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The only reason this did not get 5 stars is that I bought the jig with the small box-joint template and was disappointed with the amount of tear-out I experienced with the 1/4 inch bit. This is a very well built dovetail jig. The aluminum plates are very sturdy and very easy to use once you have read the instructions 3 or 4 times. Overall I would recommend 6this product to anyone looking for a sturdy jig. It does not mean that the instructions are difficult to follow, but the joint itself is once of the more advanced woodworking joints and complex in itself.
Both awesome tools.The instructions are easy to use. Small jewelry boxes with open dovetail joints are very classy. The mini dovetail template is a gotta have ,so go ahead & spend a little extra to get this & not the 4212 jig. I loved woodworking in High School & after 35 years decided to have my own shop & get back into woodworking ( one of those mid-life things).I bought this & a Porter 890 router. Most everything you need to know is on the machine. With is set up you can turn out great joints in no time. My first open dovetail joint actually fit very well.
It takes a little getting used to ,but after a few mistakes I had much success. It was just a matter of reading the directions.
You can also do rabbeted blind joints. Learning to use that system was a real headache. With a little imagination you can do variably spaced dovetails. The jig is very well built and will last a lifetime. I've developed a few tricks to improve the looks of the joints. What is the trade off. But if you want a quick dovetail/box joint with a less expensive piece you are buiding with almost zero hassles, this is the jig to get.For less than $200 you can begin to make these joints. You can do 1/2 and 1/4 inch box and dovetails, both through and blind types.
My first attempt with the 4216 met with great results. There are even depth guages on the jig to help you set the depth of your router bit. by rabbeting the inside of the side piece a tiny bit to hide the round end of the socket. It does a fine job and the joints look great, but because of the difficult process of making a through dovetail I thought I would get a jig to help me out. I find myself using it more and more.
Instruction are clear and detailed. they don't have the "handcrafted" look of the expensive system. Really, for the price you cannot get a better made, better working or easier to use system. only 1/2 and 1/4 inch. etc. A few minor adjustments and it was turning out joints which looked nearly as good and were just as tight as a system I had spent well over a thousand dollars on.
I have a Jointech cabinet makers system to do dovetails, box joints, etc. Well, the 4216 is limited on the types of joints and sizes you can make. and they look pretty good.
even for the blind joints. The setup is easy. I would use the jig for the through dovetails and the Jointech for everything else.
Last but not least, you can make sliding dovetail joints.The joints ARE fairly basic. The sizes of the joints are pretty limited. You can see the rounded sockets on the inside of the blind dovetails.
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