XIII. OPERATIONS
3.The router base and bit must be secure before plugging in your router. Hold the router firmly with both hands and support it on the template. Make sure that the bit is clear of the workpiece.
Turn the router on and gently ease the bit into the work, letting the guide bushing gently contact the template. Facing the dovetail jig, start at your left side and work to the right, following each template finger in and out. Ensure that the router base and guide bushing stay in firm contact with the template. Figure 12.
Hint: If you are using material thicker than 7/8", cut it in two stages. First, remove the material IN FRONT OF the fingers. Second, remove the mate- rial BETWEEN the fingers.
Use care when the router bit exits the workpiece to reduce the risk of
4.Remove both pieces from the jig and join the dovetails.
5.It may be necessary to tap the two pieces together with a hammer and wood block. If alignment is so poor that the two pieces will not fit together, line up each piece as much as possible and determine the direction and degree of fine adjustment.
If the two pieces do not fit, it is usually because they were not milled square or the pieces were not flush with each other in the jig. See Section XIV.
Figure 13 shows dovetails after cutting.
Figure 12 shows using the dovetail jig.
Figure 14 shows a finished drawer
and 2 sides ready to be joined.
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