There are a few different types of dovetail jigs on the market and the Leigh dovetail jig is one of them. This particular jig is popular amongst the blind anglers and has many features that can make it a valuable addition to your arsenal.
RTJ400 jig
The Leigh RTJ400 router table dovetail jig is a precision tool that allows you to make fast and accurate routing of half-blind dovetails, box joints and tailboards. This versatile jig is made of aircraft grade aluminum and features a patented elliptical guide bushing for a precise fit.
In addition to a precision template, the RTJ400 jig includes an adjustable side stop that can be adjusted to allow for repeatable positioning of your joints. The elliptical design of the template guide allows it to be adjusted to a thousandths of an inch. Also included are five Quick Reference Instruction Strips and a 76 page user manual.
The RTJ400 router table dovetail has features that ensure it will work well with your router table. Its precise machining guarantees a perfect fit. Moreover, the jig can be equipped with an optional dovetail bit for even better accuracy.
Other features of the RTJ400 include an offset for rebated half-blind dovetails, a side stop and a step-over system for repositioning the template to get the right position. Similarly, the jig is capable of making four sizes of box joints, including a 3/32″ size, and a full pitch through dovetail.
Leigh D4R Pro
The Leigh D4R Pro dovetail jig is the most versatile joinery jig on the market. It produces through and half-blind dovetails, as well as box joints and finger joints.
This jig provides full vertical stock control and can accommodate boards up to 24 inches wide. In addition, it has a precise and adjustable guide system to handle a range of joint lengths.
It includes a single-pass dovetail spacer and a nylon stop rod. There are also three 8mm shank cutters and an e7 guidebush, which can be a big help when making dovetails.
The Jig body features an easy-to-use, non-marring, textured clamping surface. Two adjustable cam-action clamps are also included, which allow the operator to quickly and easily adjust the tension of the clamps to suit different thicknesses of stock.
Another useful feature of the Leigh D4R Pro is its variable finger system. This means you can create through dovetails and half-blind dovetails by varying the spacing of the pins.
Super jigs
Leigh Super jigs are a new generation of dovetail jigs. They are designed to be simple to use and to produce precise joints. In addition, they offer an outstanding range of joinery options. Whether you want to make sliding dovetails, or box joints, Leigh has a dovetail jig for you.
Unlike the standard dovetail jigs, Leigh Super jigs feature variable dovetail spacing. This allows you to create any dovetail design you like. The Super jigs are also designed for use with stock up to 1 inch thick.
With the Leigh Super jigs, you can rout complete joints in one pass. You can also make straight end-on-end dovetails and angled dovetails. These jigs are also great for making rabbeted dovetails, which make fitting easier.
When you purchase a Leigh Super jig, you will receive a full-length DVD. It will walk you through the process step-by-step. Using the video will help you avoid common mistakes and chipouts. Moreover, the instructions are very easy to follow.
Half-blind jigs
Dovetail jigs are a great woodworking tool. They allow you to create dovetail joints in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. In addition, they help you make your projects last longer.
There are two basic types of jigs. The first is a router jig. It works with templates and tiny screws to get perfect-fitting joints.
The second type is a jig with clamps. This type of jig uses a combination of router bits, square drive screwdrivers and clamp bars to flatten work pieces and hold them securely.
Using a jig allows you to make angled end-on-end dovetails and straight dovetails. You can also make box joints and through-dovetails using a jig. However, you will need to buy additional router bits to complete these types of projects.
If you don’t want to spend the money on a jig, you can create dovetails by hand. However, they are very tedious to cut. To make the best cuts, you should use a smooth shear cutting edge and downcut spiral edges.
