Finally Got The Gifkins Set Up.....

6864 Views 25 Replies 6 Participants Last post by Bob N, Mar 23, 2007

challagan

Discussion Starter · Mar 17, 2007

5

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.

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Reactions: 1

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Router is still my name

· #2 · Mar 17, 2007

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

challagan

Discussion Starter · #3 · Mar 17, 2007

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

· #4 · Mar 17, 2007 (Edited)

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...emZ130091061854QQcategoryZ50386QQcmdZViewItem

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

Bj

Bob N

· #5 · Mar 17, 2007

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

Discussion Starter · #6 · Mar 18, 2007

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

Discussion Starter · #7 · Mar 18, 2007

Bob N said:
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

· #8 · Mar 18, 2007

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

· #9 · Mar 18, 2007

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

· #10 · Mar 18, 2007

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

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challagan said:
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

Joe Lyddon

· #11 · Mar 18, 2007 (Edited)

Corey,

That sure looks simple and easy!

Do you have link where you can see them, etc.?
How much are they?

edit:
Found the Home page in Australia!
Looks like it's pretty expensive... for me...
...but you get a lot of templates, I guess. $200 ??

Can they be purchased locally? Amazon didn't have them.
/edit

Thank you.

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challagan

Discussion Starter · #12 · Mar 18, 2007

bobj3 said:
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

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Thanks Bob, I appreciate it!

Corey

challagan

Discussion Starter · #13 · Mar 18, 2007

del schisler said:
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, I love it already! Glad I got it even though it is pricey but what the heck!

Thanks,
Corey

challagan

Discussion Starter · #14 · Mar 18, 2007

Joe Lyddon said:
Corey,

That sure looks simple and easy!

Do you have link where you can see them, etc.?
How much are they?

Thank you.

Hi Joe,it is very easy, no fussing and mussing really. It is however fairly expensive. It is made in Austrailia but can be bought from their US agent: The Japan Woodworker. Bob Noles just ordered from them and it is on back order. I bought mine direct from Roger and the shipping killed me! Here is the link to the Japan Woodworker Gifkin's page:
http://www.japanwoodworker.com/dept.asp?dept_id=12984

Corey

Some history on this jig. Roger was a well known box maker in Austrialia and around the world. He was commissioned to make 36 Medal cases for the Melbourne Olympics some years ago. They entailed a gazillion hand cut dovetails. When he was done he vowed never to make a hand cut dovetail again

So he developed this jig. There are others that are similar such as the Katie and the Keller. Don't know who's came first but Roger's is designed for box making primarily. In 1993 he decided to take it to shows in Au and from there on he has been making the jig and there are over 4 - 500,000 in shops around the world.

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Joe Lyddon

· #15 · Mar 18, 2007

Nope... out of my price range... way too high... out of sight!

Bob N

· #16 · Mar 18, 2007

Joe,

At Japan Woodworker the model A-10 is $229 (US) with FREE shippng. I am having to wait until they get a new shipment in which should be with the next 3 weeks. It will be worth the wait and cost from everything I have learned.

bobj3

· #17 · Mar 18, 2007

Just one more way to beat the high price

of the Mfg.Jigs

http://www.routerforums.com/jigs-fixtures/3615-dovetail-jig-router-table.html

Bj

challagan

Discussion Starter · #18 · Mar 18, 2007

I always enjoy seeing those jigs you made BJ, you did a great job on those!

Corey

Router is still my name

· #19 · Mar 18, 2007

Bj, who makes the dovetail template with scpacers (6177.jpg)
Thanks bud

bobj3

· #20 · Mar 18, 2007 (Edited)

Hi Router

http://www.mlcswoodworking.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/smarthtml/pages/dovetailjig.html
AND
http://www.katiejig.com/
http://www.katiejig.com/products.html
Bj

Router is still my name said:
Bj, who makes the dovetail template with scpacers (6177.jpg)
Thanks bud

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