Set Up and Use a Dovetail Jig

Class Preview

Dovetail jigs significantly shorten the learning curve for cutting great quality dovetails but, like any tool, a dovetail jig has to be set up and used correctly in order for you to get your best work out of it. This class provides you with everything you need to know to cut excellent through, half blind, and rabbeted dovetails on your jig.

Setting Up

Want a great dovetail? Start by making sure your material has been machined correctly, and your jig is correctly set up. A handful of great tips and tricks will be the start of you cutting excellent dovetails. We’ll also identify the router bits and other accessories used for cutting dovetails, how to lubricate your jig and router base, best practices for material prep, and jargon related to dovetails.

Half Blinds

Great half blind dovetails start with proper labeling of the box parts. With that complete we’ll look at setting up the jig so the joint is properly centered on the board, how to accurately position parts in the jig, and what we learn about depth of the router bit from doing test cuts. You’ll also learn how to use a set up gauge to more easily set the depth of the router bit the next time you use the jig.

Through Dovetails

Once again we’ll start with labeling our boards, and then look at positioning the material in the jig for through dovetails. The fit of a through dovetail depends on the size of the sockets, and you’ll learn how to correct the fit as needed. You’ll also see how to use climb cutting to prevent chipping of the boards.

Rabbeted Dovetails And Dovetail Mistakes

Rabbeted dovetails work great for partially inset drawers, but can be a little tricky to produce. We don’t need any special jig accessories to make them, we just need the right set up. A shop-made spacer is the answer, making it easy to correctly position your material for this joint. Everyone makes mistakes, and George has seen lots of them made on dovetails jigs. He’ll take you through a number of preemptive steps you can take to avoid making those mistakes.

Bonus: More about Dovetail Jigs

Bonus: Learn more about the value of using dovetail jigs.

Meet Your Instructor

Learn more about your instructor, George Vondriska.