030 Porter Cable 4212 Review

The venerable dovetail joint was first created to make a strong mechanical bond when fasteners and adhesives had not evolved enough to stand up to the daily wear of a drawer on their own merit. Though a handcut dovetail joint is still considered a sign of good construction as well as the mark of a skilled craftsment, jigs have enabled both amateurs and larger volume manufacturers to produce consistent dovetails, quickly. Having assessed the marketplace of their features, pricing and brand recognition, I decided to give the Porter Cable 4212 fixed-width dovetail jig a try. What follows are my impressions as a first time dovetailer.