Subject: fancy dovetail jigs

From: Skip <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 12 Feb 1997 15:57:26 -0500

I saw a demo of the JoinTech system a few days ago and am looking for a
system that could make outlined dovetails, maybe box joints too, and was
easy enough to use for production. I saw the Leigh jig video too. It
seems to be production oriented, but can't do the fancy stuff. I'm
leaning towards the Incra Ultra to put on my Delta Router/Shaper. I've
got the old plastic Incra as the heart of a homemade plywood fence
system and it's sturdy, but not incrementally adjustable (easily).

Does anyone have an opinion on which to use? Comments on the Incra
Ultra? Anyone do more with the Leigh than the video shows?

I'm leaning towards the Incra, rather than the JoinTech, because it
seems to be easier to micro-adjust and be a little cheaper. How are
these systems on repeatability and production use (100 boxes at a run)?

TIA,
Skip

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From: "Raoul J. Laurent III" <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 12 Feb 1997 18:20:08 -0700

> these systems on repeatability and production use (100 boxes at a run)?

I recently purchased the Incra Ultra Lite from Hartville Tools.  Its a
scaled down, 12", version of the Incra Ultra line.  It has proved to be
an easy to use and fairly flexible jig.  Even more flexibility came from
the use of the freeware, Template Maker, zipped into a file called
dovetail.zip at ftp://ftp.digex.net/pub/access/giammot/ .  I believe the
systems strong point is certainly repeatability and lends itself quite
well to production use.

I would recommend the Ultra model, which is a bit heftier than the Lite
and has five template channels as opposed to the Lite's three.

If I had it to do over again, I would have purchased the Incra Ultra 16"
to begin with because after upgrading the Lite with an Incra Stop and
the master template library, both of which come with the Ultra, my cost
would have been the same.

BTW, after searching through half a dozen mail order catalogs, I found
the best price on the Ultra Lite and Ultra 16 is offered by Grizzly
Imports at http://www.grizzlyimports.com/ .

Good Luck
rjl

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From: [email-masked] (Jerry Davis)
Date: 13 Feb 1997 02:25:09 GMT

In article <[email-masked]>, Skip <[email-masked]> says:

I have had the JoinTech system for about five years.  Making the 
outlined dovetails is not as easy as they make it appear.  It takes a lot
of adjusting and practice.  I really like the JoinTech and I use it on my
router table, on the band saw, and at the drill press.  The ability to 
move the fence 1/64th is nice when you are drilling holes that have to be
an exact distance from each other.

Jerry

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From: jrg <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 12 Feb 1997 22:51:10 -0500

> these systems on repeatability and production use (100 boxes at a run)?
I recently purchased the Incra Ultra 24.  I evaluated both units while
at a local wood workers show.  While it took a little bit of practice, I
have found that the Incra system works very well.  I teamed the Incra
system with a large deck router table (27" x 32") along with a Dewalt
DW625 3hp vs router. I enjoyed working with the Incra I also purchased
their table saw version to go onto my Delta Unisaw.

Jeff