Dovetail Drawers with Leigh Jig - Part 2

[@richardlimbrick7145]

Always remember he who never makes mistake never does anything and the more you do the greater the chance of making one. I am glad I found your channel your videos lessons are inspiring

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Hi Richard, Thank you so much - I agree with you entirely. When I was working full time i knew it was important to provide guidance for people who made the odd mistake - as you say, if they do not make mistakes then they are not trying hard enough. On the other hand there are some who do not care and bish up all the time ! Cheers. Peter

[@andrewpotter2466]

Peter - I just made that mistake and found your video to show me what I did wrong! I am thrilled to have reached a level where you have inspired me to try things that mean I make mistakes like you did!! I think that is progress! Thanks. Great videos

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Hi Andrew, The great thing about mistakes is that you learn from them - that is the story of my woodworking life. Someone who never makes mistakes is either a liar or is a person who learns nothing. Cheers. Peter

[@ljones396]

These tutorials alongside the clear concise instructions provided by Leigh proved invaluable, so thank you for that!

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Hi Llyr, Many thanks. The jig is a great bit of kit. Peter

[@vincegarcia8143]

thinking about doing dovetails, just saw this video. Just like your other videos, this was very informative. you rock !!

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Hi Vince, Great feedback. Thank you. Peter

[@vincegordon6830]

Nicely done! That vacuum system is AMAZING!

[@NewBritWorkshop]

It really is!

[@papajrd]

Peter, Thanks for another informative and very entertaining video. You are both precise and succinct in your presentations. Of almost equal importance, your self-deprecating humor adds just the right touch on a most consistent and much-appreciated basis. Thank you, again, from the Colonies. John Dorough Ocala, FL

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Hi John, You are so very kind and it has made my day. I do not believe that anyone should take themselves seriously (unless, perhaps, they are politicians). I will do my best with all of my future work. Thanks you again. Peter

[@mmanut]

Beautifull work. Really enjoy your videos, you put a great deal of thought into them and it shows. Thank You for sharing. Vinny

[@joehendershott7255]

Always enjoy your videos. Nice to see your humour coming thru at those small errors- most people wouldn't have included those. As a new Festool junkie I also appreciate all of those tutorials as well.

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Hi Joe, Many thanks. Good luck with your Festool journey - they make fabulous tools. Cheers. Peter

[@hardnox6655]

Excellent tutorials Peter. You explained everything extremely well. Thanks for sharing. I loved your storage box. What a great idea! Those drawers look fabulous. Kudos!

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Cheers. Peter

[@dtenex]

A really good looking set of drawers. It is great to find a manufacturer who produces a decent manual. So many companies seem to think that a few pages with incomprehensible pictures will serve as a manual - for me they do not. I also have a Leigh jig and the manual is the best I have seen for any tool I have purchased.

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Thanks David. Peter

[@ronh9384]

A very nice 2 part video series Peter. I will have to give the Leigh Jig a try. Hopefully my friend who has one will let me give it a go. The walnut looked spectacular with the Osmo on it. Very informative Peter. Thank you.

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Hi Ron, Many thanks. I must (humbly) agree that the walnut does look really good. Cheers. Peter

[@NewBritWorkshop]

For Christschool - it is the UJK Router table from Axminster Power Tools in UK. Peter

[@TheChrisPineWorkshop]

Very Beautiful! That chestnut is wonderful with the Walnut! Nice work on these drawers. Totally enthralled watching you on this project! Regards Chris

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Hi Chris, The walnut desk is a labour of love - I have made "heirloom" pieces for my other children and this desk is for my younger daughter. I have taken a lot of advice from a serious professional cabinet maker friend of mine which has helped a lot. Many thanks. Peter

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Hi Chris, Many thanks. I am doing my best. Peter

[@royehenry]

Fantastic tutorial and beautiful work!

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Hi Roy, Many thanks. Peter

[@MarkGarth]

The drawers are looking very nice, as is the whole desk.

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Hi Mark, Many thanks. Peter

[@jimbo2629]

We’ve all made that mistake😀 I have to say I stopped using my Woodward because it was complicated for infrequent use and the router is noisy and creates dust. I now use a Veritas magnetic guide for hand cut dovetails. I think the Leigh jig seems equally complicated.

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Hi Jim, It is fine if you are making several drawers or whatever but for just one joint you are right. Cheers. Peter

[@CaseyRice]

Would love to purchase plans for the box. I am currently waiting for my Leigh D4 pro to arrive. Great video and enjoying many of your others as well. Thank you

[@NewBritWorkshop]

In order to get plans or to contact me via email I need your email address. KZbin no longer has a private messaging service and so in order to get in touch you need to place a comment on this or any other video with your email address. The KZbin software should identify and send it to the spam folder for The New Brit Workshop. Nobody will be able to see your email address except you and me. I will then delete your comment so that it does not end up in the public domain and I will then send the plans. Were we to do this the other way around then my comment, with my email address, would appear for all the world to see. Peter

[@timg926]

Very well done videos. They are a big help for me. Thanks

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Hi Tim, Many thanks. Peter

[@immoltop]

Excellent presentation !

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Thanks Chuck. Peter

[@ezrabrooks12]

Excellent Video, Info.

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Glad you think so!

[@brianjenkins7989]

Hi Peter, two great videos on the Leigh jig. The storage box is excellent. Do you have plans for that? Thanks Brian

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Hi Brian, Yes, click the "About" tab on my channel main page and you will find my email address. Send me a short email stating which plans you need and I will send the plans to you. Peter

[@rogerthedodger5558]

i have now watched three KZbin vids back to back - All yours. That's a first for me. Very entertaining and a brilliant delivery all without a script or autoqueue. Now diverting attention to checkout Crystal Palace (back from losing to Southampton to being in the lead 3-2) then I will be back to view the "Tweaks" Thanks Roger

[@NewBritWorkshop]

rogerthedodger55 Hi Roger, Millionaire? - I wish. But life is what you make of it. I spent my school years working at weekends and during every holiday and left home at age 18 with £50. I have had no hand outs, never been on the dole (lucky) and never borrowed money. So, it has been a long hard slog but worth it and great fun as well. Good luck watching the videos. Many thanks for the kind comments. Peter

[@jamesshanks7291]

Loved the Videos. Super finish on your work as usual. Could you provide a dimension drawing for the box please.

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Hi James, In order to get plans or to contact me via email I need your email address. KZbin no longer has a private messaging service and so in order to get in touch you need to place a comment on this or any other video with your email address. The KZbin software should identify and send it to the spam folder for The New Brit Workshop. Nobody will be able to see your email address except you and me. I will then delete your comment so that it does not end up in the public domain and I will then send the plans. Were we to do this the other way around then my comment, with my email address, would appear for all the world to see. Peter

[@bluekingfisher1416]

Hi Peter, I enjoyed and learned much from your two part video on the set up and use of the Leigh dovetail jig. Several years ago I purchased the kit, including the vacuum support. Unfortunately I have not had the opportunity to use it yet, although I hope to remedy that issue soon. I realise these videos are several years old now, however I have a question you maybe able to answer? I noticed on the half blind dovetail section the lip, or the the amount of material remaining between the top of the tails to the front face of the drawer is relatively thick, a 1/4" or so? I ask as I like the look of traditional hand cut dovetails where this amount is considerably less, more like 1/8" or so. Can the amount be varied or is the example you made restricted by the jig and cutters? Is it also possible to reduce the width of the pins, or does the jig and cutters prevent the pins being cut narrower? In any case, great instructional video, clear and concise made better by the absence of a baseball cap. Many thanks. David.

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Hi David, The size of the dovetails is the only disappointing feature of just about every jointing jig I know. In order to get slender "traditional" dovetails you need to make them the old fashioned way. Leigh do have several different sizes of cutter and so you could try the smaller ones and see if that approaches what you are after. Cheers. Peter

[@bluekingfisher1416]

New Brit Workshop Thanks for your prompt response, Peter. With regards to the lip, can that be reduced in any way or is this just another downside of the jig. Thanks again

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Hi David, Sorry, that is down to the thickness of your stock. The depth of the dovetail bit is fixed during the setup and so the only other adjustment is the stock thickness. Peter

[@chrisstromberg6527]

Do you have any problems with your Festool Q1400 and the guide bushing moving? When I use my Festool router the bottom guide bushing moves a bit resulting in some inaccuracy when using the Leigh jig?

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Hi Chris, I did not have that problem when I used to use the OF1400 but I now use the OF1010 with the Leigh Jig. It works perfectly and you can adjust the centering of the guide with a mandrel. Peter

[@filmsoundno]

Beautiful, just beautiful. One tip though, and it has nothing with your woodworking skills ;-) Try angling your microphone downwards away from your mouth. That way you avoid the pops and the chest and throat rumble, and you get a whee tiny bit of room echo, which you need... (I'm a sound designer) Looking forward to your next video in this series :-)

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Hi Spacehero, Many thanks for the great tip - I will do that from now on. Funny enough I had recently noticed the chat show people with their mics pointing downwards. I am in The Netherlands filming at the moment and have no battery operated radio receiver so I am relying on the camera mics - I hope it turns out okay. I will try and get a cheap and cheerful battery system in due course. Thank you again. Peter

[@garethjones2085]

just watched a couple of your videos. very well done, being woodworker myself I have to ask why you don't use any mafell tools. they are the best kit. is it for sponsorship?

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Hi Blaine, Just over 3 years ago I spent a couple of months researching the best mitre saws on the market. I then discovered the Festool Kapex. At the same time I needed a new track saw system and again Festool were pretty much at the top. I decided to stick to one brand where possible and so started buying Festool kit. I also have some lovely machines made by Jet, UJK, Numatic and Axminster. I also have some beautiful hand tools from Lee Valley (Veritas). I receive no sponsorship as I wish to retain my independence. I have received some help from various people from time to time but nobody has any control of my views or what goes into my videos. Many thanks for your supportive comments. Peter

[@emmmie]

Hi Peter! Is it necessary to give plywood room to expand in drawer bottoms, cabinet backs and/or cabinet fronts/door panels?

[@NewBritWorkshop]

+Magnus Ericsson Hi Magnus, The plywood bottoms should be very stable but the drawer sides may not be unless they too are made of plywood or another (stable) man-made material. Peter

[@matermark]

Ver-EEE-tus. Chap, sorry I may have missed it--why didn't you cut the bottom groove through the tail, centered, instead, plunging a stop groove? Was it strictly cosmetic?

[@NewBritWorkshop]

matermark Cosmetic I expect. I try to avoid having to do a plunging channel if I can so arrange the layout accordingly. Peter

[@roberthiday3342]

Hi Peter. Thanks for this video. I just purchased a used D4, and am struggling a bit with the basics. Today while trying to route my first through DTs (following the Leigh instructions), I found the fingers separating during the cut. I had tightened them down sufficiently (at least I thought so), and once I investigated, found that the porter cable style bushing had come loose during the operation. Have you had an issue with that style of bushing losing its grip? Also, I have seen complaints on the Festool forums about the lack of 'centeredness' of the bit in the OF1400, and as a result I have been using an older standard Porter Cable router. Any thoughts on that? Have you experienced any issues using the OF 1400 with the Leigh jig? As usual, thanks for your kind assistance. Rob Hiday

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Hi Robert, I have no experience of the Porter Cable machine but had no problems with my OF1400. I now use the smaller OF1010 and it is much easier and can be centred if required. Many thanks for the kid words. Peter

[@roberthiday3342]

thanks.

[@brianmccann9769]

I think that you have made a mistake at 3.11 is this not the set up for tails. have you then reverse the jig and produce the pins sorry if Im wrong.

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Hi Brian, I do not think so and it the way that I have been doing it for years. It may be my poor description that is at fault ! Cheers. Peter

[@hgohlke]

Hi Peter, really nie Videos you are producing!! Did you ever use the Isoloc templates?

[@howardkasdan7029]

Excellent presentation. However, I have a question. How did you determine the depth of the dovetail bit?

[@NewBritWorkshop]

+Howard Kasdan Hi Howard, This is easy to do once you read the very clear instructions that come with the Leigh Jig (I am sure the same would be true for other jigs). Each dovetail cutter gets set at a particular depth which takes account of the thickness of the guide bar. Once you have set this accurately the first time you can make a "reference" cut in a piece of wood or even you jig storage box so that you can set the depth quickly the next time. Peter

[@howardkasdan7029]

+New Brit Workshop (Peter) Thanx, Peter. I used a 1/2" dovetail cutter set at 3/8" depth and the result was perfect the first time. I found the reference for setting the depth (never saw it before).

[@atamanatlas3098]

G'day Pete just came across your channel excellent work. I am interested in wood working but I have no idea and I am a novice, doing it as a hobby more than anything else. I have a question (which may sound idiotic, but please bear with me here), you mentioned "chestnut" in your vid. Did you use actual chestnut wood for those draws? The reason I asked is because I was talking to some one here in Australia about using chestnut wood for furniture and he said that it's no good due to oil / resin or something along those lines. Now I wasn't too convinced by him. So my main question is can you use chestnut wood for furniture and does it have any issues ? The reason I ask is because I intend on setting up a chestnut farm and was hoping to use the wood of old trees for furniture.

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Lex Rex Hi Lex, Yes, it is Chestnut wood for those drawer sides. It is the traditional wood for that type of thing. It machines well, has a lovely grain and is very stable. I would not like to be responsible for you making a life changing decision about chestnut as I am not an expert - particularly with the Australian species. You must take advice from someone other than the chap that you have mentioned. Good luck. Peter

[@atamanatlas3098]

Thanks Pete, you are a legend :) Love your vids and no you won't be responsible for me making a life changing decision. I have been looking at Chestnut farming for the actual nuts. However, I am also interested in wood working and always thought Chestnut wood was used for furniture until I spoke with this bloke here in Oz. He reckoned it had to much tannin etc etc but my research into it looks like he was totally wrong. It was valuable for me to hear your view because you actually use the wood to build with. The Australian species are effectively European, i.e. mostly brought over from Europe not the Americas. So no diseases etc for nut production. Thank you so much. Cheers.

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Lex Rex Good luck Lex - chestnut farming must take a few years to get things started. Peter

[@atamanatlas3098]

New Brit Workshop Thank you Pete, it takes between 3 - 5 years in order for the trees to produce nuts. The northern hemisphere just can't get enough of them. So when they are out of season, we are in season down here. This is more of a hobby farm situation I plan on starting on maybe a small block of 50 - 100 acres. Not all chestnuts of course, I'm looking at walnuts and hazelnuts. Plus a small herd of Highland cattle and Sheep. More for retirement to keep me busy :)

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Lex Rex Now walnut is a really nice timber. Peter

[@johnbertotti8815]

Any particular reason you aren't using the e7 bush from Leigh?

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Hi John, It is what I bought with the kit from Axminster. Peter

[@johnbertotti8815]

@@NewBritWorkshop Thank you for the reply sir!

[@JonasJCom]

I got the D4R pro and a festool 1010 I used with with joy but on this project I'm using a ticker board (18mm) than I ever done before and the fits keeps turning out to tight (box joints). I can't lossen the leigh guidebush anymore then it will fall off. What can I have done wrong? - Any suggestions will be very welcome

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Hi Jonas, I have not tried box joints yet. The Leigh instructions, certainly for the dvetail side, are so good that I recommend that you check the manual and see which way they suggest you make an adjustment. Are you sure that you have the right diameter cutter? Peter

[@JonasJCom]

Thank you for your reply. Yes I have the right cutter I done it many times before (even though it's been a while since last time) - I think I might have found the problem (but haven't tested my "solution" yet) - I routed both the tail and the pins with the exact same settings (normally you put a space in to make the right offset when you route one of them) but that might be the problem because of the elliptical formed guidebush the tail and pins maybe not be 100,00% alike. In my test routing them in the same settings also means I have to offset the boards 1 pin to make them fit, which I though was fine just for a test fit, but doing this also opens for the small human errors of each pin not being 100,00% alike since we do set them up by hand even though we use our space block to set them very small variations might be the problem. Does that make sense? :-) - Thank you anyway for the reply it's greatly appreciated.

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Hi Jonas, I am glad you have a solution in hand. Good luck. Peter

[@jeffdeluca1153]

Peter do you by chance have a dimension drawing for the storage box for this Leigh jig?

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Hi Jeff, Yes, and it is free. All I need is an email address to which it can be sent. Peter

[@jeffdeluca1153]

New Brit Workshop Thank you a bunch Peter.. [e-mail]

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Hi Jeff, The plans are on the way. Peter

[@jeffdeluca1153]

Thank you once again Peter! I absolutely love this jig and you were correct, follow the manual and you have to really try to goof it up!

[@mycdb123]

Hi Pieter, great video. I also have a D4 and would love a copy of your storage box [e-mail] corrie

[@nastythomashobbs]

Using the Leigh jig is not like riding a bike...if you go a few months without using it..it is like starting from scratch. Instructions are excellent though.

[@NewBritWorkshop]

I agree, I refer to their excellent instructions quite often. Peter

[@dougcoutts]

Thanks for the great video. Very helpful. However I am much less impressed with the VRS.

[@NewBritWorkshop]

Hi Douglas, Not sure what you mean by VRS? Peter

[@NewBritWorkshop]

For Henning Goblke - no never tried isolock - it does not appeal to me. Peter

[@albertloschiavo4834]

😅😅