A Dovetail Jig Gives Work Craftsmanship Appearance
Dovetails
are the mark of woodworking craftsmanship.
Dovetails are the series of notches and pins
that allow the corners of drawers to be fitted
together in an attractive and solid bond.
Dovetails can be cut in a number of ways. Using
a router and a dovetail jig allows you to cut
a number of tight fitting dovetails in short
order. There are several popular dovetail jigs
on the market. These include those made by
Leigh, Keller and Jet.
The Leigh dovetail jig was developed by Ken
Grisley in 1981. Grisley, a woodworker in Quesnel,
British Columbia was frustrated with cutting
dovetails by hand and he could not find a suitable
jig to make the joints he needed. His jig, for
use in making through dovetails in boards up
to 3/4 inches thick and 12 inches wide received
immediate acceptance in Canada and the United
States. Since that time the company has developed
several models of jigs and patented the unique
Isoloc joint.
The
Keller Dovetail Jig Comes In Several Models
The
Keller company makes two series of dovetail
jigs: the Pro series which are heavy duty
jigs, and the Journeyman series for hobbyists
and novice woodworkers. Both versions of the
keller dovetail jig are designed for years
of use. The Pro series is made of heavy duty
aluminum and comes with a 20 year warranty.
Ranging in price from $150 to $439, these jigs
will handle wood from 1/8 inch thick to 1-1/4
inches thick and of any width.
The jet dovetail jig is distributed by Jet Equipment
and Tools company, of Burnaby, British Columbia.
The models jet dovetail jig is another of hundreds
of high quality woodworking and power tools made
by this Canadian company.
Dovetails may be cut by hand and craftsman who
are making only a few drawer or cabinet joints
may decide to cut them by hand. Most woodworkers
find, however, that they experience far better
results when they use a commericial dovetail
jig to make their dovetails. Your woodworking
shop will not be complete without a dovetail
jig.
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