Reviews

User Comments

Nothing better than having someone else blow our horn for us!

There's no way we can possibly publish all the feedback we receive, so we've taken a random cross-section of comments from warranty cards, emails and discussion forums, and posted them below. Click here to jump to the bottom of the page to see the most recent comments.

You get the full spectrum below, from the good, to the bad... and occasionally the downright ugly!

NEW FEATURE! Interspersed amongst the genuine user comments below are three comments we wrote ourselves. Can you find all three?

Enjoy these comments. Some of them are quite amusing. A good read!

Five drawers by noon and I’ve never cut dovetails before. Thanks Akeda. - G.C.
Researched quite a while – your jig is tops! - S.H.
Easy to use. Fine quality tool. – K.G.
Very impressed with the quality of the jig as well as the ease of replicating joints. – N.P.
The most foolproof dovetailing system ever made. I’m excited to use it. – A.G.
Probably the easiest to use dovetail jig I’ve ever seen. – R.R.
Well built. Easy to operate. – T.W.
Great jig. Excellent router bits. – M.N.
For a first time user the instructions are not very clear. – V.F.
This looks like the product I’ve been looking for. – C.W.
Great jig! - V.K.
I have spent six months researching jigs. The deciding factor between AKEDA and Leigh was the simplicity and repeatability of the AKEDA. – J.L.
Great product! In 15 mins. I cut my first HB dovetail! - M.G.
Looks and works great! - D.R.
It’s been great to work with. – E.N.
Jig is well built with fine fit and finish. Set up is fast and user friendly - R.Z.
Get better router bits. You bits are a disappointment - R.S.
Good manual. Jig appears to be well made and much easier to set up and get started than Leigh. – M.D.
This is an amazing jig – the quality is extremely high, documentation superb and the results are everything I hoped for. – M.M.
Nice solid product. I’m still getting started with it but I expect the results will be great. – W.S.
I have found this jig easy to use. A very quick set up. – M.G.
Great jig! - G.K.
Good instruction book. Good directions. – R.S.
So far, so good! - C.N.
Still getting used to using the machine. Great fitting joints. Fairly easy and straight forward to use. Speeds up the process considerably. – J.H.
Wonderful tool, tried it today. Need more info on finger joints, but I haven’t tried them yet so it may be very easy. – M.L.
I still haven’t mastered this dam machine. I’ve spent a lot of money on it including two new routers and still can’t make a dovetail. – C.H.
This built like a tank. I’m impressed! - E.B.
The instruction book is well designed and detailed. – J.P.
Very nice jig. Once I learned the set up it was very easy to use. Thanks! - G.H.
Great results first try ! - G.W.
True work of ingenious art. – H.B.
Just about to purchase the complex Leigh unit but obvious simplicity of the AKEDA design was too good to resist. – P.M.
Super product. It was hard to accept salesperson’s statement of ease of use, but it is just that! - R.J.
Great, great tool! - D.E.
I am extremely impressed with the results that I achieved in such a short time, the precision of the jig, and the end product. Good work! - M.G.
This is a 1st class jig. Easy to use and excellent manual. – O.E.
I have used the jig once. It’s a well engineered device. It was my first attempt at making dovetails and they turned out great. – J.P.
First cut was near perfect. You have a major improvement over others. – R.M.
Manual very incomplete. – R.B.
Great manual ! - B.K.
I'm returning my AKEDA dust collector for a refund. It did absolutely nothing for me. It just sat there all day, gathering dust... - L.O.L.
Best of all, you can vary the size of pins and tails in both through and half blind forms of the joint. I value this feature. The AKEDA jig earned a place in my shop. – D.P.
The first half blind I made on the jig was almost perfect, very unheard of for a dovetail jig. Very nice work. – C.D.
Great clamping system ! ! ! - M.K.
Very easy to cut dovetails. – K.S.
FANTASTIC! Well done! - J.R.
Thank you for such a high quality product. – T.B.
An excellent jig – very impressive right out of the box. Well illustrated instructions. Perfect HB & T dovetails first try. I’ve recommended this jig to a pro cabinet maker. – M.H.
Very well designed unit. And pre- and post-purchase communication and assistance was exemplary. – S.W.
Very impressed with the total product. I did a lot of research. AKEDA won hands down. – R.B.
After the first try I was able to do dovetails and drawers just like a pro. – R.C.
Finally a dovetail jig that works! - R.D.
Well made. Through dovetails were flawless. Short learning curve. – K.F.
Like stability of router platform having two rails. – K.K.
Had a Leigh D4 – (had) - now have a DC16 – easier, faster, quicker, smarter. – B.M.
Well made! Will be able to comment after I use it some. – D.B.
30 minutes after opening the box I had my first perfect half blind dovetail! - A.I.
None yet – your demonstrator at the NJ Woodworking Show was very convincing. I was considering a Leigh until then. – R.B.
Easiest dovetail jig I have ever used. Excellent instruction manual! Quality construction! - D.K.
Was thinking of getting Leigh jig until I saw the demo at the show. – J.W.
Well made, easy to use, great dust collection! - R.H.
Well built quality equipment. – R.H.
Make clear that front clamp can be used to clamp BOTH against front & rear stops. Not clear in manual. – E.P.
Absolutely excellent jig! Easy to set up, precise, and versatile. Your router bits are also quite fine. – A.S.
Looking forward to using it! - R.V.
AKEDA - your dovetails are on my chest and in my drawers... - L.O.L.
500% easier and faster than when we used a Leigh jig to make 40 drawers for our workbenches. It took us two weeks to learn how in order to get consistent work. Your jig, 1-1/2 hours to read the manual and get a good result. – E.L.
Works very well. Two items that don’t jump out at you in the cartoon manual: 1. The vertical clamp bar comes transversed to the front and needs to be brought forward to clamp the wood behind it. 2. Pin orientation is not clear. Showing the serrated edge up would clear it up. Other than that, it works very well. – T.C.
Set up was lack (sic) on a couple steps. A buddy and myself both bought the same AKEDA. Had to help each other to understand set up from Trade Show. Book needs more detail steps. – G.C.
Just starting to use jig. So far I really like it. – B.U.
Excellent jig. Faster, easier and more accurate repeatable cuts than my Leigh jig. – C.C.
I used to have an extreme dislike of making dovetails. Now I look forward to the process! - J.C.
The instruction manual could be improved to give more information on layout and measurement. – J.L.
This is the most beautifully designed woodworking tool I’ve ever seen. If it hasn’t won awards for design elegance, it should! - D.W.
If it works like it appears to, I will use on many types of projects for a lifetime - M.B.
Not enough time on jig to form opinion. However, it appears to be a superior design and excellent material and construction. – A.G.
Trade show demo sold me on the quality and ease of use. I will be using the jig occasionally and I don’t want to have to learn a complicated system or spend a lot of time practicing to make quality joints. – T.G.
This dovetailing tool solves the problems of conventional dovetail jigs. I love it. It is easy to learn and use. – L.B.
I found the product high quality, user friendly and furnished with an adequate number of accessories. However, a video indicating use of advanced features would be very helpful. – M.S.
Great tool. – R.S.
Pigs really do fly! This jig has increased my efficiency tenfold. I have tried other jigs my friends own and yours is the only one that keeps my blood pressure low. I am the envy of my woodworking buddies, thanks to you! - J.C.
Amazing. How simple to set up and use. First try – perfect dovetail joints. – J.W.
Very user friendly. – T.C.
I went to the Tacoma Woodworking Show to buy a Leigh jig and had the opportunity to see both demonstrated. As you know, the AKEDA is much less complicated, safer and has good dust collection. – J.C.
Fool proof. Just love the machine. Had success the first time I used it. – K.H.
I love it! - D.M.
The quality is excellent and in my opinion the easiest unit on the market to learn. It is very user friendly. – L.P.
I used to own the PC 24” Omnijig. This is so much smoother and easier to use. - B.D.
I bought the Akeda because it looked intuitive to use. It really is. Even better is that (the demonstrator) didn't have to exaggerate. He said the first perfect dovetail slides together less than an hour after opening the box. He could have said 30 minutes and there still would have been time for coffee. – S.O.
This tool is very well made and almost foolproof. I am very satisfied. – S.B.
A great jig! - P.D.
Excellent machine. – E.L.
Your jig looks like a great product. – J.N.
Thank you for such a high quality product. – T.B.
Your product stands above other jigs I have seen and your warranty is straightforward. – W.D.
Best tool in my shop! - W.H.
Just got your DC-16 - great piece of equipment: elegantly designed, simple to learn and operate, one of those purchases you are happy about AFTER you use it and get happier the more you use it. – C.H.
Very well packaged. Arrived in perfect condition… …your jig feels like I got my money’s worth, just by weight. Great manual otherwise. – D.C.
Very well conceived, easy to use, repeatable results. – E.G.
Well built and engineered. Excellent instructions. Real geniuses built and engineered this machine. – J.E.
I have spent 20 years designing computer interfaces with the goal of making the equipment easy to learn and use and I love your router jig. The work that went into designing it to be user friendly is amazing. – L.W.
The full support of the router base was a big selling point for me. Close second is the variety of joints it’s capable of. – J.M.
Love the product!! - G.A.
Your jig is not worth it's (sic) value in scrap metal. Hell will freeze over before it will ever cut a single dovetail joint. - T.D.
(The jig) truly performs as the reviews have indicated. I am a convert from my Leigh jig. I am still amazed at your terrific level of customer support. – J.S.
Well designed solidly constructed machine. Brings metalworking precision to my woodworking projects. Congratulations on a brilliant product conception and execution. – B.S.
Your customer service is superb. I am an Akeda customer for life. – T.F.
Great engineering design and ease of use! - D.M.
Very intuitive. Like the large work surface for the router. – J.G.
Impressive quality, nicely finished and packaged. Also bought accessory kit. Wish pin guide bags were labeled though. I have 5 bags and don’t know which is what! Could you please include a videotaped demo??? - L.R.
This is one very well built jig. – A.F.
One of the tail guides broke when it fell on the floor as I opened the package. Otherwise, the jig was easy to set up and use. Excellent results right out of the box! - J.N.
Haven’t put it to use yet. – C.H.
I’ve never had a dovetail jig or ever attempted any dovetails and I consider the instructions a little difficult. – A.M.
Wonderful jig. Works easily first time out of box! - R.W.
Hope it works as advertised and cuts down on dovetail time. – J.S.
Solid, well built, virtually no set up before using. What more can you ask for! - T.T.
Good design. Excellent instructions. Easy to use and well built. – P.H.
Very first route, out of the box was perfect! I also figured out how to cut 1/4” box joints on this jig. Manual shows only 3/8” as smallest. – B.G.
I am extremely pleased with the repeatability of cuts and great job the dust collection does. – C.G.
I love this jig… I’ll never use Leigh again. – J.K.
Would rather watch a video. Manual somewhat hard to understand. – D.B.
Haven’t had the unit long enough to make comments. I anticipate making better dovetail joints with this unit over my old 20-year cheap model. – N.F.
It looks easy to use from reading the directions. – J.K.
Excellent product! Thrilled with the end product! Needs a little more work on manual. Need to explain a little more in detail how to position the vertical clamp. Thank God for the guys at Woodcraft. On page 23-24 you should restate how to position the vertical clamp like on page 3. I realize this would be a repeat but it would have been very helpful. – W.H.
I am totally impressed by the quality of this jig. Manual is great. Set up was quick and easy. – S.K.
Cut great out of the box. Suggest a magnetic (removable) curtain to close off back side of jig, as well as top half of jig not in use. Easier to remove the acrylic curtains. I tried it and it improves dust collection. – J.M.
The inst. Manual could have been more thorough for a 1st time user of dovetail jigs as myself. I also feel it should’ve been more informative about the fitting adjustments of the dovetails. Also the instruction for the sliding dovetails and box joints making. The website needs updating and show more info about all the types of joints it’s capable of making. Also more technical support. – P.B.
First project (Shaker step stool) prototype in pine was a perfect fit. As well as the final walnut version. – T.M.
I researched many jigs before purchasing this one. This is the greatest. I am amazed with the ease of use. Simply the best jig on the market. – R.S.
Anxious to try it – looks great! - D.G.
Fit and finish is very impressive. I would like to say more, however, it’s time now to play. J - J.H.
An instructional video would be nice. – B.R.
I would like a complete set up video or DVD. – E.E.
Very much looking forward to using this fixture. Saw demonstration at Wood Show in Villa Park Illinois. Seemed straightforward and simple. Hope this is true. Leigh jig scared me to death. I use a Craftsman, but very finicky and adjustments are non-intuitive. Will try to give you a better review after I use it a while. – E.K.
I just purchased your jig and accessory kit. I have had no previous experience with dovetail or dovetail jigs. Came out perfectly first time. Made my day. – C.N.
…thanking you for making this wonderful device… I've reviewed several jigs, and searched numerous sites for information… the AKEDA jig always came up as the best, easiest, and most importantly, best supported of all the jigs on the market. Kudos to you and your company! - S.M.
We all know this thing is The Bomb. It's an awesome product. A work of art. I love it. I want to clamp it to my nightstand and admire it. It is like the Apple computer of woodworking tools. - R.C.
Truly, this is an amazing tool!! For a first-timer, that's pretty snappy... It's such a relief to see that I can make something so quickly that is so strong. I can't say enough good things about this jig. This jig is definitely one of my smarter purchases. Thank you for your help, and thank you for producing such a fine piece of equipment. – S.M.
Just received my DC16 this weekend, cut my first pins and tails, and it was success on the first attempt! Having used and owned other jigs, with the Leigh jig being one of them, I can say without doubt this is the best and simplest jig on the market today. – G.H.
Easy, fast and accurate. A pleasure to use! - D.G.
Learned to use well in one weekend – superior features! - G.C.
Impressed with demo at local woodworking show! - G.B.
Nice compact design. Easy to use. – B.B.
You should consider manufacturing an aluminum base plate for manufacturers that don’t have flat bases seeing as how it is so critical to joint quality. Your guide bushing is great, but if the router base is not perfectly aligned you are going to have mismatch corners so you should make the base adjustable and include a centering pin. – M.S.
Your instruction book should include directions for both pairs of opposite corners not just one corner. Include the need to relocate pins to be exact from right edge as they were placed on left edge. (for through joints). – J.M.
Great product. Tail pins are a bit too long and cause binding on the guide bushing. Good product like this shouldn’t have these kinds of problems. – L.P.
Also purchased the accessory kit. For a first time user of jigs I found the instruction manual very poorly done, incomplete and hard to follow – extensive video also would have helped – too much trial and error cuts. I like the machine now that I have it semi figured out. – E.G.
Very easy to use. Had put off making drawers for chest for 2 years. After receiving this dovetail jig and making 1 test cut, I then finished 9 drawers in ½ day! Thanks. – C.M.
Just used my jig for the first time. The joints were ok. Some of the tail jigs were very tight. Also, a small gap in the joint was common. But the dovetails fit very well. – M.S.
You should have detailed videos available on your Web site and a CD with complete detailed set-up demos should come with the unit or be free on request by purchasers. – S.D
Just a great product both in terms of quality and being user friendly. The manual was very clewar and concise. Well done. - R.F.
Did contact factory for additional guide templates. Good unit – easy to set up. Guide template with acc. Kit – bent!! – too tite tail guides !! – J.D.
Manufacture date was 2004. Has it really been on a shelf that long? Have any updates/changes been made over the last 3 years? – C.T.
The set-up directions for through dovetails are very confusing, no where was I directed to switch the rear rail guide with the front rail guide to cut through dovetails. – S.S.
Quality of workmanship evident in the tool is well above that of similar jigs. – B.G.
Haven’t used yet – suggestion: Make DVD that is comprehensive detailed on use – (important suggestion) I have viewed on-line – less than technical nor desirable otherwise: great looking tool well engineered. – D.C.
Very nice jig! Nice fit and finish and very easy to use. – G.S.
Hands down the best dovetail jig I have ever used. – L.Mc
Great engineered, and so much better than any other jig on the market. - R.E.
The jig is an absolute wonder in terms of design and build quality. You should receive a MOMA design award for it. - C.P.
Please, no unsolicited emails . . . . I’ll keep searching AKEDA on the Internet for new products! – E.B.
Very well made. (I have my router set up now and looking forward to using it.) – G.E.
The ½” to 9mm collet reducer PN 3447 was rust covered inside its plastic bag. Some oil needs to be left on before packaging. It cleaned up with fine sandpaper. I will try to include pictures in an email. Otherwise the unit was perfect. – M.S.
So far, so good! – M.E.
Let me start by saying what a great jig. I could not believe my very first dovetails were absolutely perfect. The AKEDA jig is everything I hoped for, thank you. – R.W.
Purchased 2006 at Wood show. Just took it out of the box in my new shop. Excellent product. Forgot to mail in card at that time. – J.K.
I love using the AKEDA. Have had some defects and Kevan has made good on replacement. – F.L.
Excellent protection for shipping due to substantial packaging material/cushioning. – J.P.
Looks very well built, sturdy, well designed. – V.W.
I seen demo in Houston Woodcraft store and was impressed. When I was ready to purchase you guys had the fire. I now own one and have many project on deck to put it to use on. – B.H.
The more I study the AKEDA design the more I appreciate the thought that went into designing it and the elegant solutions to problems router based dovetail jigs must overcome - by design. - C.B.
I have read great reviews about this product. I was very impressed with the video clips on your website showing how to use the jig. I am a relatively new woodworker, so this very clearly showed how to use it. - A.P.
So far so good. Woodcraft sent used DC Accessory Kit & Used cutter 7* and 9*. Parts missing too. – P.M.
Package missing precision guide bushing. No comments as I can’t use it yet. – R.G.
It’s a pleasure to cut dovetails with it. – J.B.
The AKEDA reflects a great innovative idea, and once received, lived up to the quality spoken of in the many reviews; only topped by the congenial & knowledgeable customer service of Kevan Lear. – G.M.
I have not used my jig yet, but I saw one of them being used a year ago and decided I liked the way it worked and am looking forward to using mine. – A.K.
Best dovetail jig I have used and I’ve tried most of the better ones. Less dust, less time, more work, better results. – M.M.
Haven’t used it yet. Looks very well made and easy to use. – K.B.
High quality, sturdy construction, great dust collection, all-around world class product. – R.L.
I took my AKEDA jig to our local Rube Goldberg Dovetail Jig Front Router Support and Dust Collector Design Competition. As soon as the judges saw the only other entry, they barred me from entering and awarded them First Prize with Honours... - L.O.L.
WOW, now there's a testimonial to quality. Not a single AKEDA piece selling on Ebay! – (discussion forum)
Completely happy - a great tool for any shop. - W.C.
Well packaged, well put together machine. - E.M.
Solid construction, great design, fantastic dust collection and easy to use. Thanks for a great product! - D.R.
Thank you for your brilliant design. I found the BC24 easy to set up and use. It has added a whole new dimension to the services I offer my clients. - E.M.