MLCS Through Dovetail Template

I use a Porter Cable 4200 series jig, which uses a 1/2” wide 7° dovetail bit with the standard dual-sided template for through DTs (cut the tails with the DT bit, rotate the template 180° and cut the pins with a straight bit). The PC jig also has a “mini” template for use with a 1/4” bit on thin stock.

Stock thickness is primarily a function of depth of cut. But, the angle of the DT bit may not be ideal for thinner stock than the jig was designed for. Too steep an angle can result in fragile tail corners, which usually wait until final assembly to break.

Then, there’s the aesthetics of the spacing and DT size with respect to the thickness of the stock. That’s really a matter of personal taste.