VS 600

[Billnut]

Thinking of buying a the VS-600 and  the 1400 router for making my own drawers.  Anyone have any thoughts good or bad with this system.  I have read Jerry Work's article "Getting the most from the VS 600 Jointing System".  But if there was anyone else out there with some first hand info, I would love to hear it. 
Thanks
Bill

 

[Brice Burrell]

Bill, I think you'll want to contact Patrick, his user name is Overtime, he's got hands on experience with the V600. Check out his thread: Let's make some drawers.

 

[JJ Wavra]

Hello-

I have the vs600 and like it quite a bit.  I was trying to decide whether to buy the vs600 or the leigh d4r.  I went with the vs simply because I do not do a lot of dovetail drawers and wanted the simplicity of the fixed template.  I have a box joint template and a half blind template.

With the box i was up and running in about 30 minutes.  with the help of jerry's manual. 

The half blind took me quite a while to get it set up but now it is good to go.  The manual that comes with the vs600 is terrible at best.  At one point trying to dial in the half blind I ended up calling festool but they helped me out right away and it was smooth sailing after that.

I use it with the 1010 router and am very pleased.  Just so you know the templates come with centering mandrels and bushings so there is no need to order or buy a mandrel.

If you have any more questions shoot away and I will try and answer.

JJ

 

[festoller]

Of course I thought about the VS 600 too, especially because usually all Festool equipment perfectly fits together. Just this one time I have to admit another brand is the better choice. After weeks of reading and looking (I'll recomend the Dovetail Jig article in Fine Woodworking) I finally ordered the Leigh D4R Dovetail Jig for my OF 1010. Except the "Hornbeam Experience" I really love the versatility of the Leigh and I think it's probably a little easier to use than the VS 600, but that's just a personal thought.

The DVD and manual that came with it is probably one of the best I got for a tool and really worth reading and watching before you start "dovetailing".

 

[twang120]

Bill,

I know this may be irrelevant if you are set on the VS600, but I purchased the 16" Porter Cable Omnijig with the half-blind template and the Festool 1400 plunge router.  I can say that it is really easy to use and it is really, really heavy duty.  Really beefy aluminum, probably 50lbs or so.  Keep in mind you will need the festool template guide adapter to accept P-C guide bushings.  I had 3 different sized drawers complete from opening the packaging to having the drawers done in about 2-hours.  Simple to understand instructions and DVD.  Like the VS600, the template spacing is fixed, which simplifies the setup.  However, with fixed spacing, there is an optimum stock width for the drawer sides so the drawer ends on an even dovetail.  I think the P-C was priced competitively ($430) as the VS-600 if purchased with 1 template.  The 24" model comes with the variable spaced template, which I believe doubles as a box joint template as well.  More $$$ and more setup.   Never tried the VS 600 so I can't make a comparison.

 

[John Stevens]

I owned both the Leigh D4R and the VS600 and returned both.  Both left clouds of dust in the air and piles of dust on the floor, although I'm told that Festool had some replacement parts that were available that would have improved dust collection.  (Would've helped if they'd have shipped them with the order, duhhh.)  Both systems made joints that had gaps on the vertical mating surfaces, even when the tails and pins were nice and snug on the diagonal mating surfaces.  Tearout occurred with both systems, and the clamps on both systems allowed the pieces to slip.  Hope this helps, even though it's probably not what you were hoping to hear.

I don't use dovetail joinery, but if I ever give it a try again, I'll probably use a system that works with a router table, like the Keller jig or the Katy Jig.

Regards,

John

 

[richard.selwyn]

Well I've had the VS 600 gathering dust for the last 3 years.  It was long winded to set up, but once set up seemed to work fine and contrary to other's findings I found the dust collection (with the relevant dust collection accessory) excellent.  Trouble is, I don't get any call for dovetails.  I sort of wonder whether nowadays there's no need for them - unless they're hand cut and I'm not capable of that.  The big advantage of the Leigh seems to be its flexibility.  I agree that the manual is pretty useless and was glad of Jerry Works.  I have seen very simple "combs" for sale here in France that you just clamp onto the stock - they are inexpensive and might be worth a look if you're not sure you really need to make dovetails all the time.
The VS 600 is one of the few Festool purchases I almost regret - I'd rather have put the money into yet another sander (that would be no 9)

 

[focal designs]

Hello-

I have the vs600 and like it quite a bit.  I was trying to decide whether to buy the vs600 or the leigh d4r.  I went with the vs simply because I do not do a lot of dovetail drawers and wanted the simplicity of the fixed template.  I have a box joint template and a half blind template.

With the box i was up and running in about 30 minutes.  with the help of jerry's manual. 

The half blind took me quite a while to get it set up but now it is good to go.  The manual that comes with the vs600 is terrible at best.  At one point trying to dial in the half blind I ended up calling festool but they helped me out right away and it was smooth sailing after that.

I use it with the 1010 router and am very pleased.  Just so you know the templates come with centering mandrels and bushings so there is no need to order or buy a mandrel.

If you have any more questions shoot away and I will try and answer.

JJ

Thanks for the info!

I have been searching through the forums for information on the VS 600 jig & templates.

I am new to dovetailing but in no way new to woodwork. Quite experienced in general.
I have a bespoke Birch Plywood Kitchen company and we want to start offering dovetailed drawer boxes.

I have toyed with looking at other brands (especially Leigh) but I have a lot of Festool gear including the 1400 router.
If I wanted half blind dovetails to work on material thicknesses anywhere from 12mm to 24mm (15mm to 20mm would be more common).. What would be the best template and cutter be for my requirements?

Also, is there a smart way of designing drawer heights/depths based on revealing full dovetail at either end of the material by default? Considering these are fixed templates..

Any information you are able to share would be much appreciated. Thanks for your time and I hope to her from you soon.

Cheers

 

[PeterJJames13]

[member=73322]focal designs[/member] just as an FYI - Festool has discontinued their VS600 for many years now. There may be some on the secondary market, but I would be hesitant due to lack of templates and support. Just my opinion here, but I would pass on the Festool and buy the Leigh now.

 

[jeh]

I too had the VS600 and never thought much of it. Consider a Shaper Origin with money is not a concern. Probably does or will be able to do most of joints you need plus a lot more.

 

[focal designs]

[member=68391]PeterJJames13[/member]
Thanks for the advise there. I am based in UK/Europe and there are still quite a few of the VS 600's in stock as new with templates. Though I am also leaning back towards the Leigh jigs.

I have been looking at the super 12/18/24 Leigh Jigs and also at the Table Router version RTJ400.

Assuming the RTJ400 has a material width of 400mm - I would be compared to the Super18 I suppose.

Any recommendations on either? I also prefer an option that doesn't require spending loads on accessories and updating templates etc.. Kind of looking to spend once and spend right and have an easy reliable go it it.

Thanks again and hopefully someone can shed some light on this decision.

Cheers

 

[PeterJJames13]

[member=73322]focal designs[/member] my apologies. I thought Festool discontinued this worldwide. My mistake. I've used the Festool once. It was nice, but nothing special, really. I don't have any experience with the other Leigh jigs you mentioned. I do like the D4R Pro though. If I recall correctly (memory seems to be shaky), on this side of the pond, the Festool and Leigh were priced comparatively so I went with the Leigh.