General No. 840 Doweling Jig...what a deal...

[Nickp]

I stopped by a garage sale the other day...couldn't pass this up for $3.00...
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[Cherryville Chuck]

Just out of curiosity does it self center and what's the range on it?

[Herb Stoops]

@Nickp You saved a few Bucks.

https://www.houzz.com/pvp/general-840-d ... 19f3b229d1
Herb

[Nickp]

Just out of curiosity does it self center and what's the range on it?

Range is up to 4 1/4" for the workpiece...center of hole to edge of wood is 2 1/2"...by orienting the jig you can put a dowel right on the edge of that 4 1/4". It is NOT self-centering...YAY...

What I like most is that you can adjust the guide hole so that it is always the same distance from the face of the workpiece...that's better than self-centering.

The new ones are plastic...this one is all metal...don't know if the plastic ones are the same size...

[Nickp]

@Nickp You saved a few Bucks.

https://www.houzz.com/pvp/general-840-d ... 19f3b229d1
Herb

...and the new ones are plastic...! I saw metal ones on ebay for $15 to $20...

[Herb Stoops]

Metal is better.........
Just saying,
Herb

[Cherryville Chuck]

Just out of curiosity does it self center and what's the range on it?

Range is up to 4 1/4" for the workpiece...center of hole to edge of wood is 2 1/2"...by orienting the jig you can put a dowel right on the edge of that 4 1/4". It is NOT self-centering...YAY...

What I like most is that you can adjust the guide hole so that it is always the same distance from the face of the workpiece...that's better than self-centering.

The new ones are plastic...this one is all metal...don't know if the plastic ones are the same size...

I bought one that is self centering and it's okay in some circumstances, like drilling a dowel. Usually when I need to make a dowel jig I use the drill bushings that Lee Valley sells. I agree with you that being able to register the holes the same distance from an edge is usually more important. The same is true with mortising jigs when you're using a router to make the mortises. With either one it's easy to make offsets such as an apron that is offset from the outer edges of a leg by just adding a shim in between the jig and your piece. Say you want a 1/8" offset for your apron all you have to do is add a 1/8" shim when you mortise or dowel it and it will fit 1/8" back from the front of the leg.

[Herb Stoops]

You can use those to cut mortises too by drilling each end of the mortise and then sliding it along to drill out the center. Then remove and use a chisel to clean up the inside, I have done it many times.
Herb

[Nickp]

Just out of curiosity does it self center and what's the range on it?

Range is up to 4 1/4" for the workpiece...center of hole to edge of wood is 2 1/2"...by orienting the jig you can put a dowel right on the edge of that 4 1/4". It is NOT self-centering...YAY...

What I like most is that you can adjust the guide hole so that it is always the same distance from the face of the workpiece...that's better than self-centering.

The new ones are plastic...this one is all metal...don't know if the plastic ones are the same size...

I bought one that is self centering and it's okay in some circumstances, like drilling a dowel. Usually when I need to make a dowel jig I use the drill bushings that Lee Valley sells. I agree with you that being able to register the holes the same distance from an edge is usually more important. The same is true with mortising jigs when you're using a router to make the mortises. With either one it's easy to make offsets such as an apron that is offset from the outer edges of a leg by just adding a shim in between the jig and your piece. Say you want a 1/8" offset for your apron all you have to do is add a 1/8" shim when you mortise or dowel it and it will fit 1/8" back from the front of the leg.

Since the guide slides on the rods the same shim principle can be used for repeatability...piece of stock between the base and slide and VIOLA...

[Nickp]

You can use those to cut mortises too by drilling each end of the mortise and then sliding it along to drill out the center. Then remove and use a chisel to clean up the inside, I have done it many times.
Herb

Excellent idea...hadn't thought of that...and really excellent when the piece would be too big or clumsy on the drill press.

[Herb Stoops]

The December meeting of our club before the pandemic I made a doweling jig for the members. It was set up for 1/2" and a bushing for 3/8".
Herb

[Stick486]

SWEET!!!!

[Cherryville Chuck]

Drill bushings are handy for making custom drilling jigs too but they only go up to 3/8". The threads on the guides are 1/2" by 20 tpi so you can drill metal or wood and tap holes for them or drill a 5/8" hole and use one of the inserts to install them. They're good when you need repeatability or when you're way away from an edge.

One thing I use them for is drilling dowel holes in the base of cabinets for divider panels. The jig insures the spacing is correct for both the base and divider. https://www.leevalley.com/en-ca/shop/ha ... em=25K6206

[Herb Stoops]

Chuck I have used those before too. I wanted a longer one to help keep the drill bit vertical and it is a press fit. The 3/8" slides right inside the 1/2" and is the same length. They are bearing bushings so they are hardened and should wear good.
Herb