| While there are, no doubt, other ways to accomplish | | | | simply cut all the dovetails on the template and then |
| this magnificent woodworking feat, I am going to | | | | re-align the template so that the first position on the |
| confine my remarks to the use of the Keller Model | | | | template is now lined up with the last dovetail (or pin) |
| 2401 Pro Series Dovetail Jig. Keller has other models | | | | cut during the initial pass. Theoretically, you could cut |
| available but this one seems best to me when | | | | dovetails all the way to the moon although no one has |
| considering both function and cost. | | | | tried this yet. |
| This will not be a long article because the operation of | | | | You can save some money by ordering the 16" model |
| this dovetail jig is elegantly simple. The complete kit | | | | but you will have to re-align the template more often |
| consists of two, large aluminum templates, one for the | | | | for wide workpieces. With the standard (larger) bits |
| pins and the other for the tails. It also includes two | | | | that are included, you may cut dovetails in panels that |
| router bits, one for the pins and the other for the tails. | | | | are from 5/8" to 1" thick. A smaller dovetail jig bit set is |
| These bits have ball bearing tracking collars mounted | | | | available (at extra cost). With the smaller bits, you may |
| between the cutter and the bit shaft. The collar tracks | | | | cut dovetails into 3/8" to 3/4" material. Normal pin |
| around the template while the bit is cutting into the end | | | | spacing is 1 3/4" center to center. The dovetail angle is |
| grain of the work piece. | | | | 7 degrees. A 1½ HP router or larger is required |
| Each dovetail jig template is screwed onto a piece of | | | | and the router collet can be either 3/8" or 1/2". |
| wood at right angle to the template. This wood is | | | | One-half inch is preferable. A Pro Clamp Kit is available |
| clamped to the one side of the workpiece while the | | | | at extra cost for production work and is especially |
| template rests on the end grain. The only adjustments | | | | useful for making drawers with the Keller dovetail jig.. |
| relate to proper left/right placement along the edge of | | | | If you want large dovetails in thicker stock, you might |
| the workpiece and setting the depth of cut on the | | | | want to consider Keller's Model 3600. These 36" wide |
| router. | | | | templates will handle thicknesses from 1/2" to 1 1/4" |
| Complete instructions come with each dovetail jig kit | | | | thick. The standard bit set works with wood up to 1" |
| and an instructional video is available. The width of | | | | thick. The optional small bit set is for wood thicknesses |
| each template is 24" (a 16" model is available) but the | | | | from 1/2" to 3/4". The optional large bit set is for stock |
| length of cut is not limited to those dimensions. You | | | | 7/8" to 1 1/4" thick. |