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Angled Through-Dovetails

For the doll cradle project, I had to learn a new technique on the Leigh D4 jig: angled through-dovetails! I sort of figured that this technique was possible on this jig, and started formulating a plan on how I was going to do it. Then, I checked the Leigh web site to look up something from the manual… and surprise! They already have a supplement that shows how to do this! Here is a link to that file (a pdf). In typical fashion, the Leigh instructions are very clearly written and easy to follow.

The technique for angled dovetails is different from straight dovetails (obviously), but in ways I didn’t expect. First of all, you rout the pins first, instead of the tails first. Of course, this requires that you know ahead of time what the proper pin width setting is for the stock you’re using. Just a test cut on a cutoff piece was all it took to determine this. The workpiece is positioned away from the left stop, to allow clearance for the angled tail board… hopefully this will make sense later. A pencil line on the jig itself marks the left position of the board.

As soon as the pins are cut out, one of the jig guides is chosen to make a mark for alignment. The center line of this guide is transferred onto the center of the tail on the board:

This is repeated for all four corners. The pencil line is then transferred onto the tails board:

This line is then used to line up the tails board with the same jig guide that was used to make the mark in the first place:

Then the tails are routed as usual:

Clear as mud?!?!?!? I’ve got to admit, I wasn’t convinced that this would work at all until about 2/3 the way through… but it all went together just fine. Almost as if I had planned it!

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