The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

I’m a long way from buying a machine, but I must say I would expect it to make dovetails on 1/2” boards. Is not that the reason you buy this equipment for in the first place. Than you start to play with it for other things.
Thanks for the heads up.

-- Dominic, Trinity, Florida

I want a dovetail jig really bad but the money is the problem. I was looking at the 12 inch porter cable and the 12 inch leigh, but now that I have read this review I’m looking down upon the porter cable. Do you know if this is a problem with all the porter cable dovetail jigs or just this one.

-- Tyler, Illinois

NewMexico: It was a wood show here in Atlanta. It is a great show that comes every year. All the big (and some little) vendors are there but some really good deals.

Woodshopfreak: I’m not sure of the other PC jigs. There is a 16” version of this one that would have the same issues.

Don’t get me wrong – it is a great jig – just be prepared to spend additional money if you want to do to anything other than the 3/4”.

-- ...and remember this: there is no more important safety rule than to wear these — safety glasses - Norm Abram

Hi Guys;

If I had spent that kind of money, only to find it won’t do dovetails in 1/2” stock, unless I spend $ 250.00 more, I would return it in a heart beat. If for no other reason than the principal of it. It really drives me nuts when I get sold a bill of goods that have a surprise attached to it.

I have the Leigh Dovetail jig and never use it, well rarely ever. D-4 is the model I think.

Seems my dovetails are always on curved parts thanks to some nut named Lee. I have come to the conclusion I get much more satisfaction from cutting them by hand anyway. The precision required is nothing more than good practice at using hand tools. something I feel is pretty important.

If I had to cut a bunch of them I guess I would set the jig up, but other than that, I’ll keep cutting them by hand, and liking it.

That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.

Lee

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com

Thanks for the review… I saw this monster at Woodcraft the other day and wondered it was worth it.

-- Chris

Lee, I’ve just started learning to cut them by hand. I’ve purchased several of the Rob Cosman videos (very good by the way) and am giving that a shot. I’ve gotten a lot more into hand tools since the dovetail jig purchase. I will keep it because there are times I need to batch out several drawers and this jig will do it very well. However, I agree that the hand cut DTs are very satisfying and as soon as I get good enough to actually apply them to a real piece I will be very happy.

I don’t want to mislead anyone. The $250 spent would be to get the remaining stops (they only ship the ones for the 3/4”) and remaining bits. This will allow other sizes besides 1/2”. It won’t however allow the miniature dovetails or the sliding through dovetail. That is an extra set of stops, bits and entire finger set.

-- ...and remember this: there is no more important safety rule than to wear these — safety glasses - Norm Abram

Thanks for the review. I have been considering one of these. But, not being able to do dovetails in 1/2” stock without shelling out more money probably swings me more towards the Leigh D4R.

-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.

Thanks for the review…I have the 24 and all the whistles and bell’s.and am working on a review/ test myself..and planning some video on it…when I get it finished Ill post it here…i also agree nothing beats hand cutting dovetails..but in my world jigs can help ya eat a little better when ya got alot of dovetailing to do…thanks again a good write

I have the little cheep Rockler Jig. It does any thickness I thing from about 1/2 to 1 1/8. (To Quote their Catalog) Jig will cut half-blind dovetailed joints from 1/2” to 1-1/8” thick and full through dovetails from 3/8” to 3/4” thick. Accommodates stock up to 11” wide. $99.99. It isn’t perfect but it works well. I wish it were a bit stiffer.

-- Days in the shop don't count toward the total.

I saw that very demonstration at our annual Woodworking show. I too was impressed with the fact that there were presets on the jig so you didn’t have any trial and error test pieces. Once you use a Leigh D4R, and master it, having presets are pretty amazing. I often wondered how P/C accomplished it? I guess I know now. I’m glad I bought my D4R last year. I previously owned a P/C 4212, and that is a good jig, but you can’t always have a 1/2 pin on either ends all the time. Also, P/C says that you can just take the finger assembly off the jig, mount it to a thick board, and do infinite length through dovetails. I found that this is true, but I tried it so many times, and couldn’t get them to align. Since I had to dovetail the upper case of my Highboy, and it was 17” wide, I decided to buy the D4R. I didn’t want any mistakes. I’m so happy with my Leigh jig. The only thing you need to do different thickness boards are the right bits. All of the drawers on my Highboy are 1/2” draw sides, dovetailed into 7/8” thick draw fronts. I only own 4 dovetail bits for my Leigh jig, but I want them all!!!

-- Matt, Houston Texas

Leigh works so much better and no extra gizmos to bleed your wallet with when you have to buy them

Porter cable should include all the necessary parts at this high price.

-- making sawdust....

Charles,
Are you at liberty to say where you got your ‘bells and whistles’? I’ve been hard pressed to find them online anywhere (other than the dust collection hood and parts box).

-- ...and remember this: there is no more important safety rule than to wear these — safety glasses - Norm Abram

I agree with Lee J. jesberger. Take it back.

-- Kip Northern Illinois ( If you don't know where your goin any road will take you there) George Harrison

Sorry to hear about what you found out about the Porter Cable jig. I hope they’d accept your return and your review has done a service to everyone who is contemplating a purchase of this jig.

I recently bought a Leigh Super Jig 12” (under $200) and I don’t think that’s breaking any bank for that kind of amount. It doesn’t have any quality issue with the fingers as you found with yours. You may want to check out with your local store to see if they’d do a demo or allow you to do a test piece. I tried out the 24” model and bought the smaller one because I don’t foresee doing thing that’s over 12”.

About hand cutting dovetail joints, the feeling was really good but after doing several pieces, I thought I’d take the easy way out. If one day, I need to a jint that my 12” jig can’t do, I’d go back to hand cutting for that piece.

-- The time I enjoy wasting is not time wasted

Thanks for the review…This jig was on my short list…

Yeah, if I had to do it again I would go with the Leigh. I was days away from buying that one but came across this at a wood show. It IS very powerful but you better be willing to drop some $s. I don’t know if you compared Leigh (apples) to Porter Cable (apples) if the Leigh would be cheaper.

Unfortunately I can’t return it. I bought it too long ago (January I think). I didn’t have a chance to open the box until June. I will slowly add accessories to it and try to forget about the $s. Once complete it will serve me well for many years.

-- ...and remember this: there is no more important safety rule than to wear these — safety glasses - Norm Abram