Would you recommend the Leigh dovetail jig?

[cputnam]

I have the D4R Pro with which I am very happy. This far I have only used it for through DTs. Read the manual, which is clear and concise, cut a couple scrap corners and you will be stylin'.

[Kansas City Fireslayer]

I have to reread the manual every time I use it but once I dial it in it makes better DT's than I do. The manual is excellent though.

[bandsaw]

For quick and easy joints such as shop boxes I use the Finger Joint attachment with my Leigh D4R - Almost no setup time and always perfect - with all that glue surface probably as strong as dovetails.

[dav]

I agree with what has been said wrt relearning curve and the setup time. I use my D4 very rarely.

[dvanvleet]

I have one and it is in the corner collecting dust. As others have stated, if you get it dialed-in, it's great, but you need to have scraps laying around the exact size (thickness) as what you are going to use. Now, if I were doing something that required a lot of dovetails, like redoing a kitchen or something, I would go through the trouble to dial it in. Truthfully, I've spent the majority of my efforts to get better at hand cut dovetails and I prefer that for smaller projects, like side tables and such. I suspect if you used it often, you could dial it in much quicker and it would be more user friendly. I would suspect that those, like me, that find it frustrating, got frustrated with it early and never put the time/effort to truly mastering it.

[Gansett]

I go along that it is a great jig but the learning curve is steep. Bought it, used it for one project that had several drawers, back in the box and never used again.

[Creator of the Kerry_All_Pouch]

I want to thank everyone for the advice. I've decided to go with the 12" model and while I'm waiting for it to arrive, I think I have a dovetail marker and saw in the bottom drawer of my toolbox. I'm going to give handcut dovetails a try as well.

[socalww]

Love mine.  I didn't think the learning curve was that steep.  Manual was pretty thorough.  I have long periods between uses so I don't remember all the steps but I taped a couple of reminders on the jig and it's enough

[MsNomer]

Not the question asked, but a $100 Porter Cable jig can gather dust for years, then whip out dovetails with zero head scratching.

[Arlin Eastman]

I am thinking like Hank

Since the cost is from $500 to $850 depending on which one you get then maybe 2 good dovetail saws and Lots of wood for that price and with the learning curve you can teach yourself how to do it by hand.

Lee Valley has a nice dovetail saw for not to much money and if you get a few files you can sharpen your own to.

I do have an older Craftsman jig someone gave me and I have never used it and if you would like it and pay the shipping it is yours.