|
01. Porter |
02. Leigh |
Both
Leigh and Porter Cable ring a bell with woodworkers with any level of
experience. They provide a long lineup of power and hand tools including dovetail
jigs which often provoke points of argument among their supporters.
Though
professionals want to consider product capabilities, technical specs, price,
etc. while deciding on the best dovetail jig, we’ll look into only the ease of
use offered by both Porter Cable and Leigh dovetail jigs because it’s the first
thing you want to know when a trade like woodworking is concerned.
The
idea of usability relates certain factors like assembly, mounting, applications
in various dovetail cuts, and maintenance. In this article, we’ll discuss all
of these to help you determine which one manufacturer beats the other in this
area.
So,
let’s get started!
Assembly
Considering
the efforts to set up different models from the two companies, Porter Cable
offers an upper hand. Most units come fully assembled except a few easy-to-use
components.
On
the other hand, Leigh jigs present a short learning curve right from the
beginning. However, you can go ahead easily with the step-by-step instructions since
each part fits perfectly with another, and the whole thing won’t take longer
than 20-25 minutes.
Mounting
When
you’re into this particular task, it’s hard to find the better because both
companies seem to have done their homework to see that users have no difficulty
getting their jigs mounted to their workbenches.
Make
sure your workbench allows both horizontal and vertical mounting positions. Then,
with the help of the user guide/manual, included clamps, and a little bit of
labor, you can mount both a Leigh and Porter Cable jig in mere minutes.
Making the
Dovetails
It’s
the stage when your experience with the dovetail jigs gets real. Depending on
your skills, you may want to create dovetails of various types and styles. There’re
all kinds of jigs to help you with the typical ones like through, half-blind, full-blind,
and sliding dovetails, each presenting a distinct set of requirements. So,
let’s see how one can get along with the jigs from these providers as different
dovetails are in order.
Through
Dovetails
With
everything else going normal for someone who knows their job or follows
instructions, the only critical step here is to set the depth of the router
bit. The router bit’s depth-of-cut determines whether you’ll get good-fitting joints
or end up having some poor combinations of pints and tails. Also, different
depth settings are required by different joints.
To
get things as required, you need to follow only 3-4 small steps which are
clearly outlined in the respective manuals. With a Porter Cable jig, you’ve
fewer chances to make mistakes about the depth because the router bit that
comes with the package is very precisely made. Except for this one thing, you won’t
find anything special to identify the jig that’s easier to use.
Half-Blinds
Arguably
the most popular of all joints, half-blind dovetails are known to deliver an
edge in the drawer construction. A typical example can be a drawer with
invisible joints when the drawer is closed and viewed from the front.
With
a Leigh jig, a beginner may need to do some adjustments more than once, and
even the experts would find it difficult to cut perfect half-blinds with a
single setup attempt. The adjustment of the router’s height makes a common
instance.
A
Porter Cable machine requires that you mount the right offset guides. Some
Porter Cable models allow you to cut both pins and tails for half-blind
dovetails, which is a great convenience as it saves a lot of effort and time.
Despite
being not very welcoming for newcomers, Leigh jigs compensate by giving you
precise cuts so that the joints are interchangeable among the many pieces you
make.
Dados/Sliding
Dovetails
These
dovetails are preferable to others when you’re about to make cabinets and
shelves. With multiple preset depths designed for dadoes, Porter Cable jigs
should give you a friendly time. For those wishing to achieve some exclusivity,
there’re manual ways to set the depth of the router bit.
Leigh
jigs aren’t going to be predictable because the need for the right setup is
always obvious. On average, 2-3 instances of adjustments are common, and then,
there’re the illustrated instructions. You can thank Leigh for being this
considerate.
Regardless
of your inclination toward either of the jigs, you should ensure that your
router bit doesn’t cut right into the offset guides or the base during this kind
of dovetailing.
Maintenance
No
jigs remain the same for years if you don’t take care of them. With any make or
model, you can’t forget about giving them some care once after using it on a
few occasions.
Leigh
dovetail jigs may pose some difficulty during their uses, but you’ll find them
easier to maintain than their Porter Cable competitors. Guess how…
Since
a lot of components come unassembled, and you’ll learn a lot during the
assembly, you should become conversant about the assembly and different parts of
a Leigh machine right from the start. So, cleaning them can be easy and an
understandable job.
Porter
Cable lets you go carefree about the assembly at the beginning, but eventually,
you have the learning curve to undergo for maintenance. So, this task leaves
you no difference to consider.
The Takeaway
After
all these contrasting explanations, you may wonder which one will go easier
letting you enjoy dovetailing rather than fretting about the ‘ease of use’
thing. Some key factors are here to address your concern right away.
Any of the
two jigs will be good if –
·
Buying and
mastering only one jig for half-blind and through dovetails are your objectives.
·
You choose to
adjust the fit on your own.
Porter Cablejigs come easier when –
·
You want
something ready for works or don’t want to bother much about setting up.
·
You’re
comfortable with the tails and pins cut in the same pass.
·
Users don’t want
to exercise extra caution about the depth of the router bit.
Leigh jigs
are more desirable when –
·
Versatility in
dovetailing operations is expected.
·
Asymmetrical
dovetails are required.
·
You think you can
enjoy working with adjustable or movable fingers.
Final
Words
You
may feel like being filled in on the choice of the best dovetail jig in
terms of its usability. Some people simply want to avoid guide bushings, and many
DIY hobbyists love to rout their dovetails on workpieces that come in
odd/unusual shapes. If you’re like them, it’s quite okay to look beyond these
two makers.
To
sum up, Leigh jigs often present a more comprehensive learning curve than Porter
Cable products, but both brands are resilient enough to cater to the changing
demands of modern-day woodworkers.
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