I have the Porter Cable 4112 and will tell you that I spent a great deal of
time tweaking it too. While the directions were better, it still took some
time so I wish I wouldn't have spent the money and gone with something a
little cheaper for no more than I use it. Once I had it though, I took the
router setting and ran it into a small piece of scrap so I have a gauge to
quickly repeat the depth setting - I would think doing that would make the
HF or the other clones just as easy to use.
Don
6tester <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:kvnRb.301514$ts4.226666@pd7tw3no...
> I have one... it's easy to setup after you figure out how it works... yes
> the manual seems to be translated from some other language. All that said
> after a couple of hours playing with scrap wood and fiddling with my
router
> base the jig turns out tight and repeatable blind dovetail joints with
good
> speed.
>
> Howard
>
> "Ben" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > I was at Harbor Frieght this weekend and saw they have their Dovetail
Jig
> on
> > sale for $29.99. Does anyone have one of these? Are they worth it?
I'm
> > not talking about doing a tone of work on them. maybe just use it a few
> > times a year. Thanks.
> >
> >
>
>
On Mon, 26 Jan 2004 20:20:39 GMT, "Toller" <[email protected]> wrote:
>I'll let you know in a few days; I just bought one. I will never learn...
Hurry up please, I can't wait to buy one too.
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"Ben" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> I was at Harbor Frieght this weekend and saw they have their Dovetail Jig on
> sale for $29.99. Does anyone have one of these? Are they worth it? I'm
> not talking about doing a tone of work on them. maybe just use it a few
> times a year. Thanks.
I've used one, it works fine.
You won't get cool points since it's HF and not really expensive.
But who needs to be cool in a NG?
Of course you could go Roy Underhill and buy tools that cost more than
$29.99 and do them by hand. I've heard there's some sort of
psychological benefit to doing things the hard way. :P Sorry
Neanderthals, just kidding.
Dave
"Larry C in Auburn, WA" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:RtfRb.123276$sv6.663443@attbi_s52...
> I have one. To be honest I've never used it. I bought it about a year
ago.
> If you do buy one there is a good website (here is a link then click on
the
> download manual link http://www.shopfox.biz/dovetail.cfm) that has better
> instructions on how to use it. It seems like the jig is ok. I bought an
> aluminum template for it that is better quality than the plastic one that
> comes with it. I imagine these types of jigs are probably much the same
> regardless of where you buy them. It won't be the same quality nor have
the
> capabilities of a Leigh, but then you already know that. In fact the HF
> looks to be identical to the one on the link above including the color.
>
Thanks for the link.
The one I bought today is aluminum. Not very smooth aluminum, but aluminum.
I am so glad you alerted me to this incredible bargain! I literally was
planning to buy a Leigh 24" jig at Woodcraft for $350 and change this coming
weekend. Now I can go to HF and buy a similar jig that will work just as
well as the Leigh for 10% of the price! I'm gonna spend the difference on a
HF drill press and planer and a bunch of their high quality drill bits and
router bits.
"Ben" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I was at Harbor Frieght this weekend and saw they have their Dovetail Jig
on
> sale for $29.99. Does anyone have one of these? Are they worth it? I'm
> not talking about doing a tone of work on them. maybe just use it a few
> times a year. Thanks.
>
>
I have one. To be honest I've never used it. I bought it about a year ago.
If you do buy one there is a good website (here is a link then click on the
download manual link http://www.shopfox.biz/dovetail.cfm) that has better
instructions on how to use it. It seems like the jig is ok. I bought an
aluminum template for it that is better quality than the plastic one that
comes with it. I imagine these types of jigs are probably much the same
regardless of where you buy them. It won't be the same quality nor have the
capabilities of a Leigh, but then you already know that. In fact the HF
looks to be identical to the one on the link above including the color.
--
Larry C in Auburn, WA
"Ben" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I was at Harbor Frieght this weekend and saw they have their Dovetail Jig
on
> sale for $29.99. Does anyone have one of these? Are they worth it? I'm
> not talking about doing a tone of work on them. maybe just use it a few
> times a year. Thanks.
>
>
Geez Bob lighten up on the guy. I think he knows it's not capable of the
quality or options of the Leigh. He needs to cut some dovetails a "couple
times a year" so he can live with more setup time and less spacing options.
He probably doesn't need a $350 jig (plus tons extra for more templates).
--
Larry C in Auburn, WA
"bob" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I am so glad you alerted me to this incredible bargain! I literally was
> planning to buy a Leigh 24" jig at Woodcraft for $350 and change this
coming
> weekend. Now I can go to HF and buy a similar jig that will work just as
> well as the Leigh for 10% of the price! I'm gonna spend the difference on
a
> HF drill press and planer and a bunch of their high quality drill bits and
> router bits.
>
>
>
> "Ben" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > I was at Harbor Frieght this weekend and saw they have their Dovetail
Jig
> on
> > sale for $29.99. Does anyone have one of these? Are they worth it?
I'm
> > not talking about doing a tone of work on them. maybe just use it a few
> > times a year. Thanks.
> >
> >
>
>
I have had one for several years and have made a lot of drawers with it. I
have made several modifications to my jig to improve its performance. If
you have some patience and are willing to made practice joints the "blue
monster" jigs can be mastered. However, if you want a jig that will work
perfectly right out of the box then one of the more expensive ones may suit
you better.
Earl Creel
"Ben" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I was at Harbor Frieght this weekend and saw they have their Dovetail Jig
on
> sale for $29.99. Does anyone have one of these? Are they worth it? I'm
> not talking about doing a tone of work on them. maybe just use it a few
> times a year. Thanks.
>
>
"Ben" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
I bought one. Thought it was a bargain. I spent an entire day trying
to figure out how to use it. The instructions look like they were
written in China by someone who had never seen a dovetail template and
had no clue what this thing was. The instructions were useless.
This piece of junk now sits out in the rain and cold until such time
as I can acquire a useful dovetail jig. Save your money!
Bill
"Larry C in Auburn, WA" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<nUkRb.124921$sv6.676165@attbi_s52>...
> Bill, I'm not sure if I can help you, but read my earlier reply. I provided
> a link to a better set of instructions.
>
> --
> Larry C in Auburn, WA
Hey Larry, I appreciate that. The PDF file is 25 pages and looks well
documented. I guess I will go retrieve that dovetail jig and make some
sawdust. I need to learn how to dovetail as I have some drawers to
make.
]
Bill in Mountainair, NM
I have one... it's easy to setup after you figure out how it works... yes
the manual seems to be translated from some other language. All that said
after a couple of hours playing with scrap wood and fiddling with my router
base the jig turns out tight and repeatable blind dovetail joints with good
speed.
Howard
"Ben" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I was at Harbor Frieght this weekend and saw they have their Dovetail Jig
on
> sale for $29.99. Does anyone have one of these? Are they worth it? I'm
> not talking about doing a tone of work on them. maybe just use it a few
> times a year. Thanks.
>
>
Bill, I'm not sure if I can help you, but read my earlier reply. I provided
a link to a better set of instructions.
--
Larry C in Auburn, WA
"Bill" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "Ben" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:<[email protected]>...
>
> I bought one. Thought it was a bargain. I spent an entire day trying
> to figure out how to use it. The instructions look like they were
> written in China by someone who had never seen a dovetail template and
> had no clue what this thing was. The instructions were useless.
>
> This piece of junk now sits out in the rain and cold until such time
> as I can acquire a useful dovetail jig. Save your money!
>
> Bill
"Ben" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I was at Harbor Frieght this weekend and saw they have their Dovetail Jig
on
> sale for $29.99. Does anyone have one of these? Are they worth it? I'm
> not talking about doing a tone of work on them. maybe just use it a few
> times a year. Thanks.
>
I'll let you know in a few days; I just bought one. I will never learn...
Anyhow, hunt through the pile; I found one that included 4 router bits.