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Beth now finds the template that she will use to cut her dovetails. The template guide in
the Instruction Book shows each and every template. With the new LS, we received a new
Instruction Booklet and new templates. The inset shows Beth retrieving the template from a
storage system I created for use with the Incra TSIII and the SuperStation project. (click here to go there.)
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She
slides the template into one of the grooves in the fence slide. I like to use the top
groove for the project currently being worked on.
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With
the fence still locked at the center point of her first stock, she slides the template
(top) until the "8A" designation is under the cursor.
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With her
system centered for her 6" stock, her next task is to set bit height. Usually you set
the bit to be the depth of the stock plus a "skosh." She is clamping two test
boards firmly on the vertical fixture.
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When
using the Incra System, you set the starting router height to the depth suggested on the
template page. In this case it says approximate depth of cut" 3/4". Note that
the page also says "Spacing to Set Depth of Cut: 1 1/16"" This is unique to
the System. It will allow Beth to adjust the setting so that the fit of the final dovetail
is perfect. That's a real plus being able to adjust to the perfect fit before the actual
joints are cut.
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For the test cut, Beth has made two cuts: the first is at the point where the fence is
half covering the router bit and the second is with the fence set at 1 1/16" —
the "Spacing to Set Depth of Cut" point as suggested on the template page.
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With the
cuts made, she swings one of the boards around and mates it with the other. The fit looks
good but is just a bit loose. "Heighten to tighten, lower to loosen." That's the
catch phrase of Incra to remember.
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This is
where the precision of the Jessem Mast-R-Lift really helps. Beth gives the lift 1/4 turn.
Now she will try another sample cut.
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You can
see that Beth has made a couple of re-tests. The test is so easy to run, it makes sense to
repeat it until the fit is exactly right. Once there, there are no additional tests to run
— she can make the joint cuts.
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Now she
starts a test joint in poplar of the same width. She clamps a test piece in the vertical
fixture. Note that she has placed another board behind the test piece. That will serve as
a backer board to reduce router bit tearout.
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With the workpiece securely clamped, she can unclamp the fence and move it so that the
cursor is over the blue numbers.
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Here is
her view of the cursor. For accuracy in the settings, Beth stands directly in line with
the cursor each and every time she sets the fence. Now she will make cuts at each of
the blue marks.
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