Finger joints on the new R9Plus jig

The concept to machine finger joints using the Leigh R9Plus jig is very straight forward.

Machining finger joints

I machined 3/8-inch joinery as follows:

• Set the side stop to the 3/8 mark.
• Set the eBush to “5″, in preparation for a test joint.
• The boards are placed flush under the template, and tight against the side stop.
• Machine the fingers with the comb set on pin position 1.
• Move the template to pin position 3, and machine the sockets on the second board.
• Test the joint fit, and adjust the eBush to tighten or loosen the fit. The joint was loose by close to 0.013″, based on measurements of the width of the fingers, and the width of the sockets.
• Repeat the procedure. It required only a second try to get a nice, tight fit; I simply moved the eBush to the “8″ position, making the fit tighter. Three division means 0.006″ adjustment on each board, making the joint fit by only 0.001!

Initial eBush position at “5″:

Final position at “8″, for great fit:

Summary

The R9Plus is an extremely versatile jig, with a low price point. It will be very attractive to woodworkers who are considering buying a new jig. The template is machined beautifully, and is very easy to set up on a beam for just about any width required for a small or a very large box.  The flexibility to machine either dovetails or finger joints is terrific; select either by simply changing router bits, and by adjusting the template position.

Disclosure: I sometimes receive jigs from Leigh for testing and evaluation.

Music: In order of play – Scott Joplin’s Maple Leaf Rag, Black Twig Pickers’ Don’t Drink Nothing, Moore and Gardner’s Chinese Blues (Gershwin piano roll), and The Breakmen’s Km19.

— Al Navas