I bought a HF dovetail jig and 5 router bits for about $20.
The work looks good when it comes out, but they simply don't fit. The male
part is 21/32nds at the end, and 12/32nds at the base. The space in the
female end is only 18/32nds and 10/32nds; so obviously the male won't fit in
the female. (get all your silly jokes out of your system, and then please
pay attention again).
The guide is 7/16" OD as specified, the spacing on the template 1/2", and
the router bit is 1/2". So; what is wrong?! (My height is perfect; well, at
least it would be if I could get them together.)
The first time I tried, the baseplate was a bit off center. But after I
fixed that the results were identical. Apparently what I gained on one side
I lost on the other, so it didn't matter.
I don't think it is a bad jig because everything is consistant. Is it
possible the directions are wrong and it requires a 3/8" guide rather than a
7/16"? That would make the male a 16th" small and should be about right.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Go to woodstock international's web site. Look for their dovetail jig
manual. It's excellent. It's also copyrighted. You can read it online
(pdf file), or let your conscience be your guide.
"Toller" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I bought a HF dovetail jig and 5 router bits for about $20.
>
> The work looks good when it comes out, but they simply don't fit. The
male
> part is 21/32nds at the end, and 12/32nds at the base. The space in the
> female end is only 18/32nds and 10/32nds; so obviously the male won't fit
in
> the female. (get all your silly jokes out of your system, and then please
> pay attention again).
>
> The guide is 7/16" OD as specified, the spacing on the template 1/2", and
> the router bit is 1/2". So; what is wrong?! (My height is perfect; well,
at
> least it would be if I could get them together.)
>
> The first time I tried, the baseplate was a bit off center. But after I
> fixed that the results were identical. Apparently what I gained on one
side
> I lost on the other, so it didn't matter.
>
> I don't think it is a bad jig because everything is consistant. Is it
> possible the directions are wrong and it requires a 3/8" guide rather than
a
> 7/16"? That would make the male a 16th" small and should be about right.
>
> Any thoughts would be appreciated.
>
>
>
The 7/16 template is correct as stated in the manual. Not sure why yours
are getting off like that...do you have the bit depth correct and are you
routing out the "female" (your term) end thoroughly?...I usually make at
least 2 passes.
In any case, I didn't have luck reading the manual that came with my HF jig
so I downloaded the Shop Fox manual for identical jig:
http://www.shopfox.biz/manuals/d2796m.pdf
Much more info and troubleshooting in this manual. I have used mine with
success on many occaisions, btw.
--
Cheers!
"Toller" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I bought a HF dovetail jig and 5 router bits for about $20.
>
> The work looks good when it comes out, but they simply don't fit. The
male
> part is 21/32nds at the end, and 12/32nds at the base. The space in the
> female end is only 18/32nds and 10/32nds; so obviously the male won't fit
in
> the female. (get all your silly jokes out of your system, and then please
> pay attention again).
>
> The guide is 7/16" OD as specified, the spacing on the template 1/2", and
> the router bit is 1/2". So; what is wrong?! (My height is perfect; well,
at
> least it would be if I could get them together.)
>
> The first time I tried, the baseplate was a bit off center. But after I
> fixed that the results were identical. Apparently what I gained on one
side
> I lost on the other, so it didn't matter.
>
> I don't think it is a bad jig because everything is consistant. Is it
> possible the directions are wrong and it requires a 3/8" guide rather than
a
> 7/16"? That would make the male a 16th" small and should be about right.
>
> Any thoughts would be appreciated.
>
>
>
>
> Assuming you've set up the jig properly and set the stops in the correct
> place, etc. the main variable to adjust to get half-blind dovetails to fit
> properly is the depth of cut. Your setup is producing joints that are too
> tight, so you need to reduce the depth of cut to loosen the fit. Simply
> raise your router bit slightly and run some test pieces.
>
It was that simple; I reduced the depth of cut and they fit perfectly.
My manual says to have it protrude 23/32nds; the Woodstock manual says
9/16ths.
I have the same jig, but I've never used it. However, I did find a much
better set of instructions for it. The link is at home, but I'm pretty
sure it was by Woodtex (sp???) and you can download it from their
website.
--
Larry C in Auburn WA
"Toller" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I bought a HF dovetail jig and 5 router bits for about $20.
>
> The work looks good when it comes out, but they simply don't fit. The
male
> part is 21/32nds at the end, and 12/32nds at the base. The space in
the
> female end is only 18/32nds and 10/32nds; so obviously the male won't
fit in
> the female. (get all your silly jokes out of your system, and then
please
> pay attention again).
>
> The guide is 7/16" OD as specified, the spacing on the template 1/2",
and
> the router bit is 1/2". So; what is wrong?! (My height is perfect;
well, at
> least it would be if I could get them together.)
>
> The first time I tried, the baseplate was a bit off center. But after
I
> fixed that the results were identical. Apparently what I gained on
one side
> I lost on the other, so it didn't matter.
>
> I don't think it is a bad jig because everything is consistant. Is it
> possible the directions are wrong and it requires a 3/8" guide rather
than a
> 7/16"? That would make the male a 16th" small and should be about
right.
>
> Any thoughts would be appreciated.
>
>
>
First off, I'm assuming you're cutting half-blind dovetails and using the
same dovetail bit for both the pin-board and the tail-board (cut at the same
time on these jigs, usually).
Assuming you've set up the jig properly and set the stops in the correct
place, etc. the main variable to adjust to get half-blind dovetails to fit
properly is the depth of cut. Your setup is producing joints that are too
tight, so you need to reduce the depth of cut to loosen the fit. Simply
raise your router bit slightly and run some test pieces.
Mike
"Toller" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I bought a HF dovetail jig and 5 router bits for about $20.
>
> The work looks good when it comes out, but they simply don't fit. The
male
> part is 21/32nds at the end, and 12/32nds at the base. The space in the
> female end is only 18/32nds and 10/32nds; so obviously the male won't fit
in
> the female. (get all your silly jokes out of your system, and then please
> pay attention again).
>
> The guide is 7/16" OD as specified, the spacing on the template 1/2", and
> the router bit is 1/2". So; what is wrong?! (My height is perfect; well,
at
> least it would be if I could get them together.)
>
> The first time I tried, the baseplate was a bit off center. But after I
> fixed that the results were identical. Apparently what I gained on one
side
> I lost on the other, so it didn't matter.
>
> I don't think it is a bad jig because everything is consistant. Is it
> possible the directions are wrong and it requires a 3/8" guide rather than
a
> 7/16"? That would make the male a 16th" small and should be about right.
>
> Any thoughts would be appreciated.
>
>
>
What's your stock thickness? For 1/2" stock your bit height should be right
at 9/16" give or take a hair for different bit manufactures. I have the Jet
jig which is basically the same but I do have the aluminum template not the
plastic. Which is yours? Check your bit height.
Jim
"Toller" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I bought a HF dovetail jig and 5 router bits for about $20.
>
> The work looks good when it comes out, but they simply don't fit. The
male
> part is 21/32nds at the end, and 12/32nds at the base. The space in the
> female end is only 18/32nds and 10/32nds; so obviously the male won't fit
in
> the female. (get all your silly jokes out of your system, and then please
> pay attention again).
>
> The guide is 7/16" OD as specified, the spacing on the template 1/2", and
> the router bit is 1/2". So; what is wrong?! (My height is perfect; well,
at
> least it would be if I could get them together.)
>
> The first time I tried, the baseplate was a bit off center. But after I
> fixed that the results were identical. Apparently what I gained on one
side
> I lost on the other, so it didn't matter.
>
> I don't think it is a bad jig because everything is consistant. Is it
> possible the directions are wrong and it requires a 3/8" guide rather than
a
> 7/16"? That would make the male a 16th" small and should be about right.
>
> Any thoughts would be appreciated.
>
>
>
"Toller" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I bought a HF dovetail jig and 5 router bits for about $20.
>
> The work looks good when it comes out, but they simply don't fit. The
male
> part is 21/32nds at the end, and 12/32nds at the base.
I bought the Hartville jig, at about 5 times what you paid HF, and
experienced much the same problem(s) you describe in learning how to setup,
adjust and use the jig. Practice on scraps and, believe me, with a little
patience with yourself you'll be making good dts. Once you get everything
setup right take good notes with drawings and store them where you can get
them when you want(voice of experience, again). I'd try the different guide
you spoke of. If that doesn't work you've eliminated one probably solution.
You might check around and see if you can get a Porter-Cable instruction
booklet or call Hartville 1-800-345-2396 and ask for a copy of the manual
for #12378 12" dovetail jig. Follow the instructions exactly.
Larry
--
Lawrence L'Hote
Columbia, MO
http://home.mchsi.com/~larrylhote
http://home.mchsi.com/~llhote
Pratice and setup, just like others have said. This weekend I made 3
drawers with DT joints and they came out perfect(or nearly as perfect as
God would allow me, but to me the looked great). Had to use the rubber
mallet for a couple of good taps to set them in place, but otherwise
they are fine. Took me about 4 scraps of wood and 45 minutes to set it
up though, but that time is insignificant to the longevity of those joints.
Jerry
Toller wrote:
> I bought a HF dovetail jig and 5 router bits for about $20.
>
> The work looks good when it comes out, but they simply don't fit. The male
> part is 21/32nds at the end, and 12/32nds at the base. The space in the
> female end is only 18/32nds and 10/32nds; so obviously the male won't fit in
> the female. (get all your silly jokes out of your system, and then please
> pay attention again).
>
> The guide is 7/16" OD as specified, the spacing on the template 1/2", and
> the router bit is 1/2". So; what is wrong?! (My height is perfect; well, at
> least it would be if I could get them together.)
>
> The first time I tried, the baseplate was a bit off center. But after I
> fixed that the results were identical. Apparently what I gained on one side
> I lost on the other, so it didn't matter.
>
> I don't think it is a bad jig because everything is consistant. Is it
> possible the directions are wrong and it requires a 3/8" guide rather than a
> 7/16"? That would make the male a 16th" small and should be about right.
>
> Any thoughts would be appreciated.
>
>
>
WoodSTOCK International. Here is the link to the jig manual:
http://www.woodstockinternational.com/manuals/d2796m.pdf
--
Larry C in Auburn, WA
"Larry C" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I have the same jig, but I've never used it. However, I did find a much
> better set of instructions for it. The link is at home, but I'm pretty
> sure it was by Woodtex (sp???) and you can download it from their
> website.
>
> --
> Larry C in Auburn WA
> "Toller" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > I bought a HF dovetail jig and 5 router bits for about $20.
> >
> > The work looks good when it comes out, but they simply don't fit. The
> male
> > part is 21/32nds at the end, and 12/32nds at the base. The space in
> the
> > female end is only 18/32nds and 10/32nds; so obviously the male won't
> fit in
> > the female. (get all your silly jokes out of your system, and then
> please
> > pay attention again).
> >
> > The guide is 7/16" OD as specified, the spacing on the template 1/2",
> and
> > the router bit is 1/2". So; what is wrong?! (My height is perfect;
> well, at
> > least it would be if I could get them together.)
> >
> > The first time I tried, the baseplate was a bit off center. But after
> I
> > fixed that the results were identical. Apparently what I gained on
> one side
> > I lost on the other, so it didn't matter.
> >
> > I don't think it is a bad jig because everything is consistant. Is it
> > possible the directions are wrong and it requires a 3/8" guide rather
> than a
> > 7/16"? That would make the male a 16th" small and should be about
> right.
> >
> > Any thoughts would be appreciated.
> >
> >
> >
>
Of course you did, but I said it 6 minutes earlier hehe
"James D Kountz" <jkountz(remove this here)@citlink.net> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I think I said that didnt I? Geez man I wouldnt steer you wrong!! ;-)
>
> Jim
>
>
> > >
> > It was that simple; I reduced the depth of cut and they fit perfectly.
> > My manual says to have it protrude 23/32nds; the Woodstock manual says
> > 9/16ths.
> >
> >
>
>
Yeah well some times you get recognition, sometimes you don't. BTY, stock
thickness has no bearing on the correct bit depth. You use the same setting
regardless of stock thickness.
"James D Kountz" <jkountz(remove this here)@citlink.net> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I think I said that didnt I? Geez man I wouldnt steer you wrong!! ;-)
>
> Jim
>
>
> > >
> > It was that simple; I reduced the depth of cut and they fit perfectly.
> > My manual says to have it protrude 23/32nds; the Woodstock manual says
> > 9/16ths.
> >
> >
>
>
Like Mike and Lawrence have already indicated, the fit on the typical Half
blind dovetail has to be EXACT. The type jig should not matter at all.
With blind dovetails the bit has to be set precisely at the correct depth
for the joints to fit properly. Thickness of the wood does not matter.
Again like previously stated, if the joint is too tight, make a shallower
cut. Too loose, make a deeper cut. Minute adjustments will make a lot of
difference. Once you have found the sweet spot depth setting record that
setting for THAT BIT. You will want to use that depth setting for that bit
all the time. If you buy another bit, start at that setting and again
search for that sweet spot.