Customer Reviews

Porter-Cable 4112 12-Inch Dovetail Machine

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Purchased this unit 2 months ago based in part on review in 'Fine Woodworking'. Haven't regretted the decision. Followed instructions (which are very good)and was cutting great fitting half-blind dovetails in 1/2 hour! Note: Router guide bushing is NOT included, and must be purchased separtely. Further note: Correct bushing is NOT inluded in PC bushing set (go figure).

I recently purchased this jig to replace another jig which was a pain to set up and wouldn't accurately hold the settings. The 4112 is so much easier to set up and hold its settings accurately. I especially like the heavy gage aluminum template - it doesnt flex or chip like a plastic template. And the edge guides are provided to accurately set the proper offset for flush or rabbeted drawers. One comment - the 5/8" OD guide bushing IS provided as well as a 1/2" dovetail bit. I think Porter Cable must have started including this recently. Makes beautifully fitting dovetails and Im very happy with the jig, especially for the price.

This is a great woodworking device! After taking about 20 minutes to set it up and about another 15 to fine tune the router and the Dovetail Machine, I was able to turn out perfect dovetail joints. This is great for making drawers and box frames. The fit of the dovetail is superb and I have incredibly tight joints. The jig itself is very solid and well built. I purchased mine in mid-May and it came with the collar and the 14 degree dovetail bit. Everything needed to get going.

This jig is a basic half-blind dovetail jig. It is also small. These are actually benefits if that is what you want to do. It is simple to use and does not take up much space.

The manual is straightforward and explains the pieces needs for each type of cut and the starting settings. Make some extra scrap pieces to get your exact setting and then you can go to town on the rest of the pieces.

I use this primarily for drawers, but I also use it to built a letter/bill/stuff organizer for my wife. The joints are great.

The guide bushing needed is included, as is the dovetail router bit (1/4" shaft). You have to put it together, but the instructions do a very good job of covering that too.

I recently bought this jig after reading the customer reviews and I agree with the review that commented on the poor instructions. They are not well written and during assembly start off by telling you to loosen the edge guide retaining screws. You quickly discover that they were never installed but are in the parts bag with the edge guides.

My first attempt was with the standard 1/2" dovetail template. The wording and diagrams were a little confusing but in a little over an hour I had my first dovetail joint which fit well. I quickly did 3 more boards and had a box assembled in no time.

The next day I bought the 1/2" box joint jig. This was the "bad nesws". I followed the instructions which were straight forward til I got to "Mark center of board to be routed under front clamp, up against bottom of box template". Doesn't make much sense as stated but I marked the center of the board and "placed" it under the front clamp. It then says to locate this center mark 1/16" to the right of the templet finger slot that is closest to the left end of the template and slide the edge guide to the right against the board to be routed.

With the board positioned as directed, the edge guide would not move far enough to touch the board. I then tried ignoring the instructions and moving the board closer to the edge quide.

I then routed the board and this went ok but I could not match up other boards. The joints would not match from end to end.

So I am still at a loss as to how to make this template work. I tried the Porter Cable website but there is no way to email them other than to ask for literature.

I have several Porter Cable power tools which I really like but if this jig was my first PC product, I doubt if I'd be interested in buying more. I'd appreciate any advise on how to use the box joint template.

I am in the process building a chest of drawers that will be part of a set for my oldest boy. When considering the drawer construction, I was really leaning toward dovetails, but was concerned about difficulty associated with the smaller jigs, and cost on the better recommended jigs.

After much deliberation, I purchased the Porter-Cable 4112, and couldn't be more pleased. The assembly instructions were sparse, but adequite. I cut up a few short pieces of pine to practice with, and began to follow the instructions for 1/2" half-blind dovetails. My 1st practice board came out perfect!

Overall, I think this unit is perfect for an enthusiast like myself. I am very pleased with the price/performance ratio. When comparing prices, keep in mind that this kit comes with the required bushing and 14 degree 1/2" dovetail bit.

I was hesitant to purchase this jig after reading the reviews posted here, but I am a big fan of Porter-Cable products and I was anxious to start incorporating dovetails in my new hobby. What a thrill when the first dovetails I cut fit together perfectly. For a beginning woodworker like me that is very satisfying. For everyone who has had difficulty putting the jig together, I would suggest laying out all the parts beforehand. Then when the directions tell you to use four bolts, common sense would tell you that all four should be the same size. Granted the directions could be clearer, but I assume that most people purchasing this jig are at least minimally skilled DIYers and should be mechanically inclined. For the reviewer who can't figure out how to make the box joints, my guess is that they are using the wrong edge guides. My jig came with two sets of guides, each for specific applications. Either way, another reviewer was correct in stating that a home made jig for your table saw is easier for box joints. It was featured on the New Yankee Workshop, and it works like a charm. Do yourself a favor and make one (if you have a table saw). Anyway, another thumbs up to Porter-Cable. I've only been disappointed with one Porter-Cable product (the detail sander), but that's another story.

I bought this 3 months ago and have been using it to make drawers. The dovetail is an elegant joint.

I'll start with the negatives. This product is not up to the customary Porter Cable Standards. The bit they give you is mediocre, "high speed steel", not carbide. I trashed it easily on some hard maple. So you will need to buy a carbide bit... Okay, fine, you'll have to get a bit.

The next problem is that the screws used to clamp the material down are made out of cheap metal and strip easily. I had to replace them with a higher quality screw. Having addressed these two issues, the unit works very well.

So in the end, the unit is very functional and you will be able to make nice dovetail joints. I recommend this for the weekend woodworker like myself. If you do any production work or large volume, this will not last. Do yourself a favor and go right to a higher end product.

Finally, I'm really irritated at Porter Cable, particularly chintzing on the bit above. Note that the design of this product is not much different that it was a decade ago so its not like they sunk a lot of money into R&D for this. P-C is gouging the customer on this one.

The Porter Cable Dovetail machine is simple in its engineering and accurate. Setting up for a cut is a bit time consuming and relies on trial and error to get the jig adjusted correctly. However, once adjusted, changing stock is quick and multiple cuts are accurate. The template and edge guides are metal and substantial. This sets the Porter Cable apart from two of the other three dovetail jigs I looked at that cost under $100. Perhaps the best advice I can offer is don't buy a Rockler, ShopFox, or Jet dovetail jig. All three look attractive and have levers to lock in the stock rather than just clamp knobs. It's all looks. The Rockler has a plastic template and edge guides. There is a lot of flex in both. The edge guides on the machine I had were not accurate. The vertical and horizontal planes did not line up true. I returned it. The horizontal surface of the ShopFox was not flat causing the front end of the stock being dovetailed to raise approximately 2/32 when the horizontal bar clamp was tightened. The Jet had alignment problems similar to the Rockler. All three machines required the user to dismantle the entire front clamping cam system to adjust the edge guides. Ridiculous! I don't think the engineer likes woodworkers.

Wow, what can I say about the other reviews.

Easy Assembly:

The instructions are good. I had no trouble following the instructions nor with the exploded view of the parts. I did take the time to review the instructions and lay out the parts in the order they were listed before attempting to assemble the jig.

Having read the negative reviews here first, I decided to time the assembly. I was able to get the jig fully assembled in just under 1/2 an hour without having to repeat any steps. The instructions are not perfect but everything you need to know to assemble the jig is in there.

Goof Proof Dovetails:

After finishing assembly, I used some scrap 1x4 material to make a box. Cutting dovetails with this jig is simple. I can't state it clearer. I made a box quickly and easily with beautiful dovetail joints.

Conclusion:

Great jig - easy assembly, clear (though obviously not idiot proof) instructions, and easy dovetails.

Caveat:

I can't speak for using this jig to make box joints. I know Porter-Cable provides a template for making them, but there is an easy to make shop-built jig that makes nice box joints on the table saw far easier than could be done with this type of jig.