The following details my experience with the Katie Jig (KJ), as purchased from Katie Jig Tool System - Make Dovetail Joints Simply, Easily, and Quickly!. I had previously purchase Marc Sommerfeld’s DVD on the KJ with the intent of purchasing one from him. The video is excellent and left me ready to pick one up, to see if it was as “hassle-free” as it seemed and as good as BJ and others bragged about on the forum. When I learned about the KatieJig.com web site, I noted there’s wasn’t Marc’s “new KJ” and that KatieJig.com was more expensive, I called each supplier to ask what differentiated their product from their competitor.
Sommerfeld’s talked to the gold annodization and some additional “tuning forks” included in their base unit that would be optional add-ons with their competitor. KatieJig.com talked to how theirs was made in America and Europe, unlike their competitor. Upon further inquiry, they provided CMT bits and the jig itself was made in America, from American aluminum suppliers and extruders. I ended up going with the KatieJig.com model, which is described and photographed here.
Upon receipt, I looked over the instructions that came with it and found them confusing, so I used the setup and operational technique demonstrated in Marc’s video. I had some spare scraps of maple lying around, so I figured I’d try and make a 4-sided box frame about 8” on each side as a learning process and then figure out how to make it work right from there. Imagine my surprise when it went together perfectly first try and with no test or practice cuts, something I’d not try with my Incra. With that under my belt, I decided to try and make a couple of drawers to go into my RT cabinet. The first drawers were to be about 16” wide x 30” deep x 4-1/4” high. Image #1 shows where they are destined to be installed. Image #2 shows the stock, cut to size. Image #10 shows the KJ with painters tape applied and marked per Marc’s recommendation. Image #11 shows setting the end stops, set so the other end of the stock is centered between tuning forks. Marc also demonstrates how to label the pieces to avoid confusion as to which end of the stock is cut on front vs. back and left vs. right stop.
Image #12 shows me setting the bit depth and #13 shows the first set of tails cut.
Sommerfeld’s talked to the gold annodization and some additional “tuning forks” included in their base unit that would be optional add-ons with their competitor. KatieJig.com talked to how theirs was made in America and Europe, unlike their competitor. Upon further inquiry, they provided CMT bits and the jig itself was made in America, from American aluminum suppliers and extruders. I ended up going with the KatieJig.com model, which is described and photographed here.
Upon receipt, I looked over the instructions that came with it and found them confusing, so I used the setup and operational technique demonstrated in Marc’s video. I had some spare scraps of maple lying around, so I figured I’d try and make a 4-sided box frame about 8” on each side as a learning process and then figure out how to make it work right from there. Imagine my surprise when it went together perfectly first try and with no test or practice cuts, something I’d not try with my Incra. With that under my belt, I decided to try and make a couple of drawers to go into my RT cabinet. The first drawers were to be about 16” wide x 30” deep x 4-1/4” high. Image #1 shows where they are destined to be installed. Image #2 shows the stock, cut to size. Image #10 shows the KJ with painters tape applied and marked per Marc’s recommendation. Image #11 shows setting the end stops, set so the other end of the stock is centered between tuning forks. Marc also demonstrates how to label the pieces to avoid confusion as to which end of the stock is cut on front vs. back and left vs. right stop.
Image #12 shows me setting the bit depth and #13 shows the first set of tails cut.