Hey Everyone!
It could be that I'm just a moron, but I spent some time yesterday trying to set up my new JET dovetail jig to make some drawers for a project I'm working on...
Long story short, there's a calculation you're supposed to use in order to figure the distance the fence should be from the tips of the fingers on the template. I'm attempting to use a Freud 2200VCE plunge router, and it's base is 6 3/4" wide. The figure that I end up with, even after checking my math a bunch of times, is a considerably longer distance than the fence can move back. What gives? Anyone else encounter this?
Secondly, the instructions only mention how to calculate this distance using stock that is the same dimensional thickness. For my project, I'm using 5/8" sides, and 7/8" fronts (for the drawers). How do you do that? I called the company that manufacturers the JET jig, but they didn't know how to do it, and said they'd call back
Finally, I had to buy an adapter plate from Woodcraft, made by Leigh, in order to use Porter Cable-style template guide bushings with the Freud router. The JET jig instructions specify using a 1/4" dovetail bit (1/2" profile). However, the only way I can even reach the collet of the router with this bit is to plunge the router ALL THE WAY DOWN, and align the depth stop so that it doesn't contact any of the 3 settings on the turret. I'm really new at router stuff, so any insight you might have is greatly appreciated. I sure was bummed about all this stuff. Just for grins, using some scrap wood, I attempted to route some dovetails using the fence as far back as it would go, and it was a disaster. In fact, it felt like something was keeping me from directing the router to go all the way back in the fingers of the template.
Anyway, thanks in advance for your help!