Setting up the harbor freight dovetail jig

How to set up and cut dovetails on a harbor freight brand jig.

[@dancolyar8761]

I’m getting ready to cut my first dovetail ever! Your video is exactly what I needed to get the job done. Thank you

[@georgenavarrete4291]

Best video so far I’m doing a small project that involves dove tail drawer boxes and I was getting a little overwhelmed at my old shop we used the porter cable jig but it’s 250 the harbor freight is about 39.99 hopefully I can get a little better 💪🏼

[@derickwjazz]

Appreciate the video. Looking forward to cutting my first dovetails this weekend.

[@thewestendwoodworker]

Man, thanks for the instructions! You made it so much easier!

[@rickkempsell5076]

Thank you for the tip about using the half inch spacer. I just bought mine last week and was having a hard time getting the boards lined up properly. I also like your tip about scoring the board on the first pass to avoid tear out.

[@hobastank659]

I have watched a few videos and yours explains things better thank you

[@brendasmyles8242]

Thank you. I’ve had this jig for a year since I started woodworking, one of the first tools I bought….I’ve never used it. I’ll try now thanks to you< you made it look easy. Happy saw dusting

[@blazer306]

Great instructional video, it helped me a lot. Thank you for posting

[@---hu6ek]

Thank you for sharing one of the clearest tutorials available but my ignorance needs just one more info. Could you please provide dovetail bit's specifications for a 1/2 jig? Thank you!

[@mikedisimile2478]

Good job explaining everything thank you

[@darylullman7083]

Use sandpaper or a file and knock off all the edges on the comb and sand the surface smooth. It really did a number on my router base from being rough.

[@johnbaker2917]

Super helpful! Thanks. I was considering purchasing that jig to make drawer dovetails and your video helped a lot in helping me understand how it would work.

[@Brewskin78]

Excellent work! Many thanks!

[@WelcomeFBS]

Very informative, thanks!

[@sbstevens14]

Thanks man! Very helpful

[@redfield312]

THANKS FOR THE CLEAR INFO

[@matthewwelter2630]

Instead of the 1/2" bushing use a 7/16th bushing. It makes all the difference in the world. Awesome presentation, dove tails coming out perfect. Does take a bit of tuning though,.

[@irishdave4322]

Well done Russell and thank you ❤

[@richardbaldwin6919]

Okay, two years ago I saw one of these on Market Place for $10. It was still in the box. He got it for a Christmas gift 2012. I tired twice. 2023 I will try again

[@tommysmith5825]

great job mate thank you

[@Emfconstruction]

Great video.

[@jynx-vu2zc]

very helpful Thanks !!

[@breaktimescalemodels]

Great video

[@alexandregoncalves4414]

Great! Thanks for sharing!

[@Musicsmith24]

Very helpful

[@douganelees-smith4814]

Thanks very helpful. I have been struggling for days trying to setup this jig I got from a friend. Can not wait to get Back to the shop and try all you great tips. Been in South Africa I am left with the metric dilemma...... But the were is the fun if you can not work in 0.5mm tolerance.

[@scraplifetrashtocash4551]

Go buy a Poter cable one. The Hf ones suck

[@FloridaSalon]

Thank you! Thank you!

[@D1G1TALSYNAPS3]

Thank you so much!

[@gergemall]

Thank you,

[@flaron352]

when you put the side pieces (verticals) which way did you place the lettered side? Towards you or towards inside of jig? The horizontyal piece you mentioned has the letter on top side when cutting.

[@mskehan19]

Ron Alan lettered side out (i saw a B in video near end just before he cut dovetail) the verticals get rounded over on face facing you and backside is the face you see when assembled

[@davidmcgrath6507]

The router bit depth is supposed to be 9/16

[@MrDecker1966]

You make this look super easy. I am going out and get one but first. Can it be used to make through dove tails?

[@woodscheidcreations8188]

Thanks for watching, I don’t think you can do through dovetails due to the bit depth and you would also cut into the metal jig unless you used a spacer on the top board. I just ordered a through dovetail jig and bits that you can use on a router table, I’ll make a video on it once it comes in.

[@DJT4363]

dang, thx for tryn but i vould hve cut all my dive tails by hand before completing the set up of the jig. doesnt seem to me to fast track process at all

[@dannyyaw9491]

My male pin end up being 5/8 while the slot is 1/2. What am I doing wrong? The bit doesn’t cut all the way to the finger due to the guide.

[@snap-off5383]

Everyone says you cannot do through dovetails with this jig even though the box says you can, but I don't understand why you can't. . . can you not just put two boards upwards and fully under the fingers to cut through dovetails as well? Nevermind I figured it out, that would just join them end to end.

[@ConkWoodWorking]

I have 2 questions if I may, 1st I'm confused about the upper fence that you marked back 4 1/2", what is the significance of that fence, I don't really see any reason it should matter really. 2nd Q can you make full through dovetails with this jig? On the box it said 1/2 blind and full dovetails, am I miss understanding what they're attempting to say? Thank you, great vid by the way, some of the guys doing this type of video look like they just took a hit of crack or speed, it's really hard to follow them and yours was on point and st4aight forward.

[@woodscheidcreations8188]

The top fence is to control depth so that the joint if flush when joined, if you don’t set correctly dovetails will either be to deep or protrude out. Not sure if you can do through dovetails. You can look up the instructions for WoodStock brand dovetail jig, they are much better and the same jig as Harbor freight.

[@rubarb0406]

Did the chart you used for the thickness to width ratio come with your jig? I don't think mine has that. Can you post a copy or tell us how to obtain a copy? Thanks.

[@woodscheidcreations8188]

The chart came from “Woodstock dovetail manual”. You should be able to find it online. The instructions for the Woodstock brand is much easier to follow.

[@matthewwelter2630]

@@woodscheidcreations8188 page 15 for enquiry minds, Thank you very much for this.

[@scottedgar4752]

I've finally got it going, what would explain a sloppy fit? My depth is good but they are very sloppy.

[@woodscheidcreations8188]

This is from the Woodstock Dovetail manual; If you find the fit to be about right in every other aspect, but it is simply a little too tight or too loose, the depth of the router bit is probably maladjusted. See Figure 28 1. 2. If the fit is too tight, decrease the protrusion of the router bit from the base. If the fit is too loose, increase the protrusion of the router bit from the base.

[@fittslipe6187]

Where do you download the Table Adjustment Chart? What website?

[@woodscheidcreations8188]

Search Woodstock Dovetail jig manual pdf, it should be the first site that comes up.

[@outofmind9222]

What size router bit do you use on this jig

[@woodscheidcreations8188]

It is designed to be used with 1/4" shank, 1/2", 14° dovetail bits only. The bit should protrude exactly 9/16" below the router base. You can refer to the Woodstock manual online, it’s easier to understand and has the chart I show for the fence setback. Thanks for watching.

[@RandyWatson80]

I had no idea this was such a timely pain in the arse

[@flaron352]

The bad news is the vertical stop bracket is higher than the horizontal bottom board and when you go to cut for the horizontal end the bracket eats your $21 dollar bit. .I cut a 1/4" off the bracket but was unable to do another test cut since the bit dulled and is shot. Also the bit depth has got to be perfect in order to get the horizontal piece cut through all the way without the bit touching the metal base of the jig.. 19/32" as you have to account for the thickness of the tongue. New bit tomorrow or abandoned dovetail drawers for now.

[@dollyhorton2579]

What is the purpose of the 1/2" spacer block?

[@woodscheidcreations8188]

It offsets the front and top fence by 1/2”. The two pieces need to be offset to make both cuts a the same time.

[@andylopez6786]

A friend of mine just gave me this dovetail template and he must have thrown away the papers that came with it so I'm stuck without any plans or measurements.

[@woodscheidcreations8188]

Hope the video helped understanding how to set it up, if you need the plans search for the “woodstock dovetail jig manual” it has the chart in it to set the fence depth.

[@ccccen]

nice 1/2 '' trick t.y.

[@rmiller183]

I used this jig but the pins won’t fit into the groove what am I doing wrong

[@woodscheidcreations8188]

Robert, check the depth of the the bit, it should be 9/16 from the router base. If the joint is too tight then decrease the depth until you get a good fit. Try it on scrap that is the same thickness as your project. Hope this helps.

[@rmiller183]

@@woodscheidcreations8188 I ended up getting it right not long after this comment and yes, that was the issue the bit was set too deep. Thank you

[@phillamoore157]

I think I’m more confused than before I watched this video….but, it was fun watching you work! 👍

[@DennisKenneybees]

Where is it manufactured?

[@woodscheidcreations8188]

It’s from Harbor Freight, I think all there stuff is from China.

[@The_Conqueeftador]

Sucks that it only does half blinds.

[@rvpals]

very confusing

[@andreasproyava7594]

ищу данное пояснение на русском... но нет его..

[@thoxbee]

is there any simpler instruction? the way you explain measurement looks very complicated to me. I could not see the corners you're explaining close enough from your camera.

[@bratinc]

Sorry not very clear. Explanation could be better.

[@pensive_]

Unfortunately the most important part of the video is a botchup. You show one board with letter "D" placed. For the matching board, it is completely confusing where the "D" on the other board was. That is one of the crux points. Completely makes a very well produced video useless. Pity.