Home Archives for Joinery Dovetails
August 31, 2011 By

My dovetail router bit set

 

In a recent article (Loaded for Bear)I showed the following photo of the router bit set I use to machine dovetails on the Leigh jigs:

Router bits in storage box

For clarification: The parts on the lid were not included in the router bit set. I included them for illustration purposes.

Brian in Texas wrote to ask where I got this set. I bought this kit many years ago — I believe it was in 2001, or maybe in 2002. It is the Highland Hardware set, and includes collars to allow use of the 8-mm router bits in 1/2-inch collets:

 

My dovetail router bit kit

 

I checked at the Highland web site, to make sure that sets are still available. I must admit I have never bought any more dovetail bits, as this set has lasted this long. Sure enough, they are still available in sets. The Highland Hardware web site states that their current kit is equivalent to the Leigh 5116-8  router bit set, shown in the following photo (from the Rockler web site):

Thanks for writing, Brian. Keep us posted!

 

—  Al Navas

 

 

Filed Under: Blog, Dovetails, Joinery, Leigh jig Tagged With: , , , ,
August 21, 2011 By

One brand new jig is brewing

 

Over the weekend I noticed the following at the Leigh web site — the R9PLUS dovetail and finger joint joinery system:

The R9 at LeighI want to try out this new jig!

Stay tuned for further details. The web site says “Coming soon!”  This is the first I have heard about the R9PLUS Joinery System. Among other features::

  • No jig adjustments
  • Joint fit is controlled by patented eBush
  • Works on your router table
  • or with a standalone router
  • Adjustable width
So, if I get it right, I will be able to use it as a stand-alone jig, to machine either finger joints or dovetails on boards ANY width. This, friends, is thinking out of the box!

 

What do YOU think about this new jig?

 

— Al Navas

Filed Under: Blog, Box making, Dovetails, Finger joints, Jigs, Joinery, Leigh jig, R9PLUS Tagged With: , , , ,
August 18, 2011 By

A balancing act

 

Joe in Colorado wrote, asking whether the cradle I built might tip toward one end or the other as it was picked up by the handles. I replied that the cradle is perfectly balanced, as I used the following balancing technique prior to cutting the handles on the sides:

Getting perfect balance on the cradle

The tool: a 1-inch dowel placed across the bottom of the cradle, and perpendicular to the sides. I was careful to measure the distances with a tape measure prior to balancing. Once perfectly balanced, I marked the pivot point with chalk, and used a square to transfer the balance point to the top side edges. Then I marked the handle openings, cut with a jig saw, and smoothed the handle openings with rasps and files.

Balancing this way requires that the cradle be ready, or close to ready for the finish. At this point the cradle was already glued up; I had cleaned up the joinery with hand planes to ensure the corners were nice and flat, and that all the surfaces were sanded.

Here are the handles, already shaped:

Shaped handles - handles at balance point

Why wait to this point?

The answer: Removing material from large surfaces such as the sides may throw the balance slightly toward one end or the other. Given precious cargo such as a newborn baby, improper balance is a risk not worth taking.

How would YOU do it?

  • Is there a better way to properly balance the cradle to mark the handles?
  • How would YOU have done it?

I would like to learn how you would have done it. Please leave a Comment below, or contact me via the Contact Form by clicking on my signature below.

— Al Navas

Filed Under: Blog, Box making, D4R Pro, Design, Dovetails, Joinery