I cut mine on the bandsaw and it's actually a lot easier than you
might think. Lonnie Bird's book has a good explanation of how to do
it. Frank Klausz video is also very helpful. I would say it
requires:
1. a chisel and the ability to sharpen it
2. a bandsaw with a fine blade (I use 3/8", 10tpi, although I am
considering getting a blade with higher tpi. Having it at least 3/8"
wide really helped me guide the blade.)
3. courage

Mark

"Jim Helfer" wrote in message ...
I "owe" boxes with dovetail joints to a few of my friends, so I have been
shopping for dovetail jigs. Unfortunately, I'm a just a greenie and have
never used one of these before, this is getting awfully confusing.

What I am looking for is a jig that's reasonably easy to use,(good
documentation or an instructional video would be cool), and can cut enough
different types of joints so that I won't need to immediately buy _another_
one.

I've been looking at jigs from Rockler, Keller, and Leigh. I'm willing to
spend money for a tool that will make me smile everytime I use it, but of
course, I don't want to over-spend, but I'm afraid of buying a more limited
jig, finding out that it doesn't do something that I want, and having to go
buy the expensive one in the first place!

To make matters worse, I'm not sure just how many boxes I expect to make
in the next couple of years. There's a reasonable possibility that it could
be more than a few. Or maybe I'll stop at two or three.

Any advice anyone could offer me, or web pointers would be appreciated.

Thanks
Jim Helfer
Pittsburgh PA