Woodworker's Journal 2009-33-6, страница 56

Sommerfeld Tools

_Katie Jig $220

Moveable tuning forks give you creative control over dovetail spacing on this heavy-duty jig. www.sommerfeldtools.com (888) 228-9268

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Tool Review

Bottom line: $220 buys versatility and rugged construction — both real pluses — but be diligent and patient with your setup process.

"Best Bet" Honors

Often, choosing a winner is an easy job, but not this time. There are several standout jigs here. General Tool's Dovetailer is priced for anyone and works well. ChestMate is also a steal for its multipurpose capabilities. But my "Best Bet" goes to Keller. It's a little more spendy, but the sheer simplicity of this system makes dovetailing both accurate and fun. I'm confident that with these templates, I could lose the manual and still be cutting perfect joints in minutes.

Chris Marshall is Woodworker's Journal's field editor.

Fast Joint worked well for me, because the guide collar and templates minimize the setup variable that could complicate the process. You'll need to set bit heights carefully, and you may need to make spacer blocks to position workpieces on the jig in order to create a centered pattern.

I wish the templates were made of a more durable material than PVC; they will flex slightly when pressed hard against a guide collar. But that really didn't impact accuracy or joint fit. All in all, $170 seems a good bargain for a jig that makes four joint styles right out of the box, with a nice bunch of extras.

Sommerfeld's Katie Jig

Like ChestMate, Katie Jig is another unit tailor-made for cutting true variable-spaced through dovetails. You design the pattern by setting and locking nine tuning forks on the bottom of the jig. One side of the forks forms the pins, the other side routs the tails, using piloted straight and dovetail bits that come standard.

Along with the creative potential of this jig, you also have the option of using it either upside down on a router table or bottom-side-up with your handheld router. Those long tuning forks make router table use particularly stable and convenient. Katie Jig will rout workpieces up to 12" wide and 3/4" thick.

You can buy a separate tuning fork/bit package for making box joints or a solid template and "organic" bit for cutting half-blinds. Or combine box and dovetail forks to make a unique hybrid style.

Adjustable tuning forks guide Sommerfeld's piloted bits to create variable-spaced dovetails. The forks set both pin and tail cuts.

I appreciate the heavy-duty construction of this system. Except for the backup boards, most of the jig is made of thick plate- or extruded aluminum. The integral bar clamps are stout and lock workpieces down securely with big wing knobs. Since the tuning forks move, the backer boards get chewed up fast, but they're easy to make and replace.

All this said, in testing, the Katie Jig was a bit more difficult to use accurately. It's imperative that the tuning forks are set and locked squarely against the jig's body, or the edges of your joints can become misaligned. Same goes with the top-mounted stops; double-check them for square. After some time, I was able to get glue-ready joints, but the process required more test cuts and adjustments than other jigs here.

The manual covers setup and use pretty' well, but Marc Sommerfeld just released a new DVD that adds helpful information to it. He also provides some tips on shimming the jig to adjust pin thickness — troubleshooting I needed for the test jig but didn't find in the manual. (Incidentally, Sommerfeld Tools said they'll supply this DVD free to Journal readers with a jig purchase if you mention this article.)

An optional template and special "organic" bit form these unique, radiused half-blind joints.

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December 2009 Woodworker's Journal