Delta 34-184 Universal/Deluxe Tenoning Jig
Average Customer Review:
Tools & Hardware
list price: $119.99 -- our price: $99.99
(price subject to change: see help)
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Editorial Review

Sure, you could spend a day in your shop building your own tenoning jig. Or you could spend the day making furniture with this one. Your choice. We know what we'd choose, that's for sure. Delta's universal jig fits any table saw that has a 3/8-by-3/4-inch miter slot and adapts to right- or left-tilting arbors. You'll get top-quality craftsmanship with the microfine-thread adjustment knob, allowing you to adjust width-of-cut settings to a hair for the snuggest possible tenon fit. We particularly like Delta's redesign of the handle. Most tenoning jigs we've used have one handle, sometimes up too high to offer good control. But Delta's replaced that with two, positioned at the jig's base, just where we always thought they ought to be. Another good innovation is the thumbscrew that lets you quick-release the hold-down clamp support. As for accuracy, it's hard to do better than this. --Kris Jensen-Van Heste ... Read more

Features

• Adjustable 0-45 degree work piece support accommodates thicker, wider stock
• Universal, fits all table saws with a 3/8-inch by 3/4-inch miter slot
• Micro-fine-thread adjustment knob for precise width-of-cut setting capable of 4/1000"
• Two ergonomic handles designed fro excellent operator control ensuring the smoothest cuts
• Quick-release course thread with a push of the button for fast set up

Reviews (11)

Engineer/Woodworker
I purchased this jig despite the negative reviews published on Amazon.com.The fine woodworking magazine recently rated this jig as the best overall value.The jig is made in China, and the casting meets all expectations of an inferior casting.If you buy this product be prepared to tap all of the screw holes, otherwise it cannot be assembled.It is too bad that Delta management is moving production to low cost countries.It's time for me to fine a new reputable manufacturer of woodworking tools.

Not up to Delta standards..or maybe it is
I'm a pretty patient guy, but this tool really pushed the envelope. Disassembling and cleaning was no big deal, had some problems with screw holes that had some pretty bad burrs on em, took a couple of hours to clean, and reassemble. As soon as I mounted in my miter slot, I noticed it rocked pretty badly, thought maybe the guide was out of whack, but it turned out that the base was no where close to flat. It was almost a 1/8th of an inch out. When you would press down on the blade side of the guide, the outboard side had an 1/8 of an inch space between it and the table. I double checked the instruction manual, but couldn't find any way to "adjust" it out. Called Delta, no joy there, they said it must be my saw table top. I have a Dewalt 746, have had it for a few years now, and my table is flat. Turns out the base was incorrectly machined, the bottom side is not flat or parallel to the top of the base. Called Delta again and they had no answer other than return it and get a new one from the store. Took it back to HD, they weren't very receptive to replacing it, wanted me to wait while they returned it to Delta and got it fixed. One of the "tool" guys told me they have returned a number of these jigs...guess that is why they were on sale. At any rate after more than an hour of hassle, I demanded a refund and took my business elswhere. I went to my local woodworker store (where I should have gone to begin with), they have about 5 differant jigs in stock and they took the time to show me the good and bad about each one they carry. I ended up buying the Shop Fox D3246. It cost 10 bucks more than the Delta, but is heavier built and has more features. I have quite a few Delta tools in my shop, and I am pretty much satisfied with their performance, but this makes three Delta tools I have returned in the last few years because of shoddy workmanship and pretty bad customer service. I also think that HD has seen the last of my money for anything. Wouldn't recommend this tool to anyone.

Roughly Made Jig
I bought this after using the older model and was very disappointed in the quality of the castings and the hardware. The old one, which is still available at a lower price, is a better made piece of equipment. The "deluxe" version is sloppier in its movements and reminds me of the junk we used to see out of China several years ago. Of course the simple operations required of this jig may not require it to be sophisticated but its still disapointing. I sent it back and bought the cheaper one from Delta which works great and I like the handle placement better. ... Read more

Asin: B00006S7C7
Subjects:  1. Jigs    2. Tenoning Jigs   

Delta 34-172 Tenoning Attachment
Average Customer Review:
Tools & Hardware
list price: $432.11
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Features

• Handles stock up to 2-3/4 inches thick
• Extra-large crank handle for fast, firm clamping
• Full-grip feed handles for control and safety
• Fits Delta table saws with 3/8-by-3/4-inch miter grooves

Reviews (3)

Old-Time Quality, a Top Performer
I have owned this jig for 15 years.During that period I have used it on a variety of size/weight stock and have never been disappointed.Its solid, massive design allows positive (i.e. safe) control of movement during the cut.Worth every penny if you do much of this type of work.

Worth the money
There are plenty of other jigs available, and most people go for the low cost. Why not? They must work OK, right?

Well, they may work "OK", but this one is in a league all its own. Why? Mostly because of the weight of the thing. The machining is fine, the features, the size of wood it can handle, micro-adjustment and so forth are great. So is the large bearing surface and the oversized tightening handle (read: powerful clamping strength). But the one thing that makes this one the best is the weight. It stands up to whatever vibration, pinching, grabbing, and whatnot that might occur when shoving a piece of wood through a saw blade. There's no worry, ever, about kickback or losing control, and the smoothness of the cut is pretty nearly perfect thanks to the rock-solid support of the jig.

To illustrate: I regularly cut tenons and half-lap joints on the ends of up to 8 foot pieces of wood, sometimes at a 45 degree angle. That means the jig holds an 8 foot board sticking up at 45 degrees, and guides it safely and smoothly across the saw. Try THAT on your $119.99 nearly-as-good jig. Or don't- you'll damage yourself if you try.

Delta 34-172 Tenon Jig
This jig has been around for decades and has yet to be matched in terms of durability and stability. Sure there are cheaper jigs on the market, but none better. This jig still sells used for up to [$], whereas the lightweight jigs are a dime a dozen. Spend the extra [$] or so, and you won't regret it. It fits the delta Unisaw and other 10" saw with the 3/4 x 5/8" slot. It can be made to fit any saw by making another mitre slot bar or tapping the base to adapt to a wider blade to mitre slot distance. 5 Star machine. Delta has "cheapened most of their machines by cutting weight and using plastic. This is one of the few tools that is true to it's original form. Go for it. ... Read more

Asin: B000056NQ0
Sales Rank: 20741
Subjects:  1. Saws    2. Table Saws    3. Table Saw Attachments    4. (Tablesaws)   

Freud SD5088" Super Dado Set with Anti-Kickback Design
Average Customer Review:
Tools & Hardware
list price: $337.50 -- our price: $199.99
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

Freud's 8-inch Super Dado set produces some of the smoothest square-bottom grooves and rabbets possible. Stacked dado sets like this one are more accurate and reliable than wobble dados, which leave a rounded bottom in the groove and can cause splintering and chipping. Freud's Super Dado set is especially good at producing smooth, chip-free results in plywoods and veneers. It features Freud's unique kickback-reducing design for safe dadoing even when used in a radial-arm saw. The set includes two outside blades, six four-wing chippers, and a set of shims, and it stores in a handy protective case. It adjusts in 1/32-inch increments, and even finer increments using the included shims. This Freud set is among the best-manufactured and well-designed dado sets available. --Brian Trinen ... Read more

Features

• Covered by Freud's limited lifetime warranty
• Thick micrograin carbide tips
• Kickback reducing design
• Chip-free, flat-bottom cuts in plywood and laminates
• Includes storage case and shim set

Reviews (123)

Freud is top shelf in my book
Excellent tool with superb craftsmanship.Freud is top quality in my book.

I recommend paying extra for better
I used to do all of my ratteting and dado cutting with various size straight/rabbet router bits and a homemade jig/guide fence system.I figured I'd bite the bullet and buy a dado blade.After doing some research and getting over the sticker shock of the average $200-$250 price range for most dado sets, I figured that I go for the SD208 for only $90.I figured that since it is from Freud, it can't be all that bad, no matter how much cheaper it is than the other models.Overall, I think the SD208 is a good buy COMPARED to all of the other dado sets and their prices of 2-3 times more than the SD208.More specifically, here are my thoughts:

POSITIVE:

1) The storage/carrying case is great.Durable plastic with an arbor-like post to mount the blades on.

2)Price.As I said, this blade is a comparatively good deal compared to other sets in the $200-$250 price range.

3)Shims are included.From what I've been told, some sets don't include shims.I can't verify that, but this set does indeed include shims.I believe there are 5-7 differenly sized shims.

NEGATIVES

1)My biggest gripe with this set is that the bottom of the cuts are far from being flat.Whether using the outerblades by themselves, or using them with different configurations of chippers, each cut bottom has multiple ridges/blade marks.

2)Shims aren't size labeled.Freud gives a great little chart showing what size chippers and shims are needed for differentcuts.However, the shims aren't labeled at all.They are merely blank circular cuts of metal.However, as any woodworker knows, you should always run your own test cuts for any job...so I'm in no way livid with Freud.It would just be a little nicety if they could label the shims.

As I said, I think the SD208 set is comparatively a great blade for its price, when viewd against other sets.However, I would recommend not skimping on price and upgraded to one of the higher-end Freuds or a Forrest set.

Try to get it sharpened
I run a small woodworking shop and I purchased the Dial-A-Width Dado.I think it is a great dado, but it has a -12 degree grind on it.Every sharpening shop in Denver cannot sharpen it without buying an expensive computer program for their machines and they will not buy it unless they can make enough off the sharpening to pay for it.I called Freud about having them sharpen it and they said they are not in the sharpening business.Buyer beware. ... Read more

Asin: B00004RK0P
Subjects:  1. Freud    2. (Frued)    3. Blades    4. Table Saw Blades    5. Dado    6. (Tablesaws)