LEIGH D4 Jig
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- Beiträge: 458
- Registriert: Mo 2. Feb 2015, 16:15
LEIGH D4 Jig
Mein Bericht ist leider nur auf Englisch. Für die die Fragen haben... bitte per E-mail -- CONGER@gmx.net.
LEIGH D4 Jig 2nd report
I reported my first impressions some weeks ago.
To summarise from then:
1. The router guide bush needs to be centred with a mandrel not really described in the manual.
2. The mounting arrangement for the router guide bush in the base plate makes it difficult to stabilise the router in use a potential user hazard.
I have now used to jig for 2 projects (a chest for the jig using 18mm solid maple sheet from the cavern, and a table skirt using Tasmanian myrtle) and have some more to add.
The chest walls were quite large (I dovetailed top and bottom in one piece), and so it was not easy to position them accurately in the jig I had to get help, and even then it was not really satisfactory. The DTs were medium quality... some breakout... maybe due to the wood.
The table skirt was easier. The pieces could be placed securely and accurately. The cut was excellent.. the DTs fit together with just hairline gaps.... the wood was sized by handplane!
Concerning the jig, I must say that I am disappointed with the finish.
I found out that the reason for my first debacles was a small piece of casting flash on the side stop bumpers. This meant that when the side stop bumper was tightened (using the setscrew) to the side stop assembly, the bumper moved! Not really a good thing for a fine adjuster!!
A similar problem exists with the jig fingers; the casting finish leaves a nasty unevenness (flash from the casting process) on the finger surfaces, such that the router does not glide over the fingers it has to be moved from bump to bump and lifted over each bump to get by . another source of inaccuracy. I tried vaseline and easing the edge of the router base plate. This brought little improvement. The entire finger assembly will have to be levelled correctly. Perhaps it will be sufficient to rub the fingers with a fine sandpaper??? Any suggestions?
LEIGH should finish their castings correctly, and remove the flash from the casting process properly. What s stupid source of dissatisfaction in such an expensive tool!
I addressed the router base plate instability and the manual improvement (use mandrel for collar centering) to LEIGH support.
They admitted that the instability could be solved by a better base plate; they are "not in the base plate business". They did not react to my suggestion that the operator hazard should be mentioned explicitly in the manual; it is currently covered by DO NOT TILT THE ROUTER ON THE JIG, and KEEP THE ROUTER FLAT ON THE JIG ASSEMBLY.
The centering issue is vaguely mentioned in the manual it could be pointed out clearly that better results are achieved using a mandrel and perhaps LEIGH could offer a suitable mandrel as an option.
To summarise
Not a fussy jig to set up and use, as many have suggested mostly due to the mostly excellent manual.
Dovetails of a quality that reflects the jig price could be achieved with a little effort and attention by LEIGH.
The hazard reference (tilting) must be covered better in the manual.
LEIGH could put some effort into an alternative router base plate / guide bush solution, and achieve a much better and SAFER jig.
Servus Chris! -g-
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- Beiträge: 2209
- Registriert: Sa 28. Jul 2012, 21:16
Re: LEIGH D4 Jig
Hallo Conger,
vielen Dank für deine Bemühungen und den tollen Bericht. Würdest du das D4 Jig wieder kaufen oder eher zu einer anderen Zinkenfräseinrichtung greifen? Festool VS 600 oder Woodrat?
Herzliche Grüße
Christian
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- Beiträge: 458
- Registriert: Mo 2. Feb 2015, 16:15
Re: LEIGH D4 Jig
Hi Chris,
Klar.. wieder kaufen... jetzt habe ich es 'ge-tunt'.. und so sind die Ergebnisse besser als ok!
-g-
Re: LEIGH D4 Jig
Ich habe fast alle meine Tools inzwischen ge-tuned, Leigh ist keine Ausnahme.
Man muss vieles kontrolieren, z.B. Finger mit 600 und dann 1500 /2000/ Grit Sandpapier glatt schleifen - z.B. am Abrichttisch.
Auch weitere Dinge musste ich korrigieren.
Wenn es konkrete Probleme gibt, ich werde raten - oder die Loesung suchen.
Luk
Re: LEIGH D4 Jig
[In Antwort auf #394]
You don't say what router you use. I use it with a DeWalt625, and have only joy with it. Probably your router has a small base. Get or make a bigger one.
As far as the casting surface is concerned, may be I am lucky-no such problems. I agree that one expects Leigh to have high standards with regards to quality and inspection before shipping. To lubricate DON'T use Vaseline, you attract dust and shavings, making the situation worse, Use a liquid wax marketed by Liberon(UK) formulated for wood working machinery. Good luck!
You don't say what router you use. I use it with a DeWalt625, and have only joy with it. Probably your router has a small base. Get or make a bigger one.
As far as the casting surface is concerned, may be I am lucky-no such problems. I agree that one expects Leigh to have high standards with regards to quality and inspection before shipping. To lubricate DON'T use Vaseline, you attract dust and shavings, making the situation worse, Use a liquid wax marketed by Liberon(UK) formulated for wood working machinery. Good luck!