How To Adjust The JessEm Dowel Jig - Respond To Viewers Concerns

[@MattMadeIt123]

I'm responding to some viewers question and concerns about this jig. After a deeper dive and more experience using it, I'm still convinced this is a quality tool and worth serious consideration if you're in the market for a high quality dowel jig. Also, and possibly more importantly, I show how to check if the jig is square. And if it's not, how to adjust it so it is square. This information is not discussed in the user manual nor could I find it on JessEm's website. Knowing how to check if the jig is square and how to adjust it is critical information if you own or are planning to buy it. I encourage you to watch the whole video to get all this information.

[@cottagemail4066]

Looking forward to seeing the workstation for the older model!

[@MattMadeIt123]

Coming soon!

[@Zedekiah23]

Thanks for sharing this, I just ordered the same complete set that you have and I’ll definitely refer back to your video if I encounter any issues.

[@Hayduke.1]

Hey Matt, just starting out in furniture/ woodwrking, I find great value in your videos. So thank you my friend you're doing a great job.

[@JHRefinedCustomFurniture]

I bought this after seeing your review. I can confirm that the jig I received is square and gave me flawless joints. Not a single issue here!

[@MattMadeIt123]

Great to hear!

[@heystarfish100]

Great video Matt. Whenever I buy a new hand tool I always check it for accuracy, assembly and learn about how to adjust it if necessary. There are many reasons why a tool could be assembled square at the factory but is delivered where a small percentage for some new owners might need an additional adjustment. This isn’t a defect but often a travel problem in shipping where temperatures can vary widely or the package may be handled a little too rough. Very good tips on performing this task and comparing it to others. JessEm makes all high quality tools and I personally own many with great satisfaction.

[@MattMadeIt123]

Well said. Thank you.

[@tollertollertoller]

very timely for me. I just bought and started using the jig this week. It took some practice to make sure that everything was tight and mated. I haven't yet checked if it requires any adjusting with the 4mm screws. At first I didn't love the tool, but I think it is winning me over and is so quick to use.

[@MattMadeIt123]

Glad you found the video helpful.

[@robertpotter9506]

Matt thank you so much for your video's on the two Jessem doweling jigs. I never had a doweling jig before until now. Had watches the video's but never thought I would want one until now. I was planning on making a small cabinet above my my work bench to hold bench cookies and t track parts. Than seeing the video's again decided to get the week end hobbyist stainless steel jig with all three hole sizes and the drill bits. I ordered this through Jessem for $174.00 with shipping. As all reviews of this jig it is really made good and accrete. I must say when seeing your video about this jig being flimsy I had to watch it. Well I don't know where they coming from but it is not flimsy. When you said about checking for square I did and mine was not square. So I loosened both knobs and snapped it back in place and checked for square and of course it was now square. So I am wondering if some who said it wasn't square maybe it wasn't fully seated.. Still learning how to use it but very impressed with how good it works. Thank you for your very calm way of testing and explaining how it all works. Keep up the good work. Thanks again, Bob

[@MattMadeIt123]

Thanks Bob. I appreciate your support. Happy woodworking and stay safe.

[@Mark_L]

I bought the tool but didn’t have a use for it until the other day. It worked great. Like you said, it is as good as a woodworking tool gets.

[@TimberDesigns]

Great video Matt. I have the older JessEm dowelling jig also and I agree it's a tank and I love it. Takes a bit of getting used to for sure, but worth it once you do.

[@MattMadeIt123]

It's a great tool for sure. Thanks for watching.

[@GizmosShop]

Oooo, cannot wait for the station setup vid

[@MattMadeIt123]

It's coming. I promise.

[@Apollyon-er4ut]

Great video. Thanks, I'm looking for a new higher quality jig and this helps much with my decision making.

[@MattMadeIt123]

Glad I could help

[@Doug7153]

I bought the stainless set. It was warped. I sent it back and got the original set and it's great. I use dowels on a regular basis.

[@Realism91]

Center panel/shelf drilling is the most interesting, any dowelling jig can do the other stuff with varying speed and accuracy, I'm more looking at this as a domino alternative. I love how small it is too it would be easy to find a spot in a tool box for it.

[@delealax]

Your tutorials are impressive and thorough.

[@HeadBroski]

I purchased the weekend warrior kit of the stainless steel dowel jig and the 90 degree bracket was not square. It looks like it was not bent evenly either. One side was about 0.5 degrees out of square and the other side was about 0.7-0.8 degrees out of square. This caused some misalignment issues on a project before I caught this. Two days ago I took pictures proving the bracket was not square and I submitted a warranty claim with pictures on Jessem's website. They just emailed me letting me know they're sending me a replacement bracket free of charge, and that's with international shipping. Now I really wished the first bracket arrived perfectly square, but I feel like their customer service is trying to do right by me. I haven't received the 2nd bracket yet, but I have high hopes that my first bracket just came from a bad batch.

[@kennethspengler9934]

Very informative video. When I saw your other video on the SS JessEm doweling jig, I ordered a set from JessEm. Amazon didn’t have them. JessEm has a long lead time to send them out. (4-6 weeks)

[@MattMadeIt123]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Bryan-fn6lp]

Mine is not square perpendicular to the plate either. But I don’t want to spend much more money on a dowel jig either. So I will try adding some tape along the bottom edge of the fence to see if I can get it better when I have time to play with it.

[@marchuvfulz]

Great response to the comments.

[@bobsacamano1274]

Excellent review. Looking forward to the demo.

[@MattMadeIt123]

Thanks. Taking longer than I thought, but its coming, I promise. Sometimes life gets in the way of my plans.

[@dananderson9836]

Great video…as always. Informative and to the point.

[@MattMadeIt123]

Much appreciated!

[@markk4015]

Looking forward to a video about your opinion of the Baltic Birch Workstation. Mine was just delivered today and at first blush, the directions leave something to be desired. And if I have questions in regards to the unit, calling Jess-Em is lesson in futility. They never answer the phone and may or may not call you back if you leave a message. Thanks for posting. Mark

[@MattMadeIt123]

I'm back in the shop after some time off. I'll be setting it up next week. JessEm really needs to step up their customer service.

[@markk4015]

@@MattMadeIt123 Great Matt, looking forward to more videos!

[@hu5116]

Is it 90 deg square the other way? Or maybe stated better, is the flange parallel to the row of holes? Ok I see after I wrote this comment you addressed that. But I wonder, if we have a precision cut piece of hardware, should adjustment be necessary? If I milled this on a mill, those joints should be about a mil accuracy. Certainly no more that a couple three mill. You are not going to be able to calibrate your jib to that level of accuracy with those crude adjustments. At least not easily or repetitively. This again suggests that this design, although seemingly attractive on the appearance, is not designed for the accuracy and precision that it advertises. One might argue the old one is perhaps a little too beefy, but better that way than the reverse m

[@MattMadeIt123]

I see your point, and you're not wrong. But this type of joinery doesn't really require the type of precision you describe.

[@amohtash]

People who buy the hobbiest version have to do the adjustment each time they change the size of the dowel as that kit comes with only one 90 degree plate.

[@MattMadeIt123]

Maybe. I squared the 45° fence to my 1/4" guide. Then, a few weeks later, I used the 45° fence with my 3/8" guide, and everything lined up fine. That said, I give the jig a quick look to check if it's square every time before I use it.

[@derekmangrum7659]

Very in depth!! Great video!

[@MattMadeIt123]

Glad you liked it!

[@paullalekna5478]

Wondeing how good is the accuracy of the 90 degree and 45 degree bends. Could there be a variance problem? How does the factory assure that every single unit is indeed a perfect 90° or 45°?

[@MattMadeIt123]

They are bent on a brake. Probably computer controlled. Obviously won't be as repeatable as a piece milled from a bullet, but so far, mine have been accurate enough for wood joints.

[@willdebiec828]

Can you demonstrate how to use the Jessem Dowling jig to dowel on an angle. I tried to dowel on 22.5 and on a 5 degree angle and was not successful. My dowel holes did not align correctly.

[@MattMadeIt123]

Yes. I will in an video coming soon.

[@enzoodorico7235]

You mention the one joint the new jig has trouble doing because of the plate thickness being so thin. I believe you are referring to a 90 degree in the middle of a panel like for a fixed shelf. Do you have a solution for this?

[@fubar1984]

Couldn't you use maybe a 1/4" thick section of wood underneath the jig to raise the height and adjust the drill stop to account for that?

[@enzoodorico7235]

@@fubar1984 Good suggestion. I will keep that in mind. Key will be to able to precisely find the matching shelf dowel (by elevating jig to or past the center height of the shelf dowel), while still keeping the alignment along the shelf line.

[@enzoodorico7235]

JessEm should provide an adapter plate for this as part of the jig.

[@MarkDixon]

What clamp do you recommend for use with this jog?

[@MattMadeIt123]

I like the Irwin Quick-Grip Clamps. I think a clamp that can be used one-handed makes it easier.

[@MarkDixon]

@@MattMadeIt123 Thank you.

[@davidd1395]

Do you dowel everything or do you use dominos too?

[@GizmosShop]

It would be nice if they had an alignment tool

[@wavehaven1]

Maybe people are trying to build a race car engine with that jig where the alignment has to be dead on perfect center

[@MattMadeIt123]

Good point. Wood is pretty forgiving, and we probably overthink things sometimes.

[@seankehoe2560]

I bought these a month ago and still haven't received...... Jessem can't fulfill orders because of demand!

[@MattMadeIt123]

Have you received it yet?

[@bonacci01]

I ordered a complete set and waited on them for over 3 weeks for an update, I emailed multiple times and called once with no response. I finally demanded they cancel my order and a full refund, and they got back to me within 6 minutes via email. EXTREMELY poor customer service that has tarnished me from purchasing any of their tools in the future.

[@MattMadeIt123]

I've never had a problem dealing with JessEm, but I've heard similar stories from too many people. It's too bad because they make outstanding tools.

[@blayne2029]

@@MattMadeIt123 Seems like something is up with their customer service. I see many many complaints. I'd like to buy their product but I'm not interested in a poor experience. None of these tools are cheap.

[@ljgault]

I checked mine and the 90 degree piece is not square. I contacted Jessem. Now I know why I couldn't get a good dowel joint when I tried it.

[@HeadBroski]

Did Jessem say what they would do for you? I just ordered their Weekend Hobbyist Package version of this set.

[@ljgault]

@@HeadBroskiIts been 6 days and nothing from them. Looks like they are ignoring me.

[@MattMadeIt123]

Any response from JessEm? Were you able to get the jig adjusted properly?

[@prun8893]

I'm a machinist. If the plates are bent in a brake, they won't be square, depending on your tolerance........tolerance. If the plates are machined from a solid piece of probably aluminum, they will be dead on square. Stamping sheet metal is a much cheaper method of fabrication than machining billets...but it's not as "good".

[@MattMadeIt123]

That's probably why they built into the new jig the ability to adjust it. The old jig is machined, and no adjustment is necessary.

[@davidd1395]

Like everything, if it’s abused you can make it fail. Some peoples kids wouldn’t be happy if you crapped in their ice cream.

[@SteveHiemstraAKAspeg]

This was a very drawn out video. We get it, might not be square - show us how to adjust it already!

[@redlancer7263]

I agree, this could have been 6 minutes.

[@rodbettcher3293]

Speed it up or fast forward or get stuffed

[@MattMadeIt123]

You must understand I was responding to a few different concerns in the comments and emails I received. This wasn't just about adjusting the jig. Anyway, you control your fast forward button, buddy. Not me.

[@SallyMcGill]

To much waffling