I’m planning on building a project that requires some dovetail joints. Does anyone have any advice on the pros and cons of using a router with a dovetail jig or a table saw to produce them? Which is easier and/or produces better quality results? Thanks!
Use a router with a dovetail jig.
(I can’t link you to dovetail jig recommendations because all my information is at home.)
Finger joints are easy to do on a table saw, but dovetail joints are nearly impossible.
If you have a LOT of patience and skill, you could do it manually with a small hand saw.
Emilio,
Dovetails are not that bad! Do them by hand and avoid the cost of a dovetail jig. What ever you do, avoid the tablesaw as cutting dovetails on a table saw as sliding the side of a case through a spinning blade while standing it on end is about as dangerous as it sounds. If you have to use a saw, use the band saw, you’ll have best results if you create a view jigs that allow you to keep the angles straight.
But, one more time, do it by hand. After some practice they will look just fine. Also, learn to glue slivers into any gaps that are left in the same orientation as the ajacent wood to hide the gaps. Once you’ve planed/sanded the joints down, you will have a hard time finding the gaps.
If you are worried about doing it by hand, but like the idea of saving the $300 that a good dovetail jig will cost, look at the dovetail saw and guide from Lee Valley that I’ve linked to below. Its cheap and will allow you to cut dovetails by hand immediately. You can also vary the spacing and width of the tails.
cj
http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.asp?SID=&ccurrency=2&page=41718&category=1,42884
http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.asp?SID=&ccurrency=2&page=32948&category=1,42884,42905
Can’t argue with Algernon’s advice, except to say that there are those purists who say that you can cut dovetails faster and more accurately by hand than with a router, especially because you eliminate setup time. But if you’re like me (measure with a micrometer, mark with a crayon, cut with an axe), then the router is your best bet.
The Incra Jig can be for dovetails, and it has a lot of other uses when it comes to positioning shop tools.
If this is a one-off project (and you’re on a budget), you can probably improvise your own dovetail jig using blocks of wood.
I’ve always cut them by hand, never with a jig, so my advice must be taken in that vein.
If you are set in your mind on using a jig, use a router jig.
I’ve heard good things about the Leigh Dovetail Jig.
If you do decide to cut them by hand, there are two basic schools of thought, pins first or tails first. I believe in the pins first method.
I just looked at your question again.
My direct response:
Router jig.
Easier.
Better results.
Router with a good dovetail jig. Make sure you practice first with some scraps of equal thickness to your project first. Even with a jig things can go wrong. Also, make sure that your jig does not deflect when youget to the last pins and tails of your workpiece, some plastic jigs (sears jig) will bend under your router if not filled to capacity.
Happy tails!
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Next, we’ll make the drahs’ with my new routah fixcha…
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