Best of luck with the through-dovetails!

Regards,

John

 

[richard.selwyn]

I also have a VS 600 dust collector. Since I don't have any clients who know what a dovetail is I think its going to carry on collecting dust
Richard

 

[TomGadwa1]

To prevent tilting of the router Festool engineers designed special "Flanged" copying rings. These rings have a lip that holds the router perpendicular to the surface of the template guide. For the OF1010 router the copy rings come in three different diameters 8.5, 17 and 24 mm w/flange and are 13.00 dollars US each. Item numbers are as follows 490770 17mm, 490771 24mm and 490772 8.5mm for the OF1010 router unit. The copy rings for the OF1400 with flanges for the VS600 joining system are as follows 492179 8.5mm, 492180 13.8mm, 492181 17mm and 492182 24mm and cost 19.00 US dollars each.

I think your jig is really cool but just wanted to let you know that Festool did address the issue. As to how well their Flanged copy rings prevent the router from tipping I may never know as so far I do not own a VS600 joining system. I have the Porter Cable 24 inch Omnijig. But maybe someday I will become a proud owner of the VS600 if I can obtain one.

 

[Kev]

The VS 600 is starting to get near to the top of my "next Festool thing" list.

I haven't seen a lot of project work presented where it's been used. I'm also considering the merit of getting a OF 1010 (I have the OF 1400) as a buddy for the jig ... thinking being it'll be easier to use and therefore less prone to errors resulting from mishandling the router.

I'm convinced also that there's no such thing as the perfect dovetail jig - my thinking is sticking with the VS 600 for regular dovetails, then something with adjustable fingers for the fancier spacings (for much later).

 

[hrrb]

To prevent tilting of the router Festool engineers designed special "Flanged" copying rings. ...

Thanks for your feedback!

Yes that is correct and I'm of course using those copy rings but it still seems to wiggle a little bit. And when you route in the vertical board the flanged copy ring doesn't hold the router in the correct position. It is in this situation I feel that the router tilts too often giving a poor result. My jig holds the router in a correct upright position preventing the router from tilting.

...much easier to control the routing process!

Kev, when I have played some more with the VS 600 I'll post close up pictures of some dovetails and finger joints. I just need to be a little bit more confident with the thing  [wink]

Kind regards
Henrik

 

[Kev]

To prevent tilting of the router Festool engineers designed special "Flanged" copying rings. ...

Thanks for your feedback!

Yes that is correct and I'm of course using those copy rings but it still seems to wiggle a little bit. And when you route in the vertical board the flanged copy ring doesn't hold the router in the correct position. It is in this situation I feel that the router tilts too often giving a poor result. My jig holds the router in a correct upright position preventing the router from tilting.

...much easier to control the routing process!

Kev, when I have played some more with the VS 600 I'll post close up pictures of some dovetails and finger joints. I just need to be a little bit more confident with the thing  [wink]

Kind regards
Henrik

Thank you Henrik, I'd appreciate that very much.

Kev.

 

[Kristian]

Nice jig, Henrik. I too will go to great lengths making sure the router is 100% stable during use, and let's face it - making jigs is fun!  [big grin]

- Kristian

 

[Rembo]

I do not like this arrangement the handle on the router. it also affects the rollover. tended to be higher than the left.
I think that the device should help.
I probably will use your idea, but are located closer to the template holder and fastened directly to the tenoning attachment. which is made ​​of plywood.

 

[hrrb]

I do not like this arrangement the handle on the router. it also affects the rollover. tended to be higher than the left.
I think that the device should help.
I probably will use your idea, but are located closer to the template holder and fastened directly to the tenoning attachment. which is made ​​of plywood.

Don't put the jigs cross bar (if that is the correct term to use?) too close to the template.

I haven't shown the setup with the dust hood and a hose attached. If the cross bar is too close to the template there wont be much space for the hose and the hose can easily catch the edge on the cross bar.

Before deciding this position I fixed the cross bar with clamps and moved it forward and back to find the right position. By placing it in this distance there was better space for the dust hose and I found that I had a better view to the dovetails I was cutting.

So I recommend to try different positions with the "full router setup" cutting some dovetails in a piece of scrap wood before deciding the final distance.

As for the handle on the router I didn't really observe any roll over problems. Maybe because I actually didn't use the handle. Without the jig I started the router and put both my hands on the top of the router (on each side of the top of course). With my jig attached I put my left hand on the knob on the guide and my right hand on top of the router. That's just how I prefer to do it.

Kind regards
Henrik

 

[Bainiet]

Nice jig Henrik!

The VS600 was on my wishlist until I found out what the entire set costs.  [crying] I prefer fingerjoints and made a sort of jig for that (Still have to check it on larger diameter routerbit and a wider panel but it works flawless sofar and yes I will post something later this year...) Curiously will I wait until you post some new pictures [smile]

Please share the info on the aluminium profiles as I was looking for them as well. As I live on the other side of the Skagerrak it might be cheaper for me to take the  'Danske båten'  ;D

 

[hrrb]

...Please share the info on the aluminium profiles as I was looking for them as well. As I live on the other side of the Skagerrak it might be cheaper for me to take the   'Danske båten'  ;D

As soon as I find some aluminum extrusions at a reasonable price I'll let you know. Untill then I'm afraid it's not enough to go south with the "Danske Båten". I think you'll have to go across the very big pond on your west side...all the way to our festoolian friends in NA.

Or maybe the prices are better in Germany. I haven't really searched there yet. If that's the way to go you can also bring back some good german beer at reasonable prices. I've only visited Norway once (but would like to go back!). One thing I learned during that holiday was that beer is EXPENSIVE in Norway.  [eek]

Kind regards
Henrik

 

[Chris Hughes]

I have the vs 600 and got it for a screaming deal from a dealer that was going out of business.  I do like it but I don't use it very much.  The only problem I see with the set up is that will not make half blinds in 12mm  plywood.  15mm is the minimum stock for this jig.  The standard drawer stock in the US market appears to be 1/2.  Personally I don't mind 5/8 sides but I get a little grief from my peers if I run 3/4" stock. 

 

[Rembo]

I do not like this arrangement the handle on the router. it also affects the rollover. tended to be higher than the left.
I think that the device should help.
I probably will use your idea, but are located closer to the template holder and fastened directly to the tenoning attachment. which is made ​​of plywood.

Don't put the jigs cross bar (if that is the correct term to use?) too close to the template.

I haven't shown the setup with the dust hood and a hose attached. If the cross bar is too close to the template there wont be much space for the hose and the hose can easily catch the edge on the cross bar.

Before deciding this position I fixed the cross bar with clamps and moved it forward and back to find the right position. By placing it in this distance there was better space for the dust hose and I found that I had a better view to the dovetails I was cutting.

So I recommend to try different positions with the "full router setup" cutting some dovetails in a piece of scrap wood before deciding the final distance.

As for the handle on the router I didn't really observe any roll over problems. Maybe because I actually didn't use the handle. Without the jig I started the router and put both my hands on the top of the router (on each side of the top of course). With my jig attached I put my left hand on the knob on the guide and my right hand on top of the router. That's just how I prefer to do it.

Kind regards
Henrik

are doing milling Fraser Makita, place the hose from the top. but in general I do not like to work with the vacuum hose that infuriates me .. Dovetail jiq

 

[hrrb]

Ahhh...that explains it Rembo.

You were talking about your own jig and not the VS 600. I misunderstood that.

Is that another of your selfmade jigs? If it is I have to say that I'm really impressed...again!

By the way vacuum hose is a must for me. I'm not a pro like you with a workshop placed apart from the house. My workshop is in the basement of our house and since it is a very small house we also store things down there and have a small office. So to avoid fine dust all over I have to use dust extraction. Which also should be a benefit for the health  [wink]

Kind regards
Henrik