Subject: Craftsman Dovetail Jig @ $160 - Anyone using it?

From: [email-masked] (pwcnva2)
Date: 31 Mar 1997 14:39:13 GMT

There is a Craftsman dovetail jig that will do through dovetails and costs 
about $160.  Is anyone using it, using it and liking it, and could I have a 
review of its performance?
Thanks,

Brad W.

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From: "Peter Bonnell" <[email-masked]>
Date: 1 Apr 1997 14:11:33 GMT

I have a crapsman dovetail jig, and like everything I have bought from
them, am very unhappy with it.

pwcnva2 <[email-masked]> wrote in article
<[email-masked]>...

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From: John O'Brien <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 01 Apr 1997 13:06:34 -0500

-- 
I don't have the craftsman but I do have the Porter Cable 12", model
5008 which
I believe is very similar. I have not had any luck with this either. All
of my tails
end up being only about 1/4" high when I finally adjust the bit height
to the point
where the pins and tails fit together. The book says to set the bit at
19/32" and
I needed to set it at less than 17/32" to get a fit. Something has to be
wrong.
I called PC and they gratiously sent me out 2 of their bits to try. That
didn't
help, as a mater of fact, the problem got worse. I called PC again and
this time
they are sending me (swap) a new jig. My last discussion with PC
technical service
revealed that they NEVER had any problems with their templates on this
jig so I
kind of doubt my unit is defective, but we'll see.
Anybody else have this type of problems?

John

    "Measure with a Micrometer, Mark with Chalk, Cut with an Axe"

	      ------------------------------------------
              | John O'Brien                           |
	      | Johnson & Johnson Clinical Diagnostics |
              | Rochester, NY                          |
              ------------------------------------------

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From: "Mike Smith" <[email-masked]>
Date: 1 Apr 1997 02:43:46 GMT

I bought a Craftsman dovetail jig at about $100 that does through, offset,
and half-blind joints.  It worked OK for my first project.  Not great, some
parts are easily damaged by the router bit.  Also not flexible in spacing
like the expensive jigs--but I don't have any experience with others so I
can't provide real comparisons.  The Craftsman was fairly easy to set up
and use, and the results are OK for normal DIY projects--although I don't
think it would stand up well to very heavy use and it probably doesn't hold
work as steady as a sturdier, higher priced jig.  Good Luck.

Mike.

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From: [email-masked]
Date: 2 Apr 1997 00:36:12 GMT

>Anybody else have this type of problems?

Don't have either one but do have a Reliant (I think).  Had same problem, when finally adjusted where they would fit they were wimpy!  Gathering dust!

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From: Jay Sultan <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 01 Apr 1997 21:41:41 -0500

> review of its performance?

I have been using the cheaper Craftsman jig that does normal
(half-blind?) dovetails.  It cost about $40.  I built a supplemental jig
that was described in one of the woodworking magazines that helps make
it more accurate and easy to set up.

It is not a Leigh, but it is not a waste of money either.  If I had $160
for a jig, I think I would keep saving and get the Leigh.