Drive Belt Tension
The tightness of the belt that drives the spindle has been adjusted at the factory. Further adjustment may be necessary after the machine receives some use, as the belt may stretch slightly during the “breaking in” process.
Belt tension can be adjusted by a socket head cap screw at the rear of the headstock (Figure
24)which slides the motor toward or away from the spindle. To tighten the belt, rotate this cap screw clockwise with a 6mm hex wrench. To loosen the belt, rotate the cap screw counterclockwise. The belt should be just tight enough to prevent it slipping on the spindle during operation.
Replacing Cutter
The cutter is very sharp; use caution when working with or around cutter. Disconnect machine from power source! Failure to comply may cause serious injury.
To replace the cutter, loosen both set screws (Figure 23) and carefully pull down on the cutter until it is free from the spindle. Place the new cutter in the spindle and tighten both set screws.
Operation
NOTE: The following are basic dovetailing procedures as they apply to this machine, and are not intended to be a full course of instruction in making dovetails. Refer back to the terminology on page 7 if needed.
The Dovetailer can be used to make joints in drawers, boxes, cabinets, etc. Instructions in this manual are based upon making a drawer consisting of FRONT and BACK pieces, and two SIDE pieces. FRONT and BACK pieces are placed horizontally on top the machine’s table; SIDE pieces are placed vertically in front of the machine’s table. The insides of the boards always face outward when they are placed on the machine.
No matter the project, prevent mistakes by laying out the pieces beforehand according to how they will be assembled. Place them with the inside facing up, and label the mating edges, as shown in Figure 25.
Before cutting on what is to be the finished piece, the operator should make test cuts on scrap wood to make sure all settings and adjustments are correct.
Figure 24
Figure 25
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