HI
I am a entry level woodworker here and still setting up shop. I’m about to choose a dovetail Jig and I like the Rockler for the $$ but I’m wondering if I can justify the $$ for the Porta-cable 4212. I would appreciate any advice. Thanks

Just how much dovetailing do you plan to do? As an "entry level woodworker" I would think there are lots of other tools that I would personally purchase before a dovetail jig...but that is me. Dovetailing is something that I have always wanted to try my hand at, but never quite got there and I have been woodworking for the better part of 40 years......My eye has been on the P/C when I go to the store, but not having a real need for a dovetail jig at present has held me back......

Hi Bobby V,

I have to agree with Fireball. There are many tools you might purchase prior to the item you are considering. However, much depends on what you plan on making in the near future. A dovetail joint is strong and often used in making drawers. If you plan on making some form of cabinetry in the near future than this may be a most useful tool to have in that project. The choice to purchase this tool is yours but should be based on your future woodworking plans otherwise consider using your funds to purchase other tools which you can put to more immediate use unless you have other plans of which we are not aware.

I agree with the other two post, BUT on the other hand you might have a project that requires a dove tail for drawers, I have the 16" Omni by PC I have used it a couple of times it also is a bear to set up properly the left side and the right side have to be just right.
the newer fixtures are much easier and work very quick.
I have been to many woodworkers shows and have never seen the reps from PC show how to use there fixture.
if you buy a fixture buy other than PC there are better and easier ones out there to use.

Thanks guys and I hear you loud and clear as there are many directions to put not so many $$$. I was fortunate to purchase second hand… plenty to get me started. Example: Router table with Pc75182…Kreg pocket hole jig…. Drill Press…. 2 stage vac….PC 557 biscuit joiner… 8 inch disc sander with belt….. and I just added a 14 inch band saw. I have plenty for a rookie but then there is my desire to create dovetails *S*.All this has allowed me to consider a jig. I do see cabinets in the near future. I’m looking low end $100 to $200 not wanting to go over board.But it is has been interesting converting my 2 car garage (21X21) into a woodshop. I appreciate you guys taking the time to share your thoughts with me
Bobby V

well, I got a dovetailing jig because I have 18 drawers to build for three rooms of cabinets. existing drawers were grooved scuzwood, and are of course coming apart.

however, I can't get past the round bottom the dovetail router bit leaves on the (pins?) either they're too short for the tails, or the tails fit nice and I have hole-y corners.

this is one of those "set 'em both in and cut both boards in one pass" jobs. it's from whatever island was above water one day last year through harbor freight, but they had to copy it from somebody reputable, might have been p/c from the looks of a couple of them at the used tool joint.

so. I sorta seem to remember Norm Abrams on a show finishing off the round cuts with a sharp knife, and I notice my pull saw is labelled as a "dovetail saw." are those the answers? my wife is not convinced of that.

and it's about time to fire up the garage heater and start the drawers.

Any time I'm looking to buy a new tool I go on Amazon.com and look up the tool then go to the bottom of the page and see what comments real people that have bought the tool have to say about it.

I stopped obsessing about little bits of round reveal inside the drawers, and the Harbor Freight jig works.

Amazon showed an easy dozen other brands on the same jig, and reviews were uniformly awful. apparently a lot of folks hang around the docks and pick up stuff that spills off the deck of the slow boats from China

Porter-Cable jig sets were universally praised, by the way. you should be able to make clean half-blinds with those because you flip the jig from pins to tails, and use a different router bit for each. sounds like a clever plot to sell ya two routers