4 Steps to Perfect Dovetails with the 12" Dovetail Jig
4 Steps to Perfect Dovetails with the 12" Dovetail Jig
Check out our latest video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHMpMdDHMhs&t=276s
Baladonia Dovetail Jig
https://www.timbecon.com.au/joinery/dovetailing/12in-dovetail-jig
Milescraft Turnlock Baseplate Bushing Set
https://www.timbecon.com.au/routing/handheld-routing/turnlock-baseplate-bushing-set
Dovetail jigs are fantastic if they are set up correctly. In this video, Patrick Holcombe lets us in on the setup of the Baladonia 12″ Half Blind Dovetail Jig.
Dovetail joints are as traditional to woodworking as you can get. Years ago, cabinetmakers would saw these by hand and clean them with a chisel but with modern technology comes a much quicker and easier way to create dovetails.
While dovetails are quite specialized and only generally used for ornamental purposes these days, you can create simple but stunning boxes of many shapes and sizes using the Baladonia Dovetail System.
Being a Baladonia Tool, the dovetail system is quick and easy to setup and youโll be finishing your first dovetails in less than half an hour!
The Baladonia system comes standard with a 1/2in half-blind template for the most simple of joints that can also be used for assembling drawers. Also available are a range of templates that are more attractive, interesting and unique for that extra wow factor.
Thank you for taking the time to make this! Nice, straight forward explanation. I look forward to more vidโs!
Well presented. However, setting the router fence was not mentioned for timber thinner than that which you demonstrated on.
Cj
Best video on the half-blind dovetail jig by FAR!! Thank you!!!
I have bought the 1/2โ through dovetail jig template and have found the recommended dovetail bit is not correct. The recommended bit is a 14 degree bit (28 degree included angle) with a 1/2โ depth of cut. The package claims it will cut timber from 1/2โ to 3/4โ. It also appears the template has a 7.5 degree taper (15 degree included angle) on the comb and so the 14 degree bit is useless. Toy make things worse, I canโt find a 7.5 degree dovetail bit with a 3/4โ cutting length (which must have a 1/4โ shank to fit in the template with a 7/16โ guide).
Do you have any answers for this or do I have to dump the Baladonia jig and try something else?
A really well presented video, thanks. For someone who hasn’t used a Dovetail jig before it can be quite confusing. I bought a Rutland D/Jig. Really well made but the instructions leave a lot to be desired. Although saying that, describing everything for setting up and adjustments would be difficult in just text form. Thanks for taking the time….
Made it very clear , good video , makes it simple
Cool video. However, you should take instructions from woodprix if you want to learn how easy it is to do.
Seeing you more than what your demonstrating
Thanks for helping a green horn
It covers everything and also thank you for explaining it so well… thanks for sharing.
Thank you! I’ve seen several other "how to" videos for this jig, but yours is the most methodical, systematic, and logical approach I’ve seen.
What a great job you have done with the explanation of the use of this jig. Excellent work. Great job.
good
Could you provide a link with the tools used? More specifically router, bit, and bearing.
I can finally use my jig in the way it was intended. Original instructions were pretty much hopeless. This presentation is clear and concise. Another great instructional video from Timbecon.
Great demo, congratulations. Can you tell us the thickness of the comb, and the distances between the mounting holes? I just want to be sure that I have the same jig shown.
The depth of cut on the demo pieces looked about 6mm, leaving 13mm on the 19mmm horizontal pinboard edge uncut, which is a pretty chunky dovetail. Is there any way we can bring the vertical tailboard up to within about 3mm of the front face of the horizontal piece?
Well done. Simple and straight forward
Thanks, that was clear
Bob
This was very informative——-but—–I haven’t heard any mention of the implications that the depth of the drawer has on the spacing of the pins and tails. Are there ideal depths of drawers depending upon the jig one is using? Should the width of the drawer side, front or back correspond to the spacing of the pins on the comb? What happens if you decide to make the drawer 5 1/2" deep instead of 6" deep? Doesn’t that leave you with a partial pin or tail—unevenly? Thanks!
Good video—clear and straightforward, and therefore really helpful ! Thanks very much.
Thank you. Great tips. Been struggling with the jig my wife just got me. It’s looks a lot like the one your using, but it’s from Harbor Freight.
great – covers everything, especially how to position the comb back from the front, most videos don’t do this
Nice vid, its good to see these things in action thank you good job๐๐ป๐๐ป๐๐ป๐๐ป
great video
Patrick…superb video….you are great explaining how the dovetail jig works…wished I’d seen it earlier….will certainly watch more of your videos…๐๐๐๐๐
Great video, very useful.Thank you!
I want to see how you do it. Your video shows your face too much. It is not helpful for tutorials and it consumes too much time for the viewer.
sorry great chat but not enough detailed shots of jig and material
Great Demo how do u get great joints if timber is cupped
Really good video. I have been struggling with the Harbor Freight jig for a couple of days with terrible results. I have looked at a half dozen videos on this jig and they are all made by guys that seem to less familiar with the jig as I am. Two of them sais that you have to remove and turn both clamps 180 degrees because they clamp in the wrong direction. Even , when making the same mistake as they did putting the thing together, I realized that there is no forward and backward to these 2 things, they just screwed the clamp handles into the wrong side of the clamp body. There’s one guy that shows setting the fence relative to the comb first and then move the come into place which negates the first setting. They are all quoting straight out of the manual and show their confusion because the manual is confusing. I called HF Support number and that guy pointed me to the worst of all the videos on this jig. Your’s is the first and best video that explains cutting dovetails with this jig of all of them You answered so many questions that I had while making test cuts.
I just went out to my shop and tried another test cut following your instructions. I am still having my first issue routing my dovetails. That is, The dails are being cut too wide to vit into the pins’ slots. I’ve moved my bit back out and tried several different depths of cut and while it is changing it a bit, I cannot ,move it far enough to make the joint fit.
Very useful. I’m still having a few issues though, it seems the router always catches on either the first dovetail or gap… I’ve tried both directions and it doesn’t seem to make a difference ๐
Good walk through, mate๐
I must admit, it does look like a rather daunting jig.
Repetition is the key for anything really, the more you do, the easier it gets.
Looking forward to the other vids.
That is by far the best demonstration and explanation of using a dovetail jig that Iโve seen and Iโve seen a lot. It makes me want to take mine out of the box and give it a try. Thanks.
Did I miss the discussion on setting the fence?
This video helps a whole bunch. My jig has been driving me nuts. The book that come with it was obviously written by someone who has never used one.
So far, the clearest explanation of the dovetail jig setup I have seen on YouTube. Particularly liked the close up at T=13:55 as well as your simple and clear instructions on fixing alignment issues. Thanks!
Fantastic video very helpfull , you talked about been able to get other combs 1 where can they be purchased and 2 do they do one for through dovetails , many thanks bri
great post thanks
Your video would be much better if the camera was focused on the Dovetail jig instead of you waving your hands.
Thank you so much for making dovetailing less challenging.
I know this video is old buut if you wanted to make an inlay on the dovetails is there away to do it with this jig?
thank you Patrick well explained , greetings from Ireland
Marg. Can you tell me the exact size and number of the bit you use for this dovetail. I am using a TB19149 14.9 mm bit But cannot get it high enough in my router to get a neat fit. I have a G.M.C. 1/2 & 1/4 inc router but have not and cannot get a Guide bushing to fit it and the bearing on the router is above the fingers on the beladonia.
note that you have 9112 views and only 141 I like it, it would be nice if they had included a translation into Spanish, or subtitles even. Use the google translator to leave this comment
rocket science
So helpful thanks again. Nuts! it’s out of stock.
This video just made my Harbor Freight jig a lot easier to setup. Thanks