tB

[email protected] (Brian Turner)

04/02/2004 12:57 PM

HF Dovetail Jig

Well, I ordered a Harbor Freight dovetail jig today. I've read all
the newsgroup comments and downloaded the manual and feel pretty
confident. Since I have never used a dovetail jig, I will write this
newgroup my experience with it. This jig is marketed under many
names, including Jet.


This topic has 10 replies

Ww

Wegge

in reply to [email protected] (Brian Turner) on 04/02/2004 12:57 PM

05/02/2004 7:10 AM

The one I got delivered from HF for $29 has the aluminum template

Larry C in Auburn, WA wrote:
> I'm sure he's referring to the template guide being black plastic rather
> than aluminum. The jig itself is probably aluminum, but I'd have to go find
> it to check and that ain't going to happen. The HF jig I bought had a black
> plastic template although I bought a separate aluminum one from someone else
> later.
>

kN

[email protected] (NoNameAtAll)

in reply to [email protected] (Brian Turner) on 04/02/2004 12:57 PM

04/02/2004 9:13 PM

What's the item number of the one your ordered? I'm also interested in one of
these so I thought I'd check it out.

JD

"James D Kountz"

in reply to [email protected] (Brian Turner) on 04/02/2004 12:57 PM

05/02/2004 5:47 PM

OK, it seems there are two jigs from HF. One comes with bits and stuff and
the other doesnt. Im not sure which is which but I do know the one I got the
template was plastic. Black to be exact. It was the one that was no good. If
you can get the jig with an aluminum template for $29 thats absolutely the
way to go!

Jim


"Wegge" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> The one I got delivered from HF for $29 has the aluminum template
>
> Larry C in Auburn, WA wrote:
> > I'm sure he's referring to the template guide being black plastic rather
> > than aluminum. The jig itself is probably aluminum, but I'd have to go
find
> > it to check and that ain't going to happen. The HF jig I bought had a
black
> > plastic template although I bought a separate aluminum one from someone
else
> > later.
> >
>

LC

"Larry C in Auburn, WA"

in reply to [email protected] (Brian Turner) on 04/02/2004 12:57 PM

05/02/2004 5:37 AM

I'm sure he's referring to the template guide being black plastic rather
than aluminum. The jig itself is probably aluminum, but I'd have to go find
it to check and that ain't going to happen. The HF jig I bought had a black
plastic template although I bought a separate aluminum one from someone else
later.

--
Larry C in Auburn, WA

"Toller" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "James D Kountz" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:MUiUb.14184$G%[email protected]...
> > Id like to add to what Larry said about the manual. The one I got with
> both
> > jigs really sucked. I haven't looked at the one Larry spoke of but I'm
> sure
> > its got to be better. The jigs I saw at HF were like $45 or something
and
> > the Jet jig is/was $54 when I got it. The templates (aluminum) are
$22-$27
> > depending on where and which one you get so you're better off to just
buy
> > the better Jet jig from the start. Also my Jet is white not blue like
the
> > picture. For those of you that color coordinate your shop!! har har
> >
> Are you saying the HF is not aluminum?
> The one I bought for $20 last week was, and came with 5 router bits.
>
> I just got a template guide today, so I haven't actually used it, but it
> looks to be about the same as ones I have used before that were fine.
>
>

JD

"James D Kountz"

in reply to [email protected] (Brian Turner) on 04/02/2004 12:57 PM

05/02/2004 3:38 AM

Id like to add to what Larry said about the manual. The one I got with both
jigs really sucked. I haven't looked at the one Larry spoke of but I'm sure
its got to be better. The jigs I saw at HF were like $45 or something and
the Jet jig is/was $54 when I got it. The templates (aluminum) are $22-$27
depending on where and which one you get so you're better off to just buy
the better Jet jig from the start. Also my Jet is white not blue like the
picture. For those of you that color coordinate your shop!! har har

Jim


"Larry C in Auburn, WA" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:NYgUb.93869$U%5.477353@attbi_s03...
> Here is a much better manual for it:
> http://www.woodstockinternational.com/manuals/d2796m.pdf. I bought mine a
> year or two ago and bought a replacement aluminum template, but to be
honest
> haven't ever used the jig. It appears this basic jig is sold by numerous
> companies and all appear to be essentially the same. I don't know the
cost
> between the HF and say the JET version, but you can buy the aluminum
> templates at reasonable cost to fit the HF (I think the one I bought might
> actually have been made by JET). In any case, the instructions above are
> better written than the ones that came with my HF jig.
>
> --
> Larry C in Auburn, WA
>
> "Brian Turner" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > Well, I ordered a Harbor Freight dovetail jig today. I've read all
> > the newsgroup comments and downloaded the manual and feel pretty
> > confident. Since I have never used a dovetail jig, I will write this
> > newgroup my experience with it. This jig is marketed under many
> > names, including Jet.
>

LC

"Larry C in Auburn, WA"

in reply to [email protected] (Brian Turner) on 04/02/2004 12:57 PM

05/02/2004 1:26 AM

Here is a much better manual for it:
http://www.woodstockinternational.com/manuals/d2796m.pdf. I bought mine a
year or two ago and bought a replacement aluminum template, but to be honest
haven't ever used the jig. It appears this basic jig is sold by numerous
companies and all appear to be essentially the same. I don't know the cost
between the HF and say the JET version, but you can buy the aluminum
templates at reasonable cost to fit the HF (I think the one I bought might
actually have been made by JET). In any case, the instructions above are
better written than the ones that came with my HF jig.

--
Larry C in Auburn, WA

"Brian Turner" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Well, I ordered a Harbor Freight dovetail jig today. I've read all
> the newsgroup comments and downloaded the manual and feel pretty
> confident. Since I have never used a dovetail jig, I will write this
> newgroup my experience with it. This jig is marketed under many
> names, including Jet.

Tt

"Toller"

in reply to [email protected] (Brian Turner) on 04/02/2004 12:57 PM

05/02/2004 4:55 AM


"James D Kountz" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:MUiUb.14184$G%[email protected]...
> Id like to add to what Larry said about the manual. The one I got with
both
> jigs really sucked. I haven't looked at the one Larry spoke of but I'm
sure
> its got to be better. The jigs I saw at HF were like $45 or something and
> the Jet jig is/was $54 when I got it. The templates (aluminum) are $22-$27
> depending on where and which one you get so you're better off to just buy
> the better Jet jig from the start. Also my Jet is white not blue like the
> picture. For those of you that color coordinate your shop!! har har
>
Are you saying the HF is not aluminum?
The one I bought for $20 last week was, and came with 5 router bits.

I just got a template guide today, so I haven't actually used it, but it
looks to be about the same as ones I have used before that were fine.

JD

"James D Kountz"

in reply to [email protected] (Brian Turner) on 04/02/2004 12:57 PM

04/02/2004 11:32 PM

Yes its true they look alot alike, however the difference is the plastic
template vs the aluminum. I had the HF jig but sent it back due to flexing
of the template fingers. I got the Jet jig and its template is aluminum.
Solved the problem. The plastic one flexed just enough during use that
repeatability was almost impossible. To be honest I got somewhat decent
results with it, its just that there always seemed to be one or two loose
tails in each joint. The Jet doesnt do this. Good luck with it and let us
hear how it works for you!

Jim


"Brian Turner" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Well, I ordered a Harbor Freight dovetail jig today. I've read all
> the newsgroup comments and downloaded the manual and feel pretty
> confident. Since I have never used a dovetail jig, I will write this
> newgroup my experience with it. This jig is marketed under many
> names, including Jet.

LC

"Larry C in Auburn, WA"

in reply to [email protected] (Brian Turner) on 04/02/2004 12:57 PM

05/02/2004 4:14 AM

If you can buy the Jet with an aluminum template for only $9 more I'd go for
the JET. I bought my HF from one of their catalogs I seem to get daily.
The stuff on the cover is usually 1/2 price and I got the jig for $20. The
aluminum template jumped in my cart one day at a local WW store for $10.
Total price of only $30, but if Jim has his numbers right I'd go with the
JET.

--
Larry C in Auburn, WA

"James D Kountz" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:MUiUb.14184$G%[email protected]...
> Id like to add to what Larry said about the manual. The one I got with
both
> jigs really sucked. I haven't looked at the one Larry spoke of but I'm
sure
> its got to be better. The jigs I saw at HF were like $45 or something and
> the Jet jig is/was $54 when I got it. The templates (aluminum) are $22-$27
> depending on where and which one you get so you're better off to just buy
> the better Jet jig from the start. Also my Jet is white not blue like the
> picture. For those of you that color coordinate your shop!! har har
>
> Jim
>
>
> "Larry C in Auburn, WA" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:NYgUb.93869$U%5.477353@attbi_s03...
> > Here is a much better manual for it:
> > http://www.woodstockinternational.com/manuals/d2796m.pdf. I bought mine
a
> > year or two ago and bought a replacement aluminum template, but to be
> honest
> > haven't ever used the jig. It appears this basic jig is sold by
numerous
> > companies and all appear to be essentially the same. I don't know the
> cost
> > between the HF and say the JET version, but you can buy the aluminum
> > templates at reasonable cost to fit the HF (I think the one I bought
might
> > actually have been made by JET). In any case, the instructions above
are
> > better written than the ones that came with my HF jig.
> >
> > --
> > Larry C in Auburn, WA
> >
> > "Brian Turner" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:[email protected]...
> > > Well, I ordered a Harbor Freight dovetail jig today. I've read all
> > > the newsgroup comments and downloaded the manual and feel pretty
> > > confident. Since I have never used a dovetail jig, I will write this
> > > newgroup my experience with it. This jig is marketed under many
> > > names, including Jet.
> >
>
>

PG

"Patrick Gillette"

in reply to [email protected] (Brian Turner) on 04/02/2004 12:57 PM

04/02/2004 10:23 PM

"NoNameAtAll" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> What's the item number of the one your ordered? I'm also interested in one
of
> these so I thought I'd check it out.

Ditto


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