Jess-Em Doweling Jig for Butt Joints - How?

[giradman]

Hi All - I've own the Jess-Em Doweling jig shown below for a half dozen years - used twice early w/ success - now building a small cabinet and putting together the sides - need to add 2 dowels per 8 butt joints (2nd pic) - what is the best way to register the two dowel holes for each piece of the project - know that I've done this before and am at a lost - the brief guide w/ lousy images does not help - does anyone know this jig and how to quickly put these butt joints together accurately?  Thanks - Dave

[Ray Newman]

Manual is on-line at the Jessem site: http://jessem.com/assets/08350-dowelling-jig-new.pdf

[Cooler]

There are a couple of really nice videos on this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3tE61O0zzk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZ0zbfJkXmk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WV21Slf13N0

[giradman]

Manual is on-line at the Jessem site: http://jessem.com/assets/08350-dowelling-jig-new.pdf

There are a couple of really nice videos on this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3tE61O0zzk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZ0zbfJkXmk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WV21Slf13N0

Thanks Ray & Cooler - the PDF manual is the same one I have in 'printed form' (but w/ poor pics) - the ones online are better but my specific need is not shown (know I did this a few years back - must be age!) - looked at one video last night w/o much help but will view the ones suggested above.  I'll also send the company an email but don't expect a prompt response and I want to get on w/ the project - late yesterday afternoon I used the jig and then some dowel centers for the matching holes, glued it up and just one joint slightly off matching (sanding will correct) - diagonals are even, SO found a way, but there must be a quicker method - the jig is SO versatile and machined precisely!  Thanks again - Dave

[jteneyck]

I know you own the jig and all, but mortises with loose tenons would be much easier, much faster, and equally strong.  I'm not plugging my machine, just pointing out the clear benefit of mortises over dowels.  You can easily do it with a handheld router and fence/jig.  

John

[giradman]

I know you own the jig and all, but mortises with loose tenons would be much easier, much faster, and equally strong.  I'm not plugging my machine, just pointing out the clear benefit of mortises over dowels.  You can easily do it with a handheld router and fence/jig.  

John

Hi John - my current methods for joining boards are dowels (have 3 different jigs), Miller dowels (for a decorative look), finger/dovetail joints (made on the router or the table saw), and loose tenon joinery - for the latter I use the jig (Mortise Pal) below w/ a medium size DeWalt plunge router - my options chosen for this project was dowels vs. loose tenons - decided on the former because I had not used the jig recently - so, I have plenty of choices and just decided on this one for the cabinet.  Thanks for your input - I no longer cut tenons nor drill out mortises (gave away my Delta hollow chisel mortiser to Habitat last year).  Dave