Dovetail jigs

[kmealy]

I bought a dovetail jig a few years ago, called a "Universal Joiner"    It looked really easy and powerful in the demo.   When I tried to use it, I got a headache.   I even went to an all-day class in it.   So now, I have a 100 page manual full of charts and options, class notes, and a cheat-sheet I made during the three days I spent trying to figure it out.   It's one of those things that has so many options, I think it takes a PhD in mechanical engineering to be able to use it.  There are so many degrees of freedom, each one gives you a chance to mess up.   I've had about enough of it.  I regret ever buying it.

 

So I'm thinking of another option.    I'd like something that can do both half-blind and through dovetails.  I'd do mostly drawers and boxes with it.  From what I've started to read, people like the Porter-Cable 4212 (or 4216) as an economical option or the Leigh as a more flexible, but more complex option.  The negatives to the PC is that it fixed increment, meaning you have to design your drawers, and thus your cabinet around the increments that the tool can do.  And it takes a proprietary bit?

 

There are others, Keller, and MLCS and Rockler, among others, but I don't hear much about them..

 

So is the Leigh worth nearly twice as much money?

Edited December 7, 2017 by Ron Dudelston
tags added

[lew]

Porter cable made a template similar to the Leigh for their omnijig. The spacing was adjustable but the pin/tail size was fixed. 

 

I spent more time trying to get the joints centered/aligned than it took to cut the dovetails. It was so frustrating that I eventually abandoned the jig entirely and cut dovetails by hand. I only do them occasionally and then only thru dovetails so it the time involved between the jig and by hand is about a wash.

 

[oldwoodie]

So, you want to sell that dovetail jig at a good price?

[Stick486]

1 hour ago, kmealy said:

So is the Leigh worth nearly twice as much money?

I have it and yes it's worth the money...

I re gifted my waste of money Omni Jig...

[joe the gas man]

I have one of the earlier Keller jigs. FIxed pin spacing, proprietary bits, doesnt do half blind joints.   

But, once it's dialed in, it works. Every time. and it's rather simple to use. I even made a modification to allow me to work stock as thin as 1/4". 

[Joeb41]

I have to agree with Stick on this. I went through three jigs before getting the Leigh, a P-C, a Rockler, and a Peachtree which is similar to the Keller. The P-C and the Peachtree were bought from WW shows where the well trained demo/salesman made it look so easy. The three cost more than if I had bought the Leigh first. If you can justify the cost definitely go for the Leigh.

[lew]

12 hours ago, oldwoodie said:

So, you want to sell that dovetail jig at a good price?

I probably should. I haven't used it in years

[HandyDan]

I have the PC and it works well enough for the little bit I use it.  I have never heard anyone complain about the Leigh.

[Stick486]

37 minutes ago, HandyDan said:

I have never heard anyone complain about the Leigh.

 

that's because they are at the top of the food chain..