Customer Reviews

Porter-Cable 5123 1/2-Inch Box Joint Template

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I recently purchased the box joint template specifically for a display cabinet I am currently working on. When I first attempted to use this template, I was incredibly frustrated with how tempermental the set up was. After multiple attempts and changes in set up, my joints were tight and lined up perfectly. The next problem was tear-out. The manual indicates the need to place a piece of scrap wood behind your material to prevent tear-out, however this did not prevent all splintering. Not only was there tear-out where the router bit exited the wood; but, in some places splintering also occurred where the bit entered the wood. After much consideration, I decided to try wrapping a piece of masking tape around the end of the board (prior to clamping it into the omnijig). The router bit passes through the tape, into the board, then exits the board, through the tape. The results were 100% better, with virtually no splintering. I am very pleased with what this template can do. I just finished the carcass to my display cabinet tonight and to say the least, I am quite jazzed up. Another tip....use MDF board for your backing, rather than a harder wood. (this will lengthen the life of your router bit) I hope this review was helpful.

Used the template to make a 22"X18"x44" chest; worked great. Very tight joints.