Leigh FMT Jig Questions....Anybody used one?

Re: Leigh FMT Jig  Questions....Anybody used one?

ray k

It definitely is slick and neat to use. There's a little bit of a learning curve for your initial setup, but its not too bad. Pros: 1). Once you dial it in, you can make production runs with really good accuracy; 2). It really excels at integral tenons (if you don't like floating tenons)-there are adjustment dials in the jig that let you creep up to a perfect fit when making your tenon (the adjustment is also applies to creeping up to a tight fit in mortises too); 3). You can make angled and compound angled M&T pretty easily.

Cons: 1). Since I don't use it all the time, I almost have to re-learn (or at least, take a quick refresher look at the manual) when I do use it; 2). Cost; 3). On long pieces like a a bed rail or something like that where you want a mortise or tenon at the edge of the board, you'll need to to setup the jig up high so there's enough clearance for your furniture part (e.g. bed rail); 4). For convenience sake, and since I don't have much shop time available (and don't have time to set the FMT up), I find myself grabbing my domino.

Re: Leigh FMT Jig  Questions....Anybody used one?

Dick Coers

I have one. Incredibly nice for double and quadruple mortise and tenons. It's not my day to day go to for mortise and tenons, but very handy to have around. If you can get a pretty good price, don't hesitate! I got mine when I was an instructor at Woodcraft. Employee pricing was the reason I decided to buy it.

Re: Leigh FMT Jig  Questions....Anybody used one?

Michael van pelt

I own one and use it occasionally . Yes it has a learning curve. But if you can get it for a fair price. Go for it! Any bits come with it?

Thanks and No....

Barry Irby

I am looking at a tool auction. It appears somebody just walked out of the shop and turned it over to auctioneers. They don't know what half the stuff is or what it's for. The Stuff is sitting around wherever it got left. I am almost sure that many parts to many things will get sold as "contents of bottom drawer" so I am concerned I will have to buy replacement parts. Thus I need to get stuff at really good prices.

Some Interesting machines there. They have every dovetail device I ever heard of and about half a dozen I didn't know existed. Many machine brands I never heard of. Some of the tools are 3 Phase.

The hunt is on.

Re: Leigh FMT Jig  Questions....Anybody used one?

jessecloud

Sold mine soon as I got my domino. Very finicky clamping that must be done absolutely right.I found it lacking for repetitive work as the clamps would often work loose after several pieces done. Dust control is a joke. Never looked back.

Re: Leigh FMT Jig  Questions....Anybody used one?

Barry Irby

Thanks, I was wondering about that, and I have a Domino.

The thing that is appealing is the ability to cut tenons on the end of pieces.

Right now the bid is so low it's hard to pass up, but that will change in the last hour or minute.

Re: Leigh FMT Jig  Questions....Anybody used one?

jessecloud

Yeah, cutting tenons on the end of boards... I remember one time trying to cut a tenon on a 6 ft board with the FMT. As I recall the solution involved an awkward vertical clamping of the board, a ladder, and a doubly awkward clamping of the FMT to the end of the board sitting about 7 feet high. So glad no-one else was there to take a picture.

Would have been a snap with the domino.