New Dovetail Jig

I've pulled out a few hairs trying to tweak my dovetail jig so it cuts perfectly. Porter Cable's 4200 series dovetail jigs have some great conveniences that make much of that unnecessary. Unlike most dovetail jigs, these come fully assembled and ready to go, which in itself is a big time-saver. They've also got a built-in gauge for setting the router bit's depth of cut. You'll still need to do test cuts, but this is an effective shortcut to success. The instructions for what to do if the joint is too tight or too loose are right on the side of the jig, so you won't have to search for your owner's manual. The 4210 jig, $99, cuts half-blind, rabbeted half-blind and sliding dovetails. The 4212, $149, cuts through, half-blind, rabbeted half-blind and sliding dovetails and box joints. Few other jigs in this price range produce through dovetails and sliding dovetails. Both jigs accept material from 1/4- to 1-1/4-in. thick and up to 12 in. wide. Each comes with a dovetail bit and guide bushing. Porter Cable says the jigs should be available in December.

Source:
Porter Cable , (800) 321-9443, www.porter-cable.com, Dovetail jig, 4210, $99, Dovetail jig, 4212, $149.