Tools I like - Record 148 dowelling jig

paulchapman · Postby **paulchapman** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 8:36 am

I bought a Record 148 dowelling jig back in about 1971. Like most people who own one, I reckon it's the best dowelling jig ever made. I don't use it much since getting a biscuit jointer but still find it very useful for various jobs.

Recently I had to drill some dowel holes to temporarily fit four legs to a table top so that I could take measurements for the side rails. The holes needed to be very accurate so I wanted to use my jig. Because the table top was 3' in diameter and the legs were 3" square, with the ends cut at an angle, I decided to fit two bush carriers to the 12" rods to drill the ends of the legs like this

And fit two bush carriers to the 3' rods to drill the table top like this

Clamped it to the table top with G cramps each end and a block of wood over two spare bush carriers.

In order to ensure that the bush carriers were the same distance apart on both sets of rods, I used a Veritas set-up block between the carriers when fitting them.

The holes were spot on

Don't think I could have done that with most dowelling jigs.

Cheers

Paul

PS The Record 148 is, sadly, no longer made but you can sometimes pick them up second-hand. 3' rods were not a standard item but Record made them up for me as a special order in the days when they were more customer-focused

scrit · Postby **scrit** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 10:55 am

3' rods were not a standard item but Record made them up for me as a special order in the days when they were more customer-focused

Of course you could get by with 3/8in diameter silver steel rod and a bit of judicious filing of the ends if you ever needed extras/specials/replacements, does the trick if not as nice looking

Scrit

Another #148 "fan"

colincott · Postby **colincott** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 4:37 pm

I remember now it was you two that got me started on the #148's and I now have three set ( from ebay ), 3' rods and 2' now ;D

As you might have guess that I am a fan too

Ps I still look for bushes as they do come up sometimes

Scrit

Where do you get 3/8 silver rods as I have had problems getting them as long as I wanted ???

scrit · Postby **scrit** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 4:44 pm

I've had mine from the local engineer's merchants. My local one is called K-Supplies and they cover a large part of North east Lancashire. The steel comes in rods up to 6 ft long. Have you thought about asking someone like Tilgear in Cuffley?

Scrit

Andys Woodshed · Postby **Andys Woodshed** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 5:09 pm

Colin

Have you got a cromwell tools near you

Andy

toobyefore · Postby **toobyefore** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 6:35 pm

Well this is all very well, but how many of you are using appropriate dowel bits with square shanks for your brace, eh? C'mon, this is the hand tools forum. ;D

Cheers, Alf

Almost succumbing to dowel jig-envy, which is ridiculous...

andrewking · Postby **andrewking** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 6:44 pm

I would also consider looking at the Joint Genie http://www.joint-genie.co.uk/ as an alternative - a sublime pice of kit utilising the old woodworking face and edge referencing to it's full.
Although seemingly expensive, it will cope with pretty well every application where you may want to use a dowel, and is very simple to use, and accurate.
Definitely one that I would recommend to anyone.

Andy

DrillDude · Postby **DrillDude** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 6:45 pm

Well this is all very well, but how many of you are using appropriate dowel bits with square shanks for your brace, eh? C'mon, this is the hand tools forum. ;D

Cheers, Alf

Almost succumbing to dowel jig-envy, which is ridiculous...

I do (well, some times).

As for p*wer drills and jiggies, I simply make my own from scraps laying about. I do use the drill jig bushings LV uses on their shelf drilling system.

DD

colincott · Postby **colincott** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 7:04 pm

Scrit

Tilgrear do the 3/8 silver steel but only at 13'' but have not asked if they can get it longer

Thanks for that Andy

As there is one in Stratford with is not that far from me ;D

dom · Postby **dom** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 7:21 pm

Interesting Paul, thank you.
Does this mean the table is nearly finished ;D

paulchapman · Postby **paulchapman** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 9:37 pm

Interesting Paul, thank you.
Does this mean the table is nearly finished ;D

Are you asking silly questions again ??? ??? ;D ;D

paulchapman · Postby **paulchapman** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 9:42 pm

Incidentally, if anyone has any 10mm drill bushes for the Record #148 that they don't want and would be happy to sell, I'm looking for six of them.

Cheers

Paul

evergreen · Postby **evergreen** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 9:49 pm

Paul

If I recall, didn't the Record 148 cost something like

paulchapman · Postby **paulchapman** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 9:58 pm

[quote]Paul

If I recall, didn't the Record 148 cost something like

scrit · Postby **scrit** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 4:47 pm

Well this is all very well, but how many of you are using appropriate dowel bits with square shanks for your brace, eh? C'mon, this is the hand tools forum. ;D

Well I've got them (Imperial sizes), but I use the metric bbushes with a cordless drill :-[ Can't get the Imperial dowels all that readily I find............

Scrit

evergreen · Postby **evergreen** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 6:31 pm

[quote][quote author=evergreen board=hand thread=1197621415 post=1197668973]Paul

Yes, it was either

paulchapman · Postby **paulchapman** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 7:19 pm

[quote]
[quote][quote author=evergreen board=hand thread=1197621415 post=1197668973]Paul

Yes, it was either

Gregory C. Roberts · Postby **Gregory C. Roberts** » Thu Jun 05, 2014 5:50 pm

I purchased my Record jig back in the earlier 1980s. As several others have stated it will do things no other doweling jig I've encountered can do. My purchase included long rods and other extra parts. Like many British tools I also purchased (Marples chisels, Record planes, etc.) at the time I am very glad I did when I could get them. I think you Brits kept up the quality longer than the equivalent U.S. makers at the time until a new batch came along like Lie-Nelson and Veritas out of Canada.

I'm restoring a 1901 trolleycar (tram for you folks) and it all comes in very handy.

Blinker · Postby **Blinker** » Sat Jun 07, 2014 7:15 am

toobyefore wrote:Well this is all very well, but how many of you are using appropriate dowel bits with square shanks for your brace, eh? C'mon, this is the hand tools forum. ;D

Cheers, Alf

Almost succumbing to dowel jig-envy, which is ridiculous...

Well Alf, I appreciate where you'm coming from, but the thing is; a nole, is a nole, is a nole. The wood don't know how you made it and it don't care neither! :mrgreen:

My Record dowel-jigger is in my bench drawer. Hardly used, as it never would stay clamped up for some reasons. Not even when I tightened the turn-screw with pliers. Way too varying. :cry:

Now the Woden jig... There's a piece a kit. Simple and it never fails. Just keep a 3/8 imperial drill nice 'n sharps, and use the dowel-plate for reduce 10 mill dowels.

Mordecai

Blinker · Postby **Blinker** » Sat Jun 07, 2014 12:09 pm

andrewking wrote:I would also consider looking at the Joint Genie http://www.joint-genie.co.uk/ as an alternative - a sublime pice of kit utilising the old woodworking face and edge referencing to it's full.
Although seemingly expensive, it will cope with pretty well every application where you may want to use a dowel, and is very simple to use, and accurate.
Definitely one that I would recommend to anyone.

Andy

Like this'n. Better in strength than the Kreggie. Cheaper than the ol' Domino. Easy to use as either. Consumables just the odd 10mm bit and topping up with 10mm dowels now and againe.

Thanks for that one.

Mordecai

robo · Postby **robo** » Sat Jun 07, 2014 1:05 pm

I've got a Stanley on that I inherited from my father and the joint genie I bought a few years ago.
The Genie is a well made piece of kit and very easy to use. I think a mag did a review on joints and the dowel ones came out rather well?

Rod