Which dovetail jig?
- Thread starter Ivans Dad
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Andres -
I have a Leigh Dovetail Jig that I have had for about 8 years. It has not changed any. Leigh will not come along and discontinue a model and replace it with another like some of the other manufacturers do. Replacement parts are easy to get.
It is more complicated to setup and use than some of the others, but it is also the most versatile. It is the standard by which all others are judged.
I just don't think you can go very far wrong with this.
Neill
I have a Leigh Dovetail Jig that I have had for about 8 years. It has not changed any. Leigh will not come along and discontinue a model and replace it with another like some of the other manufacturers do. Replacement parts are easy to get.
It is more complicated to setup and use than some of the others, but it is also the most versatile. It is the standard by which all others are judged.
I just don't think you can go very far wrong with this.
Neill
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Ivans Dad said:
The answer is "YES". Even Leigh has been using the OF1400 in their instructions and ads. Just get the adapter plate that will hold the Leigh collars.
Story starts here:http://www.woodshopdemos.com/dts-ld4-1.htm
Ivans Dad said:
Andres -
My 1400 is relatively new. I have only used it to edge a table I am making. No reason it should not work with the jig, in fact I specically asked that same question when I bought the router. I had being using a Dewalt 621 with the jig.
My only concern with the dust extraction might be that your view might be somewhat obscured by the dust attachment shroud. Perhaps others could comment on this.
Neill
chrisrosenb
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I also have the Leigh jig. Any router will work with it if you have the right size guide bushing. I highly recommend getting the Leigh VRS vacuum router support if you get a Leigh jig.
The OF1400 will work fine with the Leigh Jigs - it is in fact my preferred combo. The Leigh Jig comes with an eccentric guide bushing, which fits well in the standard guide bush adapter that comes with the OF1400. If you use the Jig alot, I recommend you buy an extra guide bush adapter, so you can just click it in and out of the OF1400 as you require.
I have the VRS (vacuum router support) and I recommend that you buy that accessory and a Y connector for your dust collector - that way you can collect dust from bottom and top while routing with the Jig. One hose on the VRS and another on the OF1400 dust shroud.
I have the VRS (vacuum router support) and I recommend that you buy that accessory and a Y connector for your dust collector - that way you can collect dust from bottom and top while routing with the Jig. One hose on the VRS and another on the OF1400 dust shroud.
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Neill said:
Your view is a problem with all routers...maybe even less withthe Festool OF1400. You work around it by knowing where to look...for me, I look from behind the router and thru the base opening...that lets me see that I am heading for between the forks and not around them. That is a concern for tails only. For pins, you can really do the entire rout by feel. You can see in the book, that they show how to place wood pieces between the fingers to keep you from routing there...never did that. way easier to aim right.
By the way, in your earlier post, you asked for advice relative to the Festool VS600. The VS600 is a great dovetail jig when you want to use predetermined templates. It will have less of a learning curve. But if you want variable spacing, the Leigh, the new Porter Cable Omnijig, the Katie JIg, the Akeda all allow for you to vary the spacing. This can be nice but with a steeper learning curve.
nclemmons
Member
I have an Akeda dovetail jig and have been very pleased with it.
Not as much adjustability as a Leigh, but very fast to setup and use. I use a 1010 router with it and have had no problems.
FWW did a review of about 8-10 jigs in their Nov/Dec '06 magazine. It's on the FWW website as a PDF if you have a subscription. They include video overviews and reviews of both full and half-blind versions. They do rate the Leigh quite highly.
neil
Not as much adjustability as a Leigh, but very fast to setup and use. I use a 1010 router with it and have had no problems.
FWW did a review of about 8-10 jigs in their Nov/Dec '06 magazine. It's on the FWW website as a PDF if you have a subscription. They include video overviews and reviews of both full and half-blind versions. They do rate the Leigh quite highly.
neil
Chris Hughes
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Ivans Dad,
I recently bought a vs600 and am in the process of dialing in the system. I'm a slow learner. I want to understand all of the adjustments so this could take a while. For now I'm using a of1010 and it handles the load ok but when I get all dialed I will dedicate an older PC 3/4 hp router.
I looked around before I bought a jig and thought I was going to buy an PC Omni jig because from my observation it looked easier to set up and more tech support. Good luck. C Hughes
I recently bought a vs600 and am in the process of dialing in the system. I'm a slow learner. I want to understand all of the adjustments so this could take a while. For now I'm using a of1010 and it handles the load ok but when I get all dialed I will dedicate an older PC 3/4 hp router.
I looked around before I bought a jig and thought I was going to buy an PC Omni jig because from my observation it looked easier to set up and more tech support. Good luck. C Hughes
rnt80
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nickao said:
I've got to echo your thoughts on the Akeda. The dust collection is fantastic and it is very easy to use. The only drawback, as a member already noted, is that it is not as adjustable as some other jigs like the Leigh. However, it is hard to beat the repeatability and ease of use.
josephgewing
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Another vote for the Akeda. I have had mine for 2 years. I have made 50 to 60 drawers with thru dovetails. It is as close to a production set up as I can imagine and is very fast, expecially with two routers -- one for the pins and one for the tails.
Very quick learning curve. Very safe. The router is supported on both sides of the bit.
A 24 inch model is now available. That is the one I would get. It gives you a lot of flexibility.
Joe Ewing
Las Cruces, NM
Very quick learning curve. Very safe. The router is supported on both sides of the bit.
A 24 inch model is now available. That is the one I would get. It gives you a lot of flexibility.
Joe Ewing
Las Cruces, NM
robtonya
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woodshopdemos said:Ivans Dad said:
The answer is "YES". Even Leigh has been using the OF1400 in their instructions and ads. Just get the adapter plate that will hold the Leigh collars.
John, I was wanting to ask you about the new Porter Cable Omni-Jig. I thought I remembered you had one for a review, but have never asked you what you thought about it. That was the one that Santa was bringing me if it was a good one, and it wasn't in a shortage as it was earlier this year.
Story starts here:http://www.woodshopdemos.com/dts-ld4-1.htm
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I have been slow in getting the pages together. I t hink the variable through dovetails are quite easy to do once you get through PC's way of instructing. They have produced a very complete instruction manual but not the easiest to f ollow, IMHO. For the variable half blind dovetail, the jig leaves me a bit on the cold side. At several times they say that the jig is designed for 1/2" stock for 1/2 blind DT's. I found that out after making many attempts using 3/4" and adjusting via their instructions...only to find that you can adjust until ..., but you will never get there.
Anyway, it is very solid a machine but I would tend towards Leigh or Akeda for variable.
Jim Becker
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Leigh D4 for many years.
