Dovetail Jig Reviews
Welcome to Dovetail Jig Reviews. I created this blog to help you find the dovetail jig that’s best for you.
There are quite a few things that determine which dovetail jig you should purchase.
For instance, what type of dovetails do you want to cut? Do you only want to cut wood for small boxes and drawers or do you want to make large chests? Do you want half blind or through cut dovetails, or both?
How about overall ease of use and of course, how much does it cost and where’s the best place to buy.
If you already know which jig you would like, I have found the best prices are consistently at Amazon and in almost all cases, include free shipping.
= =>Click here to see the best deals on Dovetail Jigs <= =
I will discuss some jig features below, but if you would like to go directly to a specific table review, click below or click any of the links on the right side of the page.
Dovetail Jig Reviews
Porter Cable Dovetail Jig Reviews
Porter Cable OmniJig Reviews
Leigh Dovetail Jig Reviews
Keller Dovetail Dig Reviews
I’ve been a woodworker for 20 years and although I’m not a professional carpenter, I do consider myself an experienced and serious woodworker.
My reviews are based on personal experience and what I have learned over the years.
I would suggest you consider the following before you make your purchase.
Do you need more than through dovetails?
The simplest and least expensive jigs cut through dovetails only. For many people, this will work fine and it’s all they need.
Basic jigs like this are easy to use and inexpensive. To get started all you do is mount them with screws to a piece of wood (check for wood dimensions before purchasing)
These types of jigs are great for limited use or beginners.
Be aware very inexpensive no name jigs are usually made from very cheap, thin plastic. They will warp or crack over time and are a waste of money.
My favorite for this type of jig is the Keller because the material is solid and durable and will last.
Read my full Keller dovetail jig review here.
Would you like to cut other types of joints like box joints?
The next level of dovetail jigs will have the ability to cut different types of joints by simply exchanging templates. These may include half blind or box joints.
To change templates, you just loosen a couple of screws to remove the existing template and replace with the new template and then tighten the screws. Only takes a few moments.
When a tool is easy and fast to set up, it’s amazing how much more you’ll use it. Since I switched over to using a box joint template instead of a tablesaw to cut box joints, it’s amazing how much more I actually make projects instead of not making them because I didn’t want to go to the trouble of setting up the dado blade in the tablesaw.
By using a dovetail jig you’ll also get a cleaner cut with almost no chipout.
Quality jigs at this level cost only slightly more but can do so much more than through cut only through cut dovetails.
If you would like a jig like this, I would suggest you consider the porter cable series or Leigh super jig series.
Read my Porter Cable Dovetail jig review here
Are you under buying your dovetail jig?
What I have found with any basic tool I have ever bought is that after a short while I want to do something other than just the basic function. I always then wish I would have spent a few dollars more and gotten the tool with more features.
If you’re like this, then consider the Leigh d4r or Porter Cable Omnijig.
Read full dovetail jig reviews here on the Porter Cable Omnijig and Leigh d4r
Both of these jigs are excellent, top of the line models.
You can cut boards longer than 12 inches. This means you’re not limited to drawers or small projects. You can make anything from blanket chests to large scale furniture.
One of the best features is that you can custom space the fingers. Most jigs are preset. These jigs allow you to set the fingers and whatever space you choose so you can design you own decorative cuts.
Realize these types of jigs can be a litter more time consuming to set up, but the additional functionality is well worth it.
Which dovetail jig is best for you?
I hope these dovetail jig reviews have been helpful. I’ve tried to cover some basics on this post. However, to see more model and brand specific information, click the links or categories to the right.
= =>Click here to see more dovetail jig reviews on Amazon <= =
Where to find the best deals on Dovetail Jigs
There are certainly many options available to make your purchase, but for overall selection, higher quality models and best prices and free shipping, the best deals are at Amazon.
Here’s the link to view the Amazon Deals or read more reviews.
