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3 Posts
Hello Gentlemen, thank you for allowing me to post on your board. Just a couple of quick introductions, skip this paragraph if you don't care
I was a pretty shoddy carpenter until my late 20s at which point I learned patience and became decent. Today I am 38 and have become serious about making some nice stuff. I have accumulated lots of tools over the years, built some awesome picture frames as gifts and etc. blah blah blah. I generally have made boxes, boxes inside boxes, crown molding trim work, ugly dog houses, structural carpentry, and some decent hand carvings. Today I need you because I have a new goal for a part time living.
I have recently begun building a small end table of oak/slate to match a set we bought when we furnished our new house and a friend has offered a nice commission for building a show quality saddle rack. (Table): After building a rough knockout from studs and left over slate from the previous owner I was actually quite impressed, but my joints stink. I went and bought a carbide bit (14 degree Bosch dovetail) but have not bought a jig yet. I have several routers, each 1.5 hp running around 24,000 rpm. I have been considering just making finger joints with my table saw, but have never done that either. Templates, templates, templates?
So here are my questions:
1) I see a Rand dovetail jig on ebay for about $30 made of aluminum and used Craftsmen for less than $50. When using a 2x4 piece of wood, there is no problem cutting the half blind dovetail, correct? Half blind means it doesn't go all the way through? (forgive my newbieness to this). What are the drawbacks and if you were going to join a 2x4 in a square, how would you do it? Finger joints on a table saw look reasonably easy if the proper jig were employed? I get tired-head from the endless stuff I need to make one cut and I need the easy step by step instruction of the brainless newbie.
2) I want to route a star inside a circle (route the circle, leave the star raised) and don't have the metal working material to cut the jig. Is there a source for things like this?
3) Do the bushings in the kit from Home Depot do the job on jigs with the router? Is (Rockler) or somewhere else a better place to get these types of tools? The home centers just don't offer a lot of options. Plastic and routers have never been a good combination in my life.
I have so many questions, but from reading the things posted here, you guys sound like really nice folks with the same passion for creating beautiful things that I have. Thanks again for letting me post!
Trav
I have recently begun building a small end table of oak/slate to match a set we bought when we furnished our new house and a friend has offered a nice commission for building a show quality saddle rack. (Table): After building a rough knockout from studs and left over slate from the previous owner I was actually quite impressed, but my joints stink. I went and bought a carbide bit (14 degree Bosch dovetail) but have not bought a jig yet. I have several routers, each 1.5 hp running around 24,000 rpm. I have been considering just making finger joints with my table saw, but have never done that either. Templates, templates, templates?
So here are my questions:
1) I see a Rand dovetail jig on ebay for about $30 made of aluminum and used Craftsmen for less than $50. When using a 2x4 piece of wood, there is no problem cutting the half blind dovetail, correct? Half blind means it doesn't go all the way through? (forgive my newbieness to this). What are the drawbacks and if you were going to join a 2x4 in a square, how would you do it? Finger joints on a table saw look reasonably easy if the proper jig were employed? I get tired-head from the endless stuff I need to make one cut and I need the easy step by step instruction of the brainless newbie.
2) I want to route a star inside a circle (route the circle, leave the star raised) and don't have the metal working material to cut the jig. Is there a source for things like this?
3) Do the bushings in the kit from Home Depot do the job on jigs with the router? Is (Rockler) or somewhere else a better place to get these types of tools? The home centers just don't offer a lot of options. Plastic and routers have never been a good combination in my life.
I have so many questions, but from reading the things posted here, you guys sound like really nice folks with the same passion for creating beautiful things that I have. Thanks again for letting me post!
Trav