Guy Dunlap cuts Dovetails with the INCRA LS Positioner

Guy Dunlap of Guy's Woodshop builds a beautiful Cherry 3-drawer Jewelry Chest using both half-blind and through dovetails with his INCRA LS Positioner.
If you have not seen Guy's KZbin channel "Guy's Woodshop" you'll want to check it out soon. His no nonsense approach to furniture making provides a clear understanding of many important woodworking techniques. You can check it out for yourself here - / guyswoodshop

[@davidandcarolh]

First time I've ever heard anyone explaining how to use the router bit centering template. Many thanks...

[@marlinlarson8628]

Thanks my LS system is on the way I purchased the Incra I Box with router top a year ago now I'll finish it with LS. Good job!!

[@KellyRoberts-GrumpyMiner]

Great video! This is a much-needed video for working with the Incra templates, it took me a while to figure out all this on my own. I'm sure future owners will appreciate your tutorial.

[@michaeldicasa7984]

Very nice job. I'm sold.

[@RichA7CV41]

Excellent video, ty sir....I have this system and it's worth every penny. And this is the best video I've seen for this.....

[@Thom4123]

I want that if Guy says it great then it goes on the want list. But first or my. next Incra purchase is the table saw fence. AWESOME video and demo.

[@otel155]

Guy very nice work can't wait to use my INCRA LS Standard System - 17'' on dovetails works great on box joints takes no time at all to put out a project.

[@celebrationscuba]

Loved the way you explained how to use the Incra guide book.....GREAT JOB!!!

[@mcarter3320]

I purchased the Incra 1000HD miter gauge after watching your other video. Great quality product and looking at the push blocks from this video.

[@FD-dh2fu]

Beautiful.

[@floydmillar2875]

really beautiful

[@josephperez7015]

I have the metal scale set to zero at the center of bit. I move one of the plastic scales to read zero at the far end and the other at the near of the bit just by placing the radius of the bit on the metal scale. That way if I have a 1/2" bit, all I do is place the zero of the plastic scale aligned with the 1/4" mark of the scale on both ends. If I change the 1/2 bit for a 1" bit, all I do is align the zeros of the plastic scales to the 1/2" mark of the metal one. Been doing that for 3 years and haven't had to spend time finding the center or the edges of the bits.

[@befmx31]

Joseph, could you explain this a little further? What do you mean by "read zero at the far end and the other at the near of the bit" What does that mean? I am getting ready to try this very build and would like to know if this is supposed to take the place of Guy's steps to finding the center? Thanks.

[@mikkelkirketerp4884]

:O You my fine sir just gave me a brilliant idea! How have I not thought about that?!?! It's genius and much better :P Though I have my router table set up in my tablesaw, so the 0 is actually for the sawblade, I could easily just write down the exact location of the center of my router and still do your trick! Only made more easy by my unit being in metric :)

[@frankkirschner]

Wow, that looks complicated. I have the Incra router table on order. I'm going to have to watch this video several times to be ready to use the positioner when I receive it.

[@iq0099]

Wonderful..

[@Shopwolfe]

best incra vid. The company should pay you for doing it. This thing is complicated for the home user. Above my paygrade. I have an old jointech fence and I am yet to get it figured out...

[@befmx31]

Hey Adam. It does look a little complicated but this system also comes with a dvd to explain how to cut box joints and many different kinds of dovetails. After you watch the dvd a couple times it really isn't that difficult. I am new to the woodworking game.

[@37south47]

You call that simple! I don’t know about all that! Seems awful complicated to me but I’m gonna have to get one and figure it out!

[@Balenza345]

Im finding 8:50 confusing. Looks like the tails been turned into pins. I think a leigh jig would be simpler and easier used.

[@robertgibson6889]

Guy I am new to precision woodworking but not to CNC machine shops and I am continually confused about router calibration with the Incra fence that I intend to buy. I love how the fence system can get repeatability of 0.001" this is absolutely amazing to me. So the part that confuses me is why don't wood workers with Incra fences not use an edge finder like in a mill to set the fence at 0.000 about the center axis and then use the Secondary tape on the fence to offset to the outer router bit edge when needed ( measure router bit diameter with mic or calipers) this way you rarely have to re-calibrate where your bit is relative to your fence. I think this way you leave no room for error and don't need to do test cuts as often.Thoughts?

[@JamisonWorkshop]

I just recently received my INCRA jointery kit and I thought the exact same thing. All the info is there and I do not want to waste wood every time I do a project. I have set mine up just as you describe the other night. Plan on using it this weekend to give it a test to see how it goes. I am also making note of each bit height of cut so when I have a nice tight fit, using a digital height gauge and the Incra router insert I should be able to go back to my references and set each bit to the same height each time. That is the plan at least.

[@Papaslug1960]

Replying to the many questions asked here would go a long way of making this video up there with the best ..

[@andraeca]

Hi Guy, Great videos, clear and easy instructions. Love the Incra LS system. However, do you have any projects using the Incra Starter Kit?

[@riley165]

Complete novice here and my mind is totally blown, awesome job but i think this is way out of my capabilities just yet. Out of interest is this kit available in metric?

[@xConundrumx]

Bit late as a reply but yes, it is available in metric. I recon the hardest part would probably be to find good router bits to go with it. As to the price, as prices go for woodworking tools the LS Positioner with Wonder Fence is not cheap at first sight but when you realize how much versatility it has (it does so much more than just dovetails). What is also great is that you can easily get (also from Incra) the table top for the router with (a variety) of router plates or even a router lift. I mention this because this table top comes pre-drilled to mount the positioner. Last but not least they even have a dust shroud to mount under the table which in combination with the dust extraction features of the wonder fence helps dispose of the woodchips really well.

[@TheFalconJetDriver]

@@xConundrumx I just picked up my TS-LS joinery system last week, I also bought the Router table to attach to the end of my table saw with the Clean sweep and the Incra Master lift II and a new 3.25 HP router. yes few dollars but for what it will do I happy. I am now making a lot of fire wood learning how to use it.

[@MarkAllan]

I just got one of these LS Postioners and thought it would all make sense when I got the instructions. Unfortunately the instructions are not very clear and I’m just lost. Any suggestions on specifics for how to use this thing?

[@TheFalconJetDriver]

Mark I just got my TS-LS Joinery system on Tuesday 08-13-19, I just got it put together along with a new router 3.25 HP, Clean sweep and the left side Router table. I am just now ready to make saw dust. I have been watching all the videos I can find on it. to me it seems straight forward but you just have to flow all the steps until you get the hang of it. so it has been four months how is the progress now on climbing the learning curve?

[@BigmoRivera]

GUY...YOU MAKE IT LOOK SO EASY GREAT WORK ...THANKS PS, I LIKE YOUR APRON WHERE YOU GET IT FROM...

[@georgefs9341]

The apron is Bucketboss this is the UK link, I'm sure there'll be one wherever you are www.amazon.co.uk/Bucket-Boss-80200-Duckwear-SuperBib/dp/B00GK4U3PW George

[@befmx31]

I wish you would have shown us how you installed the back piece. Do you happen to have plans for this box?

[@silentscribes]

Leigh! Far fewer limitations and so much easier to use.

[@mchristopher]

How well does it work making larger size drawers. For kitchen cabinets for example. Is it less accurate working with larger stock? Thanks!

[@robertsoncletokoerner7012]

Bela peça, parabéns!!!

[@dougiefroghopper7567]

Hey, this is off the subject but, it is still a dovetail. Dovetail drawer slides via INCRA system? Will you do a video?

[@bugsysiegals]

I notice your TS fence sticks past the back support rail whereas mine is flush ... did you buy a longer fence? How do you like the Jessem stock guides? I'm considering them for my fence and wondering whether to get the stock guides or clear cut guides so they can also be used when I flip the fence over for my router table extension wing ... have you use the ones for the router table and do you think they'd work for normal TS work?

[@markclemence9429]

is it better or quicker than a Leigh dovetail jig?

[@christopherdekonstrukt444]

A lot cheaper than the Shark CNC router fence and lift.👍

[@vangray5432]

Really great video. Are the plans for the jewelry box that is shown in this video available? Thanks!

[@dakotamax2]

At 4:40 I noticed you added risers to the base track of your JessEm stock guides. What type did you use and why did you add them?

[@helomech4410]

The stock guide mounting track is typically attached directly to the fence. Due to the design of the Incra Fence, direct attachment is not possible. JessEm designed a mount kit consisting of 4 risers that attach to the Incra Fence. The stock guide mounting track is subsequently attached to these risers, allowing use of the Clear Cut Stock Guides. The kit can be seen here: www.jessemdirect.com/product_p/04310.htm

[@befmx31]

How did you figure out where to position the drawer runners on the casing? Also, what size are the runners? Thanks.

[@AzWineNut]

Great Video, and very inspirational. I've built 3 of them for my granddaughters, but am having a hard time finding drawer pulls to fit. I can either make them of Paduak, or , if you would be so kind, buy them where you did. Could you please share that info? Thank you in advance for your kind help.

[@azor294]

Guy, enjoyed your video. What are the overall case dimensions?

[@michaell7877]

Guy! I was going to ask you a couple of questions on this. However, I see that you haven't answered any that were all ready asked down below.

[@RobbieJack78]

Great video. It let me know I don’t want this thing. As much as I like some of Incras other tools, this is NOT how I want to make my dovetails. Easiest and most versatile? You must be kidding - this was brutal. Dovetails are not this complicated.

[@TheFalconJetDriver]

But they are repeatable. if I hand cut dove tails none would be a like.

[@garrydye2394]

Guy...let me ask you a question please. When you set the bit flush with the fence...and then moved the bit scale to the 1/2 inch bit size...the grey scale was dead on 4 inches. When you moved the positioner to 8.50 on the red scale....the grey scale was now at 8.50 inches.....hence it moved 4.50 inches...but your board is only 8.50 inches. Wouldn't half be you moving 4.25 inches on the grey scale, or over to 8.25 inches on the grey scale? Might be a dumb question but this has me confused. Thank you for any clarification. And also...if you can find the center using this method...why does both the Incra book and dvd video have you doing a test cut...flipping the board end to end...and then moving the bit in the center of that cut? Your method is light years faster and easier. Why has it taken them a decade to show this method?

[@helomech4410]

Garry. The Auto Centering Scale (ACS) is 2x the inch scale. Note that once Guy set the ACS router diameter to 1/2-inch under the hairline cursor, the ACS zero line is sitting above 1/4-inch on the grey scale. Once the carriage was repositioned to 8.5-inches using the ACS, 1/4-inch must be subtracted from the reading on the grey scale to determine how much movement took place. Looking at it another way. Once the ACS was set to a bit diameter of 1/2, if Guy were to align the 4-inch mark on the grey scale with the ACS zero line, the grey scale would shift 1/4-inch to the left. Now, when the carriage is repositioned to 8.5 on the ACS, the grey scale would read 8.25 as you expected.

[@richardnesbitt4673]

Garry Dye I

[@TheFalconJetDriver]

@@richardnesbitt4673 I wondered the same thing! thanks for the explaining that.

[@donaldwilliams7945]

Guy could you use 3/4 inch stock for this template

[@5ivestring]

My only dovetails bit is 14 degrees, how will that affect everything?

[@Evanspa79]

The guide lets you know which style dovetail bit is compatible for each template. Off the top of my head i believe the 14 degree bit is compatible with a bunch of the templates...but not all of them of course.

[@5ivestring]

Thanks for the answer. It took me most of a day of expermenting, but I found that if I take the widest opening of the dovetail, and the smallest opening (top of the tail and bottom of the tail) That gave me the distance between tails, then, just matching up a template.

[@willieboat007]

Guy is there a place to download the plans for this j box

[@GuysShop]

Hey Willy, unfortunately no. This is one of those projects I just built off a simple and crude sketch I made one day.

[@MAGAMAN]

C'mon, this isn't that difficult of a project. Any halfway competent carpenter should be able to come up with something pretty close, just by looking at the finished project. He practically gave you a step by step instructional video and dimensions for a lot of it. Being a carpenter isn't about copying what everyone else does, its about being creative. Stop being lazy!

[@Paul-1123-]

The most important part of using the system would appear to be understanding how the manual and templates are used. Unfortunately I found your explanation lacking in clarity around choosing the design and then using the individual template properly, and came away more confused than enlightened. It made the system seem incredibly complicated to use rather than straightforward. Also, it seemed you had to adjust both the width and thickness of the wood to match the system, rather than choosing to make the cabinet sides of a certain height and thickness and be able to use the system to make the joinery in your desired stock. I was hoping to jump start using my Incra TS-LS joinery system for dovetails - but now I'm hesitant to try it.

[@MAGAMAN]

While this jug/fence is neat, I feel it's probably overkill for the average home user. If you just want to make a box, that can be done by hand and you will be a better carpenter for doing it that way. Where this really shines is if you are redoing all your kitchen cabinets yourself, or using it for a business. While the cuts may have only taken two minutes, it looks like the actual setup for the cuts probably took much, much longer. Still this is a well done video and I wouldn't pass on one of these if someone offered it to me free or at a great price. (no, I'm not looking for a handout)

[@tedfriesen9466]

First, let me tell you that I love your videos. Secondly, I have the same apron you're wearing. Do you find that the pockets collect a lot of saw dust?

[@befmx31]

I have the same apron and yes they do.

[@dennisoshea4906]

Great Video but way to many variables to go wrong

[@torowazup1]

👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👌🏼🍎😎

[@luke4454]

Wow super slow and to much room for errors by all those adjustments. You can tell your a very good craftsman.

[@dustyshifflett391]

Obviously you don't own one

[@warpo007]

you speak in tongues! (aka imperial measurements)

[@jamescarlin569]

No that's english

[@KavanaghGTR]

@@jamescarlin569 Is it? In England we use the metric system. Watching an American woodworking video is like a trip back in time.

[@MikeyDonna]

I have a PorterCable & a Leigh jig. Each of these have a learning curve but this thing makes either of them a piece of cake ! I’ve never heard an explanation as complicated as this . !