I had a project I was working on last night and put the NEW (less expensive) Jessem dowel jig to the test. The one discussed in this thread:
http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?196292
When I first received this jig (I bought mine from Bill Huber, aficionado of dowel jigs), I glued a bit of sandpaper to the face to minimize any sort of slipping. I did a little testing, thought "that works pretty great," and then got busy finishing a bunch of other stuff. [Okay, it isn't finished, but I've gotten further.]
Well last night I needed to make a quick frame from some SYP. The purpose of the frame was to help support a Craftsman tool chest on the stretchers of my bench.
I thought this would be the perfect application for the new dowel jig.
I had wondered whether it would be possible to use the jig without clamping (just hand pressure). The frame I was making didn't use a lot of materials, I figured if it didn't come out well I could just do it again and clamp the jig the 2nd time around.
I placed the 3/8" aluminum locator pin in the first hole on the jig, and used that as a stop against the edge of the board I was drilling. Holding the face of the jig and the locator pin (as my references) against the board with just hand pressure, I drilled my first hole. Then I moved the locator pin to the hole I had just drilled, and finished-up the other holes. I actually had to move the locator pin a 2nd time, as it would have interfered with the stop on the drill bit (I may modify the locator pin with a notch so I don't have to move it twice).
It goes REAL fast. Almost as fast as using my biscuit jointer.
And everything aligned PERFECTLY. The edges and faces are so precisely aligned that no sanding was required, except to clean-up a bit of glue squeeze-out I missed.
I suspect I'll still clamp when there is a lot at stake (like expensive walnut pieces that already required a lot of machining).
But I'm not sure how it could possibly come out any better.