Does anybody have a credible explanation as to why Akeda is not able to manufacture and ship their jigs?
I understand that they had a mysterious "factory fire" (that was apparently not reported in any newspapers) some ten years ago. And that they have shipped some jigs since then.
If you call the number on their web site, you wind up speaking with the owner and designer, Kevan, in person. But all he will say is that they are not available at this time and that they "may" be doing a production run again at an unspecified time in the future.... Call the jig store and get on the reservation list. So I called them and although everyone is polite as can be, they would not answer the following direct questions...
When was the last time you shipped jigs?
When is your next scheduled production run?
Has anyone on the creek actually purchased an Akeda Jig in say, the last year?
Though I'd prefer factual data points.... I love to speculate as much as the next guy.
Apparently the guy who designed the Akeda jig ran a product design company and actually detailed the original Leigh Dovetail Jig. Then some years later, came up with his own design and brought it to market.
My best guess is that Leigh sued him and effectively killed the competing product.
Trend was selling the metric version of the Akeda jig in the UK, but it's no longer listed on their web site either.