how to make a router dovetail guide

**joliverio1923** · Aug 21, 2016, 06:14 PM

I have a router and I want to make a dovetail guide

**Jon** · Aug 22, 2016, 10:50 AM

Hi joliverio1923 - welcome to HomemadeTools.net

I'm going to move this discussion into our Tools in Progress subforum, so you can get some ideas for your dovetail guide build. For now, here's a link to search results for "dovetail router" from our encyclopedia: Homemade Tools Search: dovetail router - HomemadeTools.net

**Dennysch** · Aug 22, 2016, 01:52 PM

Buy an aluminum template mount it on a block with toggle clamps

**charleynoble** · Aug 22, 2016, 03:51 PM

You will find many solutions from this website......StumpyNubs.com

**kiwiles** · Aug 22, 2016, 04:11 PM

the tolerances required are very exact, much better to pay your bucks and get a commercial one. you can however make your own box joint jig

**archimeech** · Aug 22, 2016, 04:30 PM

Originally Posted by kiwiles

the tolerances required are very exact, much better to pay your bucks and get a commercial one. you can however make your own box joint jig

I agree with Kiwiles,

The time and precise fabrication required doesn't offset the savings. But if you really want to make one. Here's a basic exploded drawing of one. Then it depends on the depth and spacing you want to achieve.

how to make a router dovetail guide-dovetail-guide.jpg

**Dennysch** · Aug 22, 2016, 05:14 PM

MLCS Master Joinery Dovetail Set and Templates

**junglejim** · Aug 23, 2016, 06:03 PM

joliverio,sorry my friend i can;t help you there but type in goggle paulseller he is a master woodworker i believe you may find his site very helpfull,good luck

**toyvolvo** · Aug 23, 2016, 06:46 PM

Troy Sexton showed how to make one back in 2007 in Popular Woodworking. I found it years ago after I had knocked myself out building something similar. Funny how much you learn when fabricating one of your own! It would have saved me a bunch of time, thought.

Here's the link I have:
How to Make a DIY Dovetail Jig for Less Than $20

**eddyde** · Aug 23, 2016, 07:24 PM

I bought a Porter Cable dovetail jig back in the early nineties. It was well made, all steel and aluminum, it could produce some good quality joints. However, it had some quirks that made it a little tricky to use. It wasn't for lack of design effort, the engineers tried to cover all the bases but wood often has a "mind" of its own... I thought about re-designing parts of it so it could be quicker to use but then came along the advent of, custom sized dovetail drawer boxes, shipped to my shop, for about the cost of the raw materials... I don't even know what ever happened to the jig... Anyway for hobby or small shop use, I would buy a commercial jig and improve it. to make a good one from scratch will require a milling machine at the very least.