Hi, leigh d4 help needed

[t.f.bleaken]

Hi ive been looking on the forum on and off for a while and have finnaly decided to join as i need a bit of advice.
Im a fully qualified joiner/cabinet maker, after my aprenticeship i decided i wanted to try site carpentry so i went self employed and here i still am.Thankfully i still have the use of a wokshop (now at the top of the garden) so when time allows i keep my hand in with the furniture making. I also do joinery and furniture comissions for customers

Today i picked up a leigh d4 dovetail jig that has been used once if at all as it is in mint condition. i paid the princely sum of £80, which i thought was a bargain. the jig has everything with it aside from the router bits, as the chap decided he wanted to keep them. Thats why im here i would like to know what bits are suitable for the jig?

Thanks Tom

 

[misterfish]

Hi and welcome. And yes, you certainly did get a bargain.

Wealden certainly sell bits for use with the D4 and their stuff is highly regarded. As an example if you look at http://www.wealdentool.com/acatalog/Onl ... l_122.html you'll see those marked that are suitable for the Leigh jig. Also the Leigh site gives details of their accessories http://www.leighjigs.com/home.php - they've also got all the manuals available for download.

It's worth watching the video that comes with the jig and there are other video downloads on the Leigh site.

Misterfish

 

[jasonB]

Several companies such as Trend, Wealden, Frued all do bits to suit the Leigh BUT they are all 1/4" shank which I find tend to chatter on all but the very smallest of Dovetails.

Far better to buy the Leigh 8mm bits and their sleve if you don't have an 8mm collet, you will also need to make sure the guide bush supplied with the jig is right for your router.

The best place I have found for individual bits and parts is Handy Tools.

http://www.handytools.co.uk/acatalog/Le ... l_Jig.html

J

 

[Newbie_Neil]

Hi Tom,

I would agree with Jason that you need 8mm. Have a look at Axminster as, a member of Axi staff, believed that their Axcalibur "Leigh" bits were probably made in the same factory as the Leigh ones.

They certainly work well on the Leigh jig.

Here is the link for the Axcalibur cutters. They also do sets.

Thanks,
Neil

 

[marcros]

i wouldn't bother with the sets- buy the bits you need. you do need to get the bits designed for the leigh jig- either Leigh ones or the others mentioned above. General dovetail bits wont work.

 

[t.f.bleaken]

Hi thanks for the reply's I will give Axminster a go as the seem pretty fairly priced, luckily enough it came with the correct collet for my router and the manual is also there, I only picked it up last night so I haven't had a chance to sit down and read it but I will get there.