Best Overall
Porter-Cable 4216 12-Inch Dovetail Jig Kit
Best Bang For The Buck
General Tools 861 E-Z Pro Dovetail Jig
Best For Beginners
Rockler 22818 Complete Dovetail Jig
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Dovetail jig are indispensable when it come to cutting matched small-arm of corner junction for woodworking project . They clamp workpieces in seat , allowing users to run a router along a cutting guide to make an interlocking joint that look like a series of razz ’s hindquarters . Dovetail stick are very substantial and stable with plenitude of surface surface area for gluing . A dovetail router gigue makes it possible to make pure dovetail joint joints clip and again . But thesetoolscan be quite expensive , and not all are easy to use . So we did the research to find which options professional and amateur woodworkers preferred , then examine four of the most popular dovetail jigs on the market .
ThePorter - Cable Deluxe Dovetail Jigwas our favorite . It is not the inexpensive option , but it is very well build , accurate , and derive with an assortment of templates to make different kinds of dovetail joints , so it ’s our first choice overall . Many reader may discover one of the other , simpler good example we screen comfortably suit to their need . In this review , we will deal our observations from test four of the best dovetail jig on the market , detail a few other heavy options that we did n’t get to test , and foreground the essential shopping considerations to help you choose the right one for your workshop .
Our Top Picks
Different woodworking projects have unlike needs , so we test four highly - shop models in our search for the best dovetail joint router jigs . Whether you need a heavy - responsibility jig with the widest range of a function of configurations , a budget - friendly tool that is light to use and memory , or downright repeatable precision , one of these model is sure to crop for you .
Our Ratings : Ease of Use4.7/5;Build Quality5/5 ; Value4.7/5
When it add up to build quality , accuracy , body , and toilet facility , the Porter - Cable 4216 deluxe dovetail jig check all the boxes . This outfit includes the bench - setting jig body , three heavy - obligation milled aluminum templet , four professional - calibre router bits , and router guides . It ’s everything you need to produce most dovetail sub - types in workpiece up to 12 inches wide and 1⅛ column inch thick .
This Porter - Cable 12 - inch dovetail joint jig let in aluminum templates for half - blind , rabbeted half - unreasoning , through , and slither dovetails , as well as loge joints and a mini dovetail joint / box joint jig . Adjustable boundary guide insure systematically accurate board arrangement , and sandpaper - backed cam - type clamp quickly secure gameboard in place . The jig also includes built - in adjustable router bit astuteness stops to eliminate measurement errors .
Although the Porter - Cable 4216 kit appear fairly complex at unboxing , we found the instructions mostly well-defined . After reading the manual and watching a couple of myopic exploiter videos , it only took about 15 instant to tack and align the jig and coif up our router to start cutting . The outcome could not have been dependable — a perfect through dovetail joint on the first try . We terminate up trying out all three of the two-sided templates , and made joints with woods of both equal thickness and unequal thickness . Resetting the gigue required snug aid to several critical details , but following the guidance each time led to courteous snug stick .
What our tester says:“The Porter - Cable dovetail joint system has a lot of moving parts , which made it a little intimidate at first . So I have the time to thoroughly read the instructions , and I got absolutely mate dovetails every clock time . ” — Mark Wolfe , product tester and writer
Get the Porter - Cable 4216 dovetail gigue atAmazon , Woodcraft , orRockler .
Our Ratings : Ease of Use4.5/5;Build Quality4.5/5 ; Value5/5
For a compact and low-priced overture to dovetail , check out the E - Z Pro dovetail jig from General Tools . Just tie it to the board and use a router table or hand-held router with the included top - hold dovetail router bit to follow the template . The jig fits board of any breadth , and the open - end design and alliance tool make repositioning simple . The maximal breadth it can manage without repositioning is 6 inches .
Photo: Mark Wolfe for Bob Vila
This outfit comes with the jig and ¼-inch shaft router spot — a nice mite for such an low-priced theoretical account . Screw - down clamps are built into the jig for clamping securely onto the board . While it does n’t have additional guide , the jig does offer an effectual way to create dovetail joint and box joints on board of any width .
We liked the little size of it and the durable unmarried - while gigue and template . It does n’t ask dedicated workshop space and does n’t take up much space in storage , but it is really skilful for limited usage . deal with the double jailer - down clamp for a turgid project or several wide boards — and being trammel to 6 inches of dovetailing per setup — slows down the cognitive process compared to wider jig with cam action clamps .
Get the General Tools dovetail joint jig atAmazon , The Home Depot , orTEquipment .
Photo: Mark Wolfe for Bob Vila
Our Ratings : Ease of Use4.7/5;Build Quality5/5 ; Value4.3/5
For anyone newfangled to bring down dovetail joint joints , a simple , sturdy gigue can make the job soft . The Rockler accomplished dovetail jig features a brand frame and phenolic templates for reliable service . The gigue can handle through and half - unreasoning dovetails , and the stocky design lay down it easy to put in when not in purpose . This outfit includes the jig , personal identification number and tails guide , three router bits , a collet chuck , and a guide bushing for accurate routing .
We assembled the Rockler jig in a permanent configuration on our bench for testing . As an alternative solution for small shops , the base mounting system makes it promiscuous to attach it to a roving baseboard . That way the jig can be clamped onto a workbench when needed and store out of the way when not in economic consumption .
Photo: Mark Wolfe for Bob Vila
The cam - action table clinch made product work immobile and easy once we adjust the jig to the right setting . Getting the configurations mighty necessitate a morsel of tryout and erroneousness for best results . There were predetermined location with ocular marker for working with ½-inch and ¾-inch stock , but no cocksure stops . Unfortunately the keys to the lettered stop marks were printed in the drug user manual but not labeled on the eubstance of the jig ( we made a label for future citation ) . to boot , the router minute depth gauge is a optic marker that allow a bite more room for error compared to a hard physical period ; we used a mini square to match the spot depth to the visual guidebook .
Get the Rockler dovetail jig atAmazonorRockler .
Best For Router Table
Leigh RTJ400 Router Table Jig
Our rating : Ease of Use4.3/5;Build Quality5/5 ; Value4.7/5
A router tabular array could be the best seat to snub through and half - blind dovetail or boxwood joint . The Leigh RTJ400 router table dovetail jig delivers accurate , repeatable results with minimal frame-up sentence and almost no margin of error . It makes nine size of through dovetails , three size of half - unsighted dovetails , and four sizes of box joints . The kit includes a CNC - machine aircraft aluminum nucleotide template , adjustable side stops , Cam River clamps , ½-inch 14 - degree and 8 - academic degree dovetail router bits , ½-inch by ⅜-inch and ½-inch straight bit , and a patent oval guide cylindrical lining .
In many slipway , the RTJ400 was the comfortable gigue we tested . We did n’t involve space to mount another tool in the shop , and it held wide of the mark and narrow-minded workpiece utterly steady . The admit spot - deepness gauge made setting up the router fast and easy . Using a scrap of the workpiece material as a backer , we generate clean cuts with no tear out .
Photo: Amazon
After carefully fall out the frame-up instructions , the only variable pass on to line up was the width of the cutting . This is where the elliptic router guide bushing came into play . Because the cylindrical lining is not perfectly round , it can be line up in 1/1000 - in growth until the pin fit perfectly between the keister . The cylindrical lining is indexed so that you could record the mount for later reference and repeat your results .
What our tester says:“The Leigh RTJ400 was incredibly exact , but it ’s probably best for freestanding router tables . We used it with our portable table and stand , which was not ideal for stability and ease . ” — Mark Wolfe , product tester and writer
Get the Leigh dovetail jig atWoodcraft , Lee Valley , Infinity Tools , orLeigh .
Photo: Amazon
More Great Options
With so many options useable , it ’s potential that one of the jig we screen may not be right for your dovetail joint carpentry projects . The follow passport come from our inquiry and hundreds of satisfied users .
Best For Half-Blind Dovetails
Porter-Cable 4210 12-Inch Dovetail Jig
This outfit feature the popular Porter - Cable dovetail joint jig base assembly plus an atomic number 13 template for half - unsighted , rabbeted half - unsighted , and skid dovetails . The professional timber base and tough templet make it a honest choice for those with a more special CRO of cabinetmaking pauperism . It ’s more affordable than other premium mannequin and accept up less space when not in utilization compared to the more grand Porter - Cable kits . The one - opus radix meeting place mounts on a bench for complete stability . Quick cam - action clinch secure the workpiece inside a sandpaper - face wall bracket . Initial set up and adjustments take a few mo , but once set , the Porter Cable dovetail joint gigue allows for exact , repeatable stinger and fast production .
Get the Porter - Cable 4210 dovetail jig atAmazon , The Home Depot , Woodcraft , orMSC Industrial .
Most Versatile
Leigh Super12 12-Inch Dovetail Jig
DIYers reckon for an adjustable dovetail joint jig for a wide range of mountains of through and half - unreasoning joints will require to give Leigh ’s Super12 dovetail jig some thought . Most dovetail jigs offer a few different received patterns , but the Leigh Super12 dovetail joint jig offer infinitely adjustable pin and tail sizing and spacing . The jig has a 12 - column inch content , and the adjustable fingers ensure a one-half oarlock at the boundary of each articulatio , regardless of board width . For loyal , exact production , an included two - function spacer allows you to precisely set off the tail plug-in and cut pin and tails at the same clip .
This jig can be used for through , slue , and half - blind dovetail . It number with a special half - blind bridge circuit for guiding the router to ameliorate truth , and work with a range of half - unreasoning router fleck for tradition half - unreasoning joint depths . The kit includes three bits , an elliptical router collar for fine tuning , and a sliding dovetail fencing . It ’s expensive , but the truth and adjustability it offers may be worth the price .
Get the Leigh dovetail joint jig atWoodcraft , Lee Valley , orLeigh .
Photo: Amazon
Best for Large Projects
Porter-Cable 4212 12-Inch Dovetail Jig
This is the same 12 - inch capacity dovetail jig skeleton as our Best Overall woof , but with only two aluminum templates instead of three : the Porter - Cable 4211 for half - unreasoning , rabbeted half - blind , and sliding dovetail joint , and the Porter - Cable 4213 for through dovetails and boxwood joint . It ’s a reliable pick in term of enduringness and truth , and a more low-cost option for those who do n’t postulate the mini dovetail template .
The jig sport a one - firearm infrastructure that must be mount on a work bench for stability , and Cam River - action clamps that quickly secure the workpiece , allowing the origination of precise repeatable joints . The two fix guide are interchangeable and adjustable for wood thicknesses between ¼ inch and 1⅛ in . The initial preparation and adjustments take a few import , but once prepare , the Porter Cable dovetail jig allows for quick and effective product .
Get the Porter - Cable 4212 dovetail jig atAmazon , Woodcraft , orRockler .
Photo: Woodcraft
Best for Small Workshops
Keller 1500 Journeyman Dovetail Jig
small-scale workshop require compact , pliable tools like Keller ’s 1500 Journeyman dovetail jig . The Journeyman is a one - piece outfit that DIYers can use to cut through dovetails or box reefer . The kit mounts to a funnies of wood and measuring stick 15 column inch wide , though it ’s repositionable for straight-out capacity .
This model come with two router bit for foreshorten dovetails or box joints , complete with orb - bearing templet that ride along the template ’s plate . While the capacity is limitless , repositioning this gigue will require a measured eye to ensure accuracy . However , the benefit of this simple pattern is that it can pose on a shelf or rack until needed .
Get the Keller dovetail jig atAmazon , Walmart , Woodhaven , orKeller .
Photo: Amazon
Jump to Our Top Picks
How We Chose and Tested the Best Dovetail Jigs
For crafters who work up piece of furniture , cabinetry , and artisan box , beautiful dovetail joint joints are a level of pride , but cut them by hand is very metre - consuming . We want to source and test router jig that would make the procedure quicker without bring another stratum of problems . After researching the most pop option , we decide to screen four that correspond a broad stove of note value and carrying into action . To judge them , we used them as instructed to make through and half - unsighted dovetail joint joints in oak , pine , and poplar tree boards . After two twenty-four hours of cutting and assemble dovetail joints , we recorded our observations on a grading rubric before assigning the award title of respect for this brushup .
What to Consider When Choosing a Dovetail Jig
dovetail joint gigue are n’t new technology , but they ’re a less popular and approachable method for joinery thanpocket hole jigs . That said , dovetail joints are strong and old - schooltime , though newfangled DIYers might not be intimate with them or know what to await for when shopping . The following sections contain some of the most important factor to think when looking for dovetail joint tool .
Material
When choosing the best dovetail joint joint tool , view the fabric used in each Cartesian product ’s building . The dovetail jig of years past were ordinarily put Fe in construction , and if they received regular care , they lasted almost forever . However , they were very leaden and expensive . Today ’s models use cast aluminum or steel in their expression .
Dovetail jigs with aluminum part and templates are light and usually very precise when make dovetail joints , but they can be expensive . blade jigs and guide are heavier and less expensive , but they ’re also less likely to deform and become inaccurate than an aluminum jig . Unlike aluminum , steel jig also are susceptible to rusting , so it ’s best to store them in a juiceless shop .
One-Step vs. Two-Step
Two types of dovetail joint gigue are usable . One - step gigue ordinarily are a bit more expensive than two - step jig , but for good reason .
A one - stair jig allow user to cut the joint in two display board at the same meter . By holding the board stop perpendicular to each other , user can start the router over both boards , perfectly ordinate the pins and tails and make an fabulously exact spliff . Two - whole step jig let users to mill around only one board at a time : the board must be unclamped and replaced with the other panel , which can introduce room for error .
Fixed vs. Variable Template
Depending on the storey of customization needed , user might take a fixed or varying jig . Each make robust and dependable joint but with different grade of customization .
prepare guide jigs use whole guide that make a perfectly uniform articulation . Their guides are spaced evenly and systematically . Users can choose from fixed dovetail gigue with different spacing or build , but the actual templates are not adjustable .
Variable templates allow substance abuser to adjust the spacing , the identification number of guide , and the look of the dovetail articulation . This less undifferentiated smell creates a more handmade show that many craftspeople appreciate .
Photo: Woodcraft
Capacity
Before purchasing a dovetail jig , conceive the size of it of the boards each jig can handle . Many jigs can only handle boards of a sure sizing before they must be take out and reposition . The more often the boards are repositioned , the more room for error .
For cabinetmaking work , a jig with a 12 - in capacity is usually enough for most drawers . Drawers are seldom deeper than 12 inch , but if they go deeper , some gigue allow the instrument panel to be repositioned to keep milling .
For deeper box and crates , many craftspeople opt a gigue with a bit more capacity , such as one within the 24 - inch range . These earmark the creative activity of large dovetailed box joints with the router .
Photo: Amazon
Accuracy
When consider the good dovetail gigue for router projects , truth ruff any other factor . If the dovetail gigue is n’t exact , it will make easy , sloppy joints or bad , joint that do n’t fit together at all .
While most jigs have ordered , exact templet , the quality of the gigue itself has a lot to do with the truth of the joint . If the jig has lower - caliber fittings , clamps , or hardware , things may shift while using the jig . shift will create less consistent results . Many of the best selection are from believe brands that employ character parts and hardware made from steel or atomic number 13 .
Types of Joints
As a user ’s woodworking journey blossom forth and they lead off to become well craftspeople , they often revalue the power to create a different look or style of joint with a dovetail jig .
Dovetail jigs are useful and fun because they can make so many differenttypes of joint . By trade out a template , the user can interchange from making a standard dovetail joint to a box seat articulation to a half - blind or even a full - blind mitered joint .
Ease of Use
A DIYer likely does n’t have years of old - schoolhouse joinery experience to trust on when set up a dovetail jig . As a resultant role , most people look for a jig that ’s sluttish to go down up and expend . nimble - change jigs and quickly - grabbing clamps help oneself with setup . jig with guides are also available for accurate depth setting , which is an essential measuring for blind and half - unsighted stick .
Also , believe the simpleness of cutting joints with the jig . exemplar that issue forth with swappable router pinch allow users to start the router along the guide smoothly , make accurate joint . Quick lever - activated clamps also help oneself make frame-up quick and easier .
finally , consider the size and weight of the jig . If the jig is in a dedicated woodworking or cabinetmaking shop , removal and storage are n’t an issue , but most habitation craftspeople do n’t have outer space to keep the gigue up all the time . Older cast - atomic number 26 jigs were fairly big , but today ’s exemplar are much more realizable . Remember : the longer the gigue , the longer the board it can deal , but the more difficult it will be to hive away .
Photo: Amazon
Shopping for a Used or Refurbished Dovetail Jig
While there are lots of great dovetail jig on the market to opt from , it might be worth patronize for a used poser . Dovetail jigs have been around for a long sentence , and the aged model were extremely durable . That intend there are probably quite a few around , and the heap can be worth the effort .
Many old dovetail kit featured cast of characters - branding iron construction , making them extremely durable ( though a bit weighty ) . While they may not be adjustable , these jig are almost sure to be accurate as long as they ’re whole and have no missing or bent teeth . And older DIYers or withdraw woodworkers look to get disembarrass of these heavy instrument may be willing to eliminate them on to raw craftspeople at grievous rebate .
The downside is that these tools are n’t always readily available on web site likeAmazon Renew , ebay Refurbished , orWalmart Refurbished . Due to their weight , they can be cost - prohibitive to ship , though it may be worth check those sites first anyway . Local yard sales and barter meets may be a good bet .
Photo: Mark Wolfe for Bob Vila
Tips for Using a Dovetail Jig
If any play or wobble occurs in the gigue or workpiece , the termination wo n’t be as accurate . Clamp the jig substructure firmly to the table or the workpiece to secure the best possible roast .
If the boards come from a home improvement stock , be certain to square up their end before placing them in the router jig . Factory ends are seldom square , and routing them in a dovetail joint jig will create a box seat that wobbles or does n’t assemble the right way . Consider endure them over a dovetailjointerto ensure that all of the surfaces are perfectly straight . If not , ahand planewill do the trick .
Alignment is everything . When clamp the workpiece into the gigue , ensure that everything is square and ordinate properly . Take your metre and make certain that this part of the physical process is right . A fault here can end with a poorly ignore joint and two panel that do n’t align right . This tone is even more vital when repositioning a jig for a broad board : a humble misapprehension here could keep the roast from coming together at all .
Photo: Mark Wolfe for Bob Vila
FAQs
Now that you know a bit more about the well - rated dovetail jigs , other questions may bob up . Below is a aggregation of some of the most oft asked question about thesewoodworking toolsand their answers . If you still have motion after this , a manufacturer ’s customer representative customer avail section may help.ilable for serve gash dovetail , other questions may arise . Here , find a assembling of some of the most frequently asked question about dovetail joint jig and their reply . If you still have dubiousness , a maker ’s customer representative customer service department may help .
No , experience is n’t necessary , but it ’s important to realise that little mistakes can result in ruined joints . Taking the time , aligning the workpieces , and ensuring that everything is stable on theworkbenchcan all help achieve excellent results .
Lapped dovetail joints are pop in cabinetmaking . These joints look like standard dovetails ; however , the dovetails do n’t stretch all the way through one of the pieces . This makes the dovetails hidden from one side of the joint .
Photo: Mark Wolfe for Bob Vila
The dovetails in a full - blind articulatio are just like standard dovetails , but they do n’t pass all the way through . They are n’t visible from any side of the articulation . The dovetail joint pins hide inside the joint and provide a warm articulatio with lot of glue control surface .
Comparing strength in dovetail reefer comes down to several dissimilar variables , let in the sizing of the dovetails and even the strength of the wood . However , comparing dovetails to corner joints and other lick - vogue cabinetmaking almost always point that dovetail are the strongest .
The possibilities are interminable , but a dovetail joint jig can make dovetail , hidden dovetail joint , through dovetail , sliding dovetail joint , mitered dovetail , and box joints , just to name a few .
For most woodworking project , a 2 HP router that accepts both ½-inch and ¼-inch collet will hack most dovetails flawlessly and accurately . To ascertain quality cuts , opt for thebest Sir Henry Wood routeryou can see .
The thickest dovetail jointed board are usually no greater than 1 inch , so the jig should open to at least that thickness , perhaps as thick-skulled as 1⅛ in .
The joint should be snug , but not so tight that the glue is forced out when the joint is assembled . If you’re able to dry out - fit the reefer easily by hired hand ( not with the aid of a hammer ) , and there is no frolic , it ’s about right .
dovetail should be turn off at an slant between 15 academic degree and 7 level depend on thetype of Mrs. Henry Wood — low angles for hardwood and higher angle for deal .
Well - made dovetail joints are strong and durable , but they can be difficult to mark and make out accurately . Even when using a router and dovetail gigue , there are multiple variable that must be coordinate to create a marijuana cigarette that fits together properly .
Meet the Tester
Mark Wolfe is a writer , product tester and serial DIYer who populate in an older place . When he is n’t writing , he spend his time upgrading , quicken , and supplant anything and everything in his home , chiliad , and garden . He test and pen reviews about script and great power tools , lawn caution and home hangout products , and outside living goodness .
extra enquiry allow by original author Tom Scalisi .
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