The Easiest Way to Make Dovetail Joints

Dovetails are an excellent way to join boards together, and the leigh dovetail jig makes it easy to create several different types of joints.

It’s a bit more expensive than some other jigs, but it offers excellent precision and versatility. It’s also easy to set up and use, making it an ideal choice for woodworkers with experience or who want to get started in the hobby.

Variable-spaced dovetails

Dovetails are a classic woodworking joint, both in the way they look and how they hold things together. They add strength and a sense of style to your furniture, so it’s worth the effort to make them properly.

One of the best ways to do that is with a jig that can handle through and half-blind dovetails as well as box joints. We put seven such jigs through rigorous testing and found good options in several price ranges.

The Leigh D4R jig, at $600, easily earned Top Tool honors. It’s also the best performer, with the ability to cut through and half-blind dovetails with a single pass, something that most other jigs can’t do.

Another advantage of the D4R is that it can produce dovetails with a slim angle, giving them an attractive, custom look that’s especially pleasing in thick stock. However, the jig is a bit more difficult to setup than other jigs with variable spacing, and it’s limited in width capacity (24″ maximum).

Half-blind dovetails

Traditionally, half-blind dovetails are used on drawers and sliding trays where you don’t want the pins to be seen from all angles. A half-blind dovetail works just like a traditional through dovetail joint, but the pins are not cut all the way through the stock so they are only visible from one side of the joinery.

This type of joint is ideal for drawer construction and casework where strength and sturdiness are paramount. However, a good half-blind dovetail can be quite challenging to make manually.

A dovetail jig is a very effective tool for making rabbeted half-blind dovetails, especially when paired with a router. The leigh dovetail jig is specifically designed for this task and is very strong with a true 1 piece CNC machined aluminum body and cast metal end housings that secure boards securely to the workbench with cam action clamp bars.

The jig also comes with new cast metal support edge guides that are much more durable and easy to adjust. These guides are a big improvement over the small guide blocks that were originally included on some models and were often a source of frustration for users trying to align workpieces correctly.

Sliding dovetails

The leigh dovetail jig is an excellent tool to help you achieve superior dovetail furniture. It can rout a variety of dovetail styles and sizes in minutes, and it’s easy to use.

The jig makes perfect through dovetails and half-blind dovetails (not possible with template jigs). Sliding dovetails are one of the easiest joints to make using the leigh dovetail jig.

A sliding dovetail is a type of woodworking joint that allows two pieces to be slotted together without the need for glue or other fasteners. They are often used in shelf support and cabinet drawer construction.

To make a sliding dovetail you need to install the socket on a router table and use a jig with a guide bushing. This jig allows you to rout both sides of a sliding dovetail in just one pass.

French dovetails

Dovetails are a great way to make drawers and cabinets look attractive. They can be seen on many types of furniture and are a sign of high quality construction.

Dovetailing is a highly precise joint that makes a tight fit between two wood boards. It requires a lot of work but offers several advantages over other joinery methods, including strength and durability.

There are a few different types of dovetails, including french dovetails and secret mitred dovetails. The latter is used in the highest class of cabinet and box work and offers the strength of a dovetail but is fully hidden from both sides.

The leigh dovetail jig is a great tool for making French dovetails. It offers a large gluing surface, precise alignment and mechanical strength. Plus, it can produce a wide range of joints, from half-blind through dovetails to finger (box) joints.