79 - Slant Front Tool Cart, страница 13
Cams & Stops. Adjustable cams lock the workpiece securely in place and adjustable stops ensure the workpiece is positioned properly. your dovetail layout — unlike most jigs which force you to design or adjust to match the spacing of the template. And since each finger controls both parts of the dovetail, any change you make to the tail is automatically accounted for in the pin. Locking the fingers in place with a screwdriver (supplied with the jig) fixes the arrangement of both the tails and pins so they mate perfectly once you cut the joint. As with any jig, you'll probably need to do a little "tweaking" to get a perfect fit (more on that later). But once that's complete, you can cut joint after joint knowing each one will fit perfectly. As I mentioned, the finger assembly is reversible. With the assembly set so the white portion of the scale is to the right (see center photo), you're set to cut through dovetails. Flipping the assembly end for end places the green part of the dual scale to the right, allowing you to cut half-blind dovetails. Assembly. You will need to do some assembly before using the jig. The finger assembly goes together quick. All you have to do is attach the scales to each end. The stops, cams, and clamping bars go on next. Add in the time it takes to make a plywood base (for clamping the jig to a benchtop), and you'll have a couple hours invested in the entire assembly process. Setting up the Jig. Once you have the assembly complete, you'll need to spend a little time adjusting the stops so the work-pieces are positioned perfectly square once they're in the jig (bottom photo). This doesn't take much time after making a couple squaring blanks from some scrap plywood. Plus, it gives you a chance to familiarize yourself with the jig. Instruction Manual. The manual that comes with the jig is one of the most detailed I've ever seen. And it's step-by-step sections cover die wide variety of dovetails you can cut with the Leigh jig. Cost & Availability. As you might expect, a dovetailing jig with all this capability won't be cheap. For the bread-and-butter work of through and half-blind dovetail joints, the basic jig (with a set of bits) will run about $400. You can run the cost up to $1000 by adding additional bits and accessories for cutting through mortise and tenon joints, box joints, and even some custom joints. The Leigh jig and optional accessories are available through many woodworking stores and catalogs. To find a list of sources, turn to page 51. Lefs Start Dovetailing. But enough about the jig. Let's get started cutting a through dovetail joint. The step-by-step process begins on the next page. Checking out the Details Fingers. The adjustable half fingers allow for variable spacing and sizing of both the pins and tails of a dovetail joint to suit your project design. Scales. A dual scale at each end of the finger assembly helps align the fingers parallel to the workpiece and allows you to accurately "dial-in" the fit of the joint. Closer Look: Feature-Packed Jig Dual scales allow for accurately Adjustable half-fingers positioning finger assembly allow for and and fine-tuning of the fit sPaced doveta,le aligns workpiece to finger assembly for accurate joints Shop-made base allows you to clamp jig securely to benchtop Easy-to-use cams lock clamping bar against workpiece to prevent shifting during the cut ir I L' VCA ! UIHIllprni^ f £-11 keeps workpiece secure 13 |
