Pathfinder instructions - The WoodRat

and then repeat for the top right corner.
Remember:
1. Put them together and flip the front board. and cut both
rows together.
2. Cartwheel them both together and cut the other two. and
that’s the Tails done.
Making the Test Pins
DO NOT FORGET TO DO THIS...
...before you leave the tails, take a piece of good scrap a little
wider than the width of two sockets and cam it in place under
the bit which is brought forward to cutting position (off). Push
the router away, and squeeze the scrap up a fraction. Cam it
in again, and switch on. Bring the router forward so that the bit
cuts a shallow groove in the top of the scrap. Cut the first pin
position, and then the second making two shallow grooves.
It gives you both the bottom dimension and positions of the
first two tails.
Keep the Test Stick in place and...
Making the pins
...change the dovetail bit for a straight bit. The larger the better
(less break-out), but it must fit easily between the pins, and
also be right for the Template. We will check that next.
You now use the wedge shaped Islands on the template, Raise
the Pin.
Now track the Bit to the back edge of the test stick on the right
hand side of the groove so that the left blade is just touching
the right hand edge of the groove.
Unlock the Pin Plate (Pin down) and move it up so that the Pin
comes up against the wedge. Lock the Drop Pin Plate.
Track the Bit to the other side of the groove and align the right
hand blade with the left edge of the groove.
The Pin should come up and hit the wedge on the left just as
it did on the right-hand side.
If the Pin runs off the top end of the wedge, when the Bit
is placed, the bit is too small to hit the wedge so change the
bit for a larger diameter straight bit and start the test again:
loosen the drop pin plate and pull the plate forward allowing
you to place this larger bit on the edge of the groove. Slide
the pin away till it nudges the wedge.... and tighten the keys
on the Drop Pin.
Test the other side and check that the blade comes to the edge
of the groove. Do this without moving the sliding bar.
Dry Run
Before cutting the test stick, check that as you run the Pin
down the Wedge either side, the bit will run across the groove
from top right and down at a slope of 1 in 7 to make a pin
with the base the same size as the groove which is the same
size as the dovetail bit. Check that it runs over the stick the
other side also.
Making the Pins in the Test Stick
Now cut the test stick proper.
Zero the cutter onto the scrap and gauge the bit depth using
the piece with the dovetails cut in it.
Drop the bit, Track to the left hand edge of the Stick. Switch
on and make a right-hand cut, from the right side, just kissing
the corner of the groove sloping down towards the left, The
first pin will allow a right hand cut only.
Track to position number 2, and make a right-hand cut and
then a left-hand cut, from top left side down towards the bottom
right. Be sure to clean the space between the pins. Don’t
worry about breakout until later.
The test stick should fit the first and second sockets on the
board with the sockets. And the two should line up on the left.
20
The dovetail bit cuts two
grooves to trace the bit
diameter on the stick at
first and second socket
positions
The bit is at the back
of the Stick just at the
edge of the groove. Slide
the Pin up to the wedge
till it gently nudges it,
and tighten the Locking
Pins on the Drop-pin
Plate