Tool basics – router-cut dovetails

A TRIO OF JIGS

There are more than a dozen dovetail jigs on the market. Here’s a look at three in various price levels.

The Keller Model 1500 (shown here) is a surprisingly effective and simple way to produce through dovetails. The one-piece jig includes tapered fingers along one side that produce pins, while the other side produces tails. To use, screw the jig to the edge of a 2 1/4″-thick piece of wood, clamp this assembly to your workpiece as it sits upright in a vise, then follow the jig fingers with a bearing-guided bit in your router. For large boards, simply move the jig and reclamp it farther along the workpiece ($175, www.kellerdovetail.com).

The Leigh D4R is the luxury touring vehicle of dovetail jigs. It handles boards up to 24″ wide, producing through and half-blind joints. Each guide finger is independently adjustable for infinite and repeatable custom locations. Workpieces are clamped either horizontally or vertically for pins or tails. The Leigh comes with an extensive instructional DVD and owner’s manual ($420, www.leighjigs.com).

The Porter-Cable 4212 jig is similar to the Leigh D4R but smaller and simpler. It handles wood up to 12″ long, with fixed pin and tail spacing. The system comes with one dovetail router bit, one straight bit and a pair of guide bushings ($250, www.deltaportercable.com).