Power Tools

Is The Keller Dovetail Jig The Best Jig To Make Your Own Furniture?

Nov 13, 2022

We present several shortlisted best of the best jigs including the Keller Dovetail Jig for your review just so you don't have to go through pages and pages of product options.


Maybe you need a jig that can help you to make straight, smooth, accurate cuts on your woodworking projects?


Dovetail jigs can speed up the process of creating perfect joinery in any woodworking project.


A dovetail jig can be used to create perfectly fitted joinery in your projects. It makes joining pieces together easier and faster than with any other tool.


If you've ever seen a craftsman build a furniture set or do it yourself, chances are they use a dovetail jig.


Perfect joinery in any woodworking project. Dovetail jigs make the process much easier and faster than traditional methods.


Click the one jig that suits your needs or get the keller jig dovetail and get the one you need to start making beautiful projects with perfect joinery.

 

 

How To Choose Which Model Is Best For You

Match the features, capabilities to your budget. Once you have narrowed down, click on the green "Check Price On Amazon" button to get further confidence you have made the right choice by reading some past customers reviews.

 

Why Would We Want The Best For You

Would a dovetail jig help me to create perfect joinery and speed up my woodworking projects? Yes it would!


This dovetail jig is simple to use and great for creating dovetail joints that fit together perfectly.


So if you're looking for a good solution for fast, accurate, easy joinery, check out our dovetailing reviews.


It's the easiest way to cut dovetail joints. Once you've used a dovetail jig once, you'll never look back.

 

 

PORTER-CABLE Dovetail Jig, 12-Inch

Amazon #145 in Power Tool Accessory Jigs


Why We Think This Is One Of The Best

(why this item is a must buy)

  • With the provided 4211 template you can make half-blind, rabbeted half-blind & sliding dovetails, dovetail dadoes, box joints and miniature dovetails
  • Template patented alignment lines and router bit depth gauges for quick and easy set-up
  • Heavy-duty cam-type clamps with sandpaper-backed locking bars will firmly grip the workpiece
  • Router bit depth gauges allow user to quickly and accurately set the depth without the need to constantly take measurements
  • The aluminum template is CNC-machined for superior cutting accuracy and ultra durability
  • Suitable for stock from 1/4 to 1-1/8 inch in thickness and up to 12 inches width
  • Thick steel base of 1/8-inch
  • Amazon's Choice

 

Things To Know About This Model

(what you should know)

  • Weight : 25 lbs
  • Size : 12 inch dovetail jig
  • Included : Porter-Cable dovetail jig templates, 1/2" shank carbide-tipped dovetail bit, template guide, lock nut, manual

 

 

General Tools 861 Dovetail Jig

Amazon #43 in Power Tool Accessory Jigs


Why We Think This Is One Of The Best

(why this item is a must buy)

  • 1-piece aluminum layout adjustable dovetail jig ensures both ends of the dovetail joint matches up 
  • Integrated clamping design can use for any board width with precise jig clamping to the workpiece
  • Ideal for indoor and outdoor projects and household repairs
  • Make half-blind, through dovetail joints, edge-to-edge, square or box joints professionally
  • Easily adjust the micro jig interface to create loose or tight joints
  • Control knobs are comfortable for accurate use
  • Suitable for use on a router table dovetail jig
  • Amazon's Choice

 

Things To Know About This Model

(what you should know)

  • Weight : 2.9 lbs
  • Included : General dovetail jig comes with a 14-degree 1/2 -inch dovetail router bit usable for a hand table or table router

 

 

YOSELIN Dovetail Marking Jig Gauge Tool Set

Amazon #97 in Power Tool Accessory Jigs


Why We Think This Is One Of The Best

(why this item is a must buy)

  • CNC-machined from solid aluminum billet and anodized finishing making it light and durable
  • Dovetail marking on the slope of softwood and hardwood accurately, and dovetail layout
  • Wheel marking gauge of 8-inch precision ground steel rod, also used as depth gauge and quick measurement
  • Scale of 1 mm (1/64 inch) for easy reference, and accurately adjusted with the knurled knob and also slides on the edge of the workpiece
  • Suitable for both beginners or professional woodworkers


Things To Know About This Model

(what you should know)

  • Weight : 10 oz
  • Included : pencils/pencil holders/M6 hand-tightening screws

 

 

Peachtree Dovetail Jig Master System

Amazon #249 in Power Tool Accessory Jigs


Why We Think This Is One Of The Best

(why this item is a must buy)

  • Machined anodized aluminum provides for maximum accuracy and durability
  • Aluminum template can be mounted to an optional solid wooden mounting block
  • One side for dovetail pins and the other side for cutting the tails
  • 2 scribed lines on the top and bottom of the pin side to assist on quick alignment
  • Cut dovetail joinery on stock from 5/8” to 3/4” thickness
  • Can also use the same size stock for all four sides of a box or use two different thicknesses of stock optionally
  • Track and clamps facilitates attaching the mounted dovetail jig to your workpiece
  • After installing into the mounting block, the track enables the track clamps to be quickly moved into position to clamp the jig to your workpiece
  • Once it's done, rotate the large knobs to secure the dovetail jig in place

 

Things To Know About This Model

(what you should know)

  • Weight : 4.1 lbs
  • Included : Two 17” Anodized Aluminum Tracks | Two Track Clamps | One Flush Trim Router Bit with guide bearing, 7 degree angle Dovetail Router Bit and Extendable Aluminum Jig Template

 

 

DoveTail Jig Keller 135-1500 Journeyman

Amazon #721 in Power Tool Accessory Jigs


Why We Think This Is One Of The Best

(why this item is a must buy)

  • Range of 15-inch precision-milled template
  • Dovetail angle of 
  • Thickness range of standard bits of 3/8'' to 3/4'' and small bits of 1/8'' to 3/8''
  • Accepts stock widths and lengths without limitations
  • Normal pin spacing of 1 1/8'' center to center
  • Router requirements : 1+ HP & collet of 1/4"
  • Back-to-back model
  • Works with no test cuts & no complicated adjustments, and no wasted wood that other jigs require
  • Cut classic, variable-spaced, acute, obtuse, compound-angled, and curved dovetails and box and knuckle joints

 

Things To Know About This Model

(what you should know)

  • Weight : 1.7 lbs
  • Included : henolic guide, standard dovetail bit, straight bit, ball-bearing template guides, and fully illustrated instructions

 

 

LEIGH RTJ400 Router Table Joinery Jig

Amazon #751 in Power Tool Accessory Jigs


Why We Think This Is One Of The Best

(why this item is a must buy)

  • Create 5 sizes of through dovetails, 4 sizes of half-pitch through dovetails, 3 sizes of single pass half-blind dovetails, and 4 sizes of box/finger joints, routing angled dovetails, end-on-end straight and angled dovetails
  • Simple to use - just center the board on the template and guide the jig across the router table to rout the joints making precise joinery easy
  • One template makes all three types of joinery
  • CNC precision machined from aircraft grade aluminum
  • Perfect joint fit is guaranteed and repeatable with the patented Leigh elliptical guide bushing

 

Things To Know About This Model

(what you should know)

  • Weight : 10.4 lbs
  • Included : illustrated, step-by-step user guide

 


Keller Dovetail Jig 1601 PRO

Amazon #1454 in Power Tool Accessory Jigs


Why We Think This Is One Of The Best

(why this item is a must buy)

  • Works with any wood lengths and widths
  • Optional smaller bit set that works with this dovetail template for small boxes like presentation cases, giftware of 1/8 to 3/8 thick

 

Things To Know About This Model

(what you should know)

  • Weight : 4.1 lbs
  • Included : 2 precision 16'' long, 1/2 " thick Aluminum templates for dovetails and pins (unlimited width capacity), 2 router bits carbide-tipped, 1 dovetail bit (7 deg) with guide bearing, 1 straight bit with guide bearing (for stock 3/8'' to 3/4'' thick) (Bits are 1/4 inch shank)

 

12 inch Dovetail Jig FAQ

People are always asking us questions about dovetail jigs, and there are so many of them.

 

It can be hard to find good information about getting the right tools, especially if you had not used them before or not sure where to look. Or worse, you might end up with bad information that should have been to make your home projects much easier.

 

We know you are a seasoned handyperson or a trade professional looking for a replacement but for the benefit of new users, a dovetail jig can make your DIY projects a whole lot easier.

 

We've done the research for you! Here are the most frequently asked questions about dovetail jig and our top answers:

Do I need a dovetail jig?

Dovetail jigs are very useful and fun to make because they can create so many different types of joints just by changing to a different template. They are also a great tool to help you improve your woodworking skills.

If the user switches to a different template (standard dovetail, box joint, and half-blind or full-blind mitered) in one project they'll get various dovetail joints.

 

Are 3/8 and 11mm dovetail the same?

They produce different angles. The 11 mm dovetail produces a 60-degree angle while the 3/8” dovetail produces a 45-degree angle.

 

What angle is 6 to 1 dovetail?

1:6 ratio of one unit horizontal and six matching units drawn vertical resulting in a 9.5 degree angle.

 

Are dovetail joints strong?

Dovetail joints are purposefully designed to be extremely strong. They also have an attractive finish only a craftsman will produce.

Dovetail joints should only be glued when you need them to be permanent.

 

What dovetail ratio is best?

The correct ratio to use is 1:8 for hardwood and 1:6 for softwood. These are not set on stone as some people have their own ratios depending how they want the end result to look and/or the application.

These recommendations are based on experiences throughout time related closely to how strong the joints held.

 

Do dovetail joints need nails?

Dovetail joints need not have nails to hold pieces together. Without nails as it is, they look aesthetically beautiful.

Some cabinet makers glue them together for extra strength when the situation calls for it.

 

What is the most popular dovetail joint?

The half-blind dovetail also known as single lap dovetail most commonly used on table drawers.

 

What is the strongest dovetail joint?

Through, or full, dovetails are the 3 types of dovetails commonly used to join carcases, blanket chests, and small boxes.

They are the strongest and has the most beautiful finishing.

Dovetail joints are often used to join drawer sides to drawer fronts.

 

Why is dovetail the strongest joint?

The way the tail and pins are shaped makes them very strong and even made stronger when glue is applied.

 

What size should a dovetail joint be?

There should be about 10 dovetail joints every one inch, the length of the piece.

It’s always a judgement call of the woodworker as to how many dovetails are needed.

 

What are the disadvantages of a dovetail joint?

There are several disadvantages to dovetail joints. First, they can be difficult to mark out & cut as they need to be at an angle. Second, if not done properly, they will not be a tight fit.

Dovetail joint styles and types can vary depending on the project, purpose and design.

 

Are dovetail joints difficult?

A dovetail joint is a type of wood joinery made of two pieces of wood that are joined by a series of interlocking pieces of wood, or “wedges” that fit into grooves.

This is a type of wood joint requires tremendous skill and takes a long time to master if done manually.

However, with the help of machines & jigs, the job is made tremendously easier & more accurately for a perfect joint.

 

 

We hope this article has helped make your decision easier and that you enjoy using your purchase!