Through dovetails using Riser Plate w/Fence Kit and Vertical Mortise Table

[Ken]

Question for Larry Thompson and the Group: I installed the vertical mortise table (love the way boards clamp to it) and the Riser Plate w/Fence Kit. The Symmetrical Dovetail design tool gives me a Guide Rail Setting. Since the Riser Plate w/Fence Kit shifts the "centerline" of my workpiece toward me (by 19mm, the thickness of Fence), do I need to add 19mm to the Guide Rail Setting from the design tool? For example, if the design tool says to set the Guide Rail to 73, do I add 19 and set it to 92?

Thanks!

Ken

 

[larry.thomson]

great question ken -- i use the same setup because i like the clamping ability as well -- and yes -- that's my starting point on the guide rail setting -- but recently i've found that after i cut a few of my sequence of sockets in a test board -- i transfer the vertical edges to the test pin board -- clamp it up -- dial in my starting point and dry run cutting the pins drawing the bit across the top of the board -- you can see very clearly how close you are going to cut to your lines -- err to the big side -- cut test pins -- confirm they are a little big -- adjust the guide rail appropriately -- re-position your test board -- and ease in to a perfect fit -- in my experience -- once i have set the origin at the left edge of the board -- it will stay EXACTLY there for days on end while i mosey thru cutting my dovetails -- i try to keep a log of dovetail deg bit / depth of dovetail / straight bit / wood / guide rail setting -- operative word is 'TRY' -- my other add-on when cutting dovetails is to add some 'outriggers' to support the guide rails at the ends -- makes me feel better --

hope this helps -- please let us know how it all works out --

larry