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**challagan** · 03-17-2007, 04:26 PM

Well today I took a break from the kitchen and decided to get the Gifkin set up.
It's as easy as the Demo makes it. The Gifking cuts the dovetails on one side of the jig and the slots on the otherside. You set the stock block by centering the work piece over the pins so it looks good and that is all you have to do.

Once you have that then set the height of the dovetail cutter. I set it a little proud of the boards thickness. See photo 2

I then cut the dovetails. Then you flip the workpiece to the straight cutter side and change to the straight cutter, set the height of the cutter again and cut the slots. The Gifkin uses paper shims on the straight cutter side. Each template comes with 5 shims in the jig. For a tight joint you add shims to loosen and remove shims to tighten. Mine was just a tad tight so I added a shim and recut the slots. This time I got a great fit just right for a glue joint.

I then marked the backer boards that it was 6 shims for the A-10 template. I designated these backer boards for 7/16 stock. The jig is now set up for the A-10 template and doesn't need set up again unless you change to another template. You don't have to designate backer boards to certain sizes of stock but I have for 7/16, 1/2 and 3/8 stock.

Router is still my name · 03-17-2007, 04:47 PM

Can it do 1 inch thick wood or limited to 3/4" ?
Thanks

**challagan** · 03-17-2007, 05:14 PM

Hey Router. This particular template is for up to 1/2 material. Another template allows up to 3/4. This jig is designed particularly for box work. Roger Gifkin is a master box maker so that is what he designed it for. You can make smaller drawers with it and there is a template that allows up to 300mm wide material for a blanket chest but in my opinion it would be unstable on the router table. It's best doing what it is designed for, thin wood box work.

Corey

**bobj3** · 03-17-2007, 05:24 PM

Hi Corey

Looking Good, nice jig

You may want to send off for the bit set below, they work in my setup and I'm sure they wil work in your new Gifkins jig as well, the small one in the set will let you do 3/16" -1/4" thick stock or to say put in 11/32" wide dovetails.

http://cgi.ebay.com/5pc-Top-Bearing-...QQcmdZViewItem

I did pickup two sets because of the great price on them.

Bj

**Bob** · 03-17-2007, 07:30 PM

Alright Corey..... back to the kitchen for you! You posted this just to make me green with envy because you know Gifkin won't arrive for another 3 weeks yet. Nothing wrong with being green on St. Paddy's day, but this is not what I in mind.

I can't wait for it to get here, it appears to be the cat's meow. Those are some great looking dovetails in those pictures. Very tight and slightly proud.... picture perfect!

Don't guess I could borrow yours until mine arrives?

**challagan** · 03-17-2007, 10:54 PM

Hi Bob, thanks for the link! That reminds me, I need to get some of those little rubber ORings so that if the grub screw becomes loose it doesn't ruin the template. What size of O ring do I buy for 1/4 inch shank?

Corey

**challagan** · 03-17-2007, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob N

Alright Corey..... back to the kitchen for you! You posted this just to make me green with envy because you know Gifkin won't arrive for another 3 weeks yet. Nothing wrong with being green on St. Paddy's day, but this is not what I in mind.

I can't wait for it to get here, it appears to be the cat's meow. Those are some great looking dovetails in those pictures. Very tight and slightly proud.... picture perfect!

Don't guess I could borrow yours until mine arrives?

Sure you can borrow it. Come and get it anytime

Hey Bob, forgot to mention this. You want to be sure those little grub screws are tight on the collars that hold up the bearing. If that works loose the collar drops and that means the bearing drops and then you have a problem cause if the bearing ends up below the template, your going to chew it up and ruin it. Bobj mentioned this to me before and today when I was removing the bit from the router and the collar dropped down cause the grub screw was loose

Bobj uses a little O ring on the shank under the collar to hold it up if the grub screw fails. Good insurance. Just wanted to mention that.

Cpreu

**bobj3** · 03-17-2007, 11:40 PM

Hi Corey

If you don't have any Oil Rings the right size you can put on some black elec.tape just under the lock collar,2 or 3 raps will do it.note the way you rap it on you don't want it to unrap.
I cut the tape into 1/4" wide strips.

Bj

del schisler · 03-18-2007, 08:58 AM

I have that gifkins dovel tail for a couple yr's now I use 2 router's and 2 tables One for the dovel tail's And the other for the pin's Sure work's very well I have made over 50 jewely box's and lot's of drawer's I know you will like it Once you get the width of the board cut So that it come's out right With enough on the ends for the pins and tails del

**bobj3** · 03-18-2007, 09:58 AM

Hi Corey

"What size of O ring do I buy for 1/4 inch shank? "

3/16" ID, then roll them on, they are like you know what, you don't want them to COME off or Side down at the wrong time. .

Bj

------------------------
------------------------

Quote:

Originally Posted by challagan

Hi Bob, thanks for the link! That reminds me, I need to get some of those little rubber ORings so that if the grub screw becomes loose it doesn't ruin the template. What size of O ring do I buy for 1/4 inch shank?

Corey

03-17-2007, 04:26 PM	#1
challagan Retired Moderator Supreme Forum King Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Iowa Posts: 3,998 View challagan's Gallery	Report This Post! Finally Got The Gifkins Set Up..... Well today I took a break from the kitchen and decided to get the Gifkin set up. It's as easy as the Demo makes it. The Gifking cuts the dovetails on one side of the jig and the slots on the otherside. You set the stock block by centering the work piece over the pins so it looks good and that is all you have to do. Once you have that then set the height of the dovetail cutter. I set it a little proud of the boards thickness. See photo 2 I then cut the dovetails. Then you flip the workpiece to the straight cutter side and change to the straight cutter, set the height of the cutter again and cut the slots. The Gifkin uses paper shims on the straight cutter side. Each template comes with 5 shims in the jig. For a tight joint you add shims to loosen and remove shims to tighten. Mine was just a tad tight so I added a shim and recut the slots. This time I got a great fit just right for a glue joint. I then marked the backer boards that it was 6 shims for the A-10 template. I designated these backer boards for 7/16 stock. The jig is now set up for the A-10 template and doesn't need set up again unless you change to another template. You don't have to designate backer boards to certain sizes of stock but I have for 7/16, 1/2 and 3/8 stock. __________________ My Carving Website: The Iowa Woodcarver http://iowacarver.tripod.com/ My Shop Website - Woodshop 51503 http://woodshop51503.tripod.com/
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03-17-2007, 04:47 PM	#2
Router is still my name Registered User Forum King Join Date: May 2006 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 533 View Router is still my name's Gallery	Report This Post! Can it do 1 inch thick wood or limited to 3/4" ? Thanks __________________ router è ancora il mio nome
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03-17-2007, 05:14 PM	#3
challagan Retired Moderator Supreme Forum King Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Iowa Posts: 3,998 View challagan's Gallery	Report This Post! Hey Router. This particular template is for up to 1/2 material. Another template allows up to 3/4. This jig is designed particularly for box work. Roger Gifkin is a master box maker so that is what he designed it for. You can make smaller drawers with it and there is a template that allows up to 300mm wide material for a blanket chest but in my opinion it would be unstable on the router table. It's best doing what it is designed for, thin wood box work. Corey __________________ My Carving Website: The Iowa Woodcarver http://iowacarver.tripod.com/ My Shop Website - Woodshop 51503 http://woodshop51503.tripod.com/
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03-17-2007, 05:24 PM	#4
bobj3 Forum Contributer Supreme Forum King Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Littleton,Colorado U.S.A. Posts: 8,094 View bobj3's Gallery	Report This Post! Hi Corey Looking Good, nice jig You may want to send off for the bit set below, they work in my setup and I'm sure they wil work in your new Gifkins jig as well, the small one in the set will let you do 3/16" -1/4" thick stock or to say put in 11/32" wide dovetails. http://cgi.ebay.com/5pc-Top-Bearing-...QQcmdZViewItem I did pickup two sets because of the great price on them. Bj __________________ PodCast videos RWS on YouTube http://www.routerforums.com/86898-post1.html Besure and click on the Up Arrow key ▲ on the Youtube video, you can select other youtube videos on router tables http://www.woodworkingonline.com/?s=dovetail Machine Cut ▼ http://www.woodworkingonline.com/200...cut-dovetails/ http://www.woodworkingonline.com/woo...podcast-store/ http://www.woodshopdemos.com/menu2.htm Bob J. Last edited by bobj3; 03-17-2007 at 05:27 PM.
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03-17-2007, 07:30 PM	#5
Bob Forum Moderator Supreme Forum King Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Georgia USA Posts: 2,492 View Bob's Gallery	Report This Post! Alright Corey..... back to the kitchen for you! You posted this just to make me green with envy because you know Gifkin won't arrive for another 3 weeks yet. Nothing wrong with being green on St. Paddy's day, but this is not what I in mind. I can't wait for it to get here, it appears to be the cat's meow. Those are some great looking dovetails in those pictures. Very tight and slightly proud.... picture perfect! Don't guess I could borrow yours until mine arrives? __________________ Cheers, Bob
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03-17-2007, 10:54 PM	#6
challagan Retired Moderator Supreme Forum King Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Iowa Posts: 3,998 View challagan's Gallery	Report This Post! Hi Bob, thanks for the link! That reminds me, I need to get some of those little rubber ORings so that if the grub screw becomes loose it doesn't ruin the template. What size of O ring do I buy for 1/4 inch shank? Corey __________________ My Carving Website: The Iowa Woodcarver http://iowacarver.tripod.com/ My Shop Website - Woodshop 51503 http://woodshop51503.tripod.com/
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03-17-2007, 11:40 PM	#8
bobj3 Forum Contributer Supreme Forum King Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Littleton,Colorado U.S.A. Posts: 8,094 View bobj3's Gallery	Report This Post! Hi Corey If you don't have any Oil Rings the right size you can put on some black elec.tape just under the lock collar,2 or 3 raps will do it.note the way you rap it on you don't want it to unrap. I cut the tape into 1/4" wide strips. Bj __________________ PodCast videos RWS on YouTube http://www.routerforums.com/86898-post1.html Besure and click on the Up Arrow key ▲ on the Youtube video, you can select other youtube videos on router tables http://www.woodworkingonline.com/?s=dovetail Machine Cut ▼ http://www.woodworkingonline.com/200...cut-dovetails/ http://www.woodworkingonline.com/woo...podcast-store/ http://www.woodshopdemos.com/menu2.htm Bob J.
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03-18-2007, 08:58 AM	#9
del schisler Registered User Forum Geek Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 233 View del schisler's Gallery	Report This Post! I have that gifkins dovel tail for a couple yr's now I use 2 router's and 2 tables One for the dovel tail's And the other for the pin's Sure work's very well I have made over 50 jewely box's and lot's of drawer's I know you will like it Once you get the width of the board cut So that it come's out right With enough on the ends for the pins and tails del __________________ del schisler
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