My new $200 dovetail jig is a total paperweight

I saw a video online and thought this fancy jig would speed up my drawer boxes. It took me two full days just to get the setup right, and even then the cuts were off. The guide bushings that came with it are sloppy, so every joint needs hand work anyway. Has anyone found a jig that actually works out of the box, or should I just go back to cutting them by hand?

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3 Comments

white.grant5mo ago

Check if your router table is dead flat. Mine had a tiny dip that threw off every jig setup until I shimmed it.

3

davidcooper5mo ago

Absolutely right about checking for flatness! My old table had a slight crown in the center that ruined a bunch of edge joints. A simple straightedge check saved me so much headache.

8

shane_williams4mo ago

Did you try checking with a precision straightedge first, @white.grant?

5