Instructions for web - Gifkins Dovetail Jig

stop
Angled block
Allow room here
Position the angled block you have made between the stop and the workpiece and lock the stop in place. Cut the
dovetail slots in one end only of the board. Repeat for the opposite side of the box, again one end only.
It is now necessary to change over to the straight cutter to cut the matching pins, before you cut the rest of the
dovetail slots. With the sliding stop still locked in the same position as before, come around to the other side of
the jig and position the board for the pins on the jig with the angled block between the stop and the work, and
clamp in place. Cut the pins to match the dovetail slots already cut.
For the second set of dovetail slots and pins it is necessary to work on the other edge of the STOP. This will mean
repositioning the stop to get the required layout. You can then cut the joint on the other end of each board using
exactly the same procedure as above, the only difference being that you are now using the other edge of the stop.
If only two sides of the box are sloping and the other two are upright, then the dovetail slots must be cut in the
upright sides (which have sloping ends), and the pins are cut in the sloping sides (which have square ends).
NOTE: If the sides slope more than about 15°, the inside of the joint will not pull up tight when you assemble the
box. With 15° or less sides, this error is minor, but as the angle increases the inside gap will get wider:
Gap
workpiece
13