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Wooden dovetail jig examples
Attachment 222930 Click on picture for larger image.
Here are examples of both the Half Dovetail (Simple) jig pair on the left and a Full Dovetail (Compound) jig on the right, both are for logs up to 6.5” wide and 12.5” tall. The ‘stack height’, or centerline-centerline between log courses is governed by the height of the dovetail pin. In this case, the thickness of the brown faced (Phenolic plastic) ‘wear plates’ is sized according to that desired stack. Each of these examples can handle a range of stacks; 9”-16” for the Half Dovetail jigs, 11”-14” for the Full Dovetail jig.
Some jigs are designed for a specific set of circumstances without ease of future change, while others are designed for long term use and flexibility. It’s not uncommon for a nicely build dovetail jig to still be in service after notching a thousand homes and a throw-a-way site-built jig providing service for a home or two.
All jigs should be compatible with the chain saw such that the saw is not destroying the jig. I started using aluminum marking templates in the 70’s and then a chain saw guide in the 80’s. Quite frankly, I’m not that great at freehand cutting, but can kick-butt with a jig. And unlike having a high-dollar worker who can free-hand cut with a chain saw, a jig won’t take a day off to go hunting, or get drunk on Fridays!