AKEDA Dovetail Jig
Unlike the DOMINO which looks like a
familiar tool but definitely isn't, the
AKEDA DT jig doesn't look like any
of the other dovetail jigs. Because
it's design were based on additional
criteria overlooked by other dovetail
jig makers it looks Unfamiliar and
therefore suspect - why buy a pig
in a poke? It does exactly the same
job as the others, only it does it
much easier. But because it doesn't
have all the levers and screws and
sliding parts and vernier scales etc.
(because the design eliminated all
that) and doesn't weigh 60 0r 70
pounds and doesn't come with a
manual - that's 163 pages of 8.5x11,
because that isn't needed in order
to cut dovetails with this jig - folks
shy away from The Unknown.
If you've not seen the AKEDA or
any details about it, here's the
URL to more than you probably
ever wanted to know.
http://web.hypersurf.com/~charlie2/AKEDAdtJig/AKEDAdovetailJig1.html
The Glen-Drake Tite-Mark(tm) is another
"more expensive than" tool. Looks like
several other, less expensive. wheeled
marking tools - but does what they do
so much more easily and accurately
- AND does things the others can't.
http://web.hypersurf.com/~charlie2/MT/MTprimer10b.html
I'd also have to put JoinTech's Cabinet
Maker System (router table fence and
precision positionable fence device) in
this catagory of "apparently more
expensive" catagory. It doesn't look
like a "regular" router table fence
but it does everything a "regular" fence
can do PLUS a hell of a lot more - and
do all of them more safely because
it also has easily replaceable, and
inexpensive, zero clearance fence
inserts.
http://www.jointech.com/
Oh - and I can't forget a good dovetail
saw. the Lie-Nielsen saw, while
considerably more expensive than a
$10 "gents saw" you CAN make work
fairly well, comes ready to go and
everything about it is there to make
it easier to cut a straight line - where
YOU want it. You still have to do some
work as well, but you won't have to
fight the saw to do it. The same goes
for a good japanese dovetail saw - that
works on the pull stroke - like the Toshio
Odate dovetail saw.
I've bought a fair number of tools, and
spent more than a fair number of dollars
on them. I've learned that when it comes
to tools - you can do your homework and
pay "more" up front in order to avoid
"paying" more later - in frustration and
aggravation along with parts you made
that you can't use - read "useable wood
into scrap wood". You're gonna pay one
way or the other so why not spend the
money on a tool or machine that will
do what you want to do easily - and
pocket the time saved and use it for
DOING and not SET UP or COMPENSATING.
This approach has a secondary benefit.
When I find a tool that does something
I can already do - but lets me do it with
out much frustration or drama - I get
it. Then I find a woodworker with more
passion and talent than disposable
income and I give him or her the tool
I upgraded from. Makes life a little
easier for them and I don't have to
hassle with selling or trading it.
The added fun of the confusion this
transaction causes the recipient
"You're GIVING this to me? Why?
- Hey! Where'd he go? Who was that
masked man?" And occassionally
throwing in "Hi-Ho-Silver" as I depart
- well THAT is priceless. Try it -
it's really a lot of fun!