Leigh Super 12" Dovetail Jig

The instruction booklet is one of the best I've ever used. Thorough, consice and accurate to each process. Obviously written by a woodworker but all of the"kinks" have been worked out.High quality binding so it can be referenced for years to come.I expect the tool will be just as well thought out!

I tried a Porter Cable jig first but was really disappointed in the design and lack of its ability to make a accurate corner or even repeat its inaccurate one.After some more in depth research I decided on the Leigh. I’m not disappointed. Every issue with the PC is addressed by Leigh down to the incredible manual they include that actually tells you how to use the product versus the normal pages of warnings without instructions.The price difference is negligible and the Leigh is a much better value when you take everything into consideration.I’ve made several test cuts and got perfect results straight away. Setup was easy and straight forward following the instructions and videos.Yes there are some quirks, the odd size 8mm router bits that require the use of the included adapter collar, definitely not a deal breaker just something else to possibly lose. The adjustable guide bushing is also an extra step in setup and honestly for through dovetails I’ll purchase the correct size bush and use it in the future as I cut through dovetails most of the time. Also only two dovetail router bits are included so to have all the possible sizes you’ll have to shell out to purchase those separate.I needed the #70 and ordered the Whiteside along with the spiral pin cutting bit to use on some super visible dovetails I’m cutting soon.Overall I’m 100% satisfied with the jig and see myself using it for years ahead unless I upgrade to the larger version.

No dovetail jig is EASY to use, but this tool is close. This is one fine jig and the components are all very well machined and look great. I have used it a few times and once you get the hang of the adjustments, I was making repeatable full dovetails. I never cut a dovetail in my life until I bought this jig - now I am like Norm Abrams from This Old House; a dovetail king. But honestly this jig is fantastic and worth every penny.

I previously had a P&C dovetail jig and the Leigh jig is much better. The only reason I knocked off a star is that for some reason Leigh decided to use plastic rather than metal for critical stops/guides for the workpiece and I can see it is going to wear down over time. With dovetail joints, 1/64" is the minimum precision you need to shoot for and anything that throws off the ability to get workpieces lined up exactly right will tend to make sloppy joints, so all metal parts would be better.Pros:- Very good instructions. Crystal clear. I wish all manufacturers had instructions like these.- Flexible dovetail layout options, which is why I bought this tool- Precise, tight jointsCons:- Plastic parts in critical places- Stamped sheet metal. Could be a higher gauge metal for a more robust toolHint - the key to making precise joints is getting the depth of the pins and tails exact. Ignore the instructions where they say to use a pencil line, instead use the work piece to set the depth. I put the router on the bench, with plate up, put the tails board on top of the plate, put another 1/2" (exact) board to account for thickness of the template, and then use a straight edge to exactly set the depth of the bit for the pins or tails. Doing this, it should be within 1/128" of an inch. If you eyeball it with a pencil line it will be within 1/32" at best. See the photo.

Always heard a lot great things about Leigh products, and especially this dovetail jig. I guess I was expecting too much. Overall, your not getting a quality $400 woodworking tool, your buying a 179.99 router jig with a 'Leigh' sticker.Issues I ran into:1. Both the dovetail and straight router bits were either dull or of poor quality. These supplied carbide bits should have cut through oak like butter, but both of these struggled and got hot. I was working on a drawer with 1/2 inch material. Replaced both with Bosch 1/4 shank carbide bits; see #2 for why 1/4 inch.2. Adapter supplied to adapt the 8mm shaft of the included router bits to the 1/2 inch collet was of such poor craftsmanship it seized in my Bosch M12V. After spending 3 hours painstakingly removing seized adapter; took it to a machine shop. Then polished outside with 800 grit and milled 2.5 thousands off of ID to keep from seizing until the replacement Bosch 1/4 inch shank bits arrived.3. Inexpensive plastic cam locks to secure material will surely fail after plastic ages. Expected better quality I guess.4. Fingers are rough for the router base to slide on without jerking and jumping. Need to polish surface of each finger with 800 grit or finer and then apply machine wax to achieve effortless routing. They appear to be an aluminum alloy, so they will most likely need to be resealed with a crystalline wax to prevent future galling.Not all was bad, here are some good points:1. Excellent users manual, one of the better ones I've seen.2. Straight forward assembly, with explanations. However you will need some Baltic birch 3/4 plywood; to make a mounting board, 2 alignment boards, and a spacer board.3. This jig will cut nice tight dovetails (provided you address the items I listed above).4. Dovetails were repeatable, after adjusting for fit and noting settings I was able to reproduce the same dovetail fit without having to readjust.If the price was about $200 less, then the issues I ran into would have been expected. YMMV.

Once you get the hang of it, this jig is great - lots of joinery options, repeatability, production, etc. But it is not turnkey - you really need to get to know the tool and practice before you'll get reliable results.

Easy to use takes a little bit getting used to it after that it’s very easy to use