To start, I am not affiliated with Rockler in any way. I paid for this jig and was not give any intensives to buy it form Rockler or any person at Rockler. I know no one at Rockler and I have never been give anything from them. I have been in the store 3 or 4 times but everything I left with I paid for and was given noting but a sack and a receipt.
So they have a new little box joint jig, the price is $79 but they had a problem with some of them and the wrong keys were installed so they have those units on sale for $49.99 with the correct key. I guess it is cheaper for them to discount it then to pay someone to open each box and replace the key.
The unit is so easy to set up I thought I must be missing something, this can't work this easy. Install your router bit, place the unit on the router table and with a gauge block you slide it over until the gauge block just fits between the key and the bit and lock it down with two large knobs that tighten up the parts that go in the miter slot. That is one thing, you do have to have a miter slot on your router table,
Now set the bit height, this was were I had a problem, I could not get the adjustment hole for my lift it was covered over by the jig. Well that took all of about 5 min. to fix. A few measurements and a forstner bit and I was back at it.
So I put the gauge block back in moved the unit over until the gauge block would just fit between the bit and the key and locked things down. Cut a small MDF board for a fence and off I went.
I just use some scrap I had to test it and I will have to say the first box joints were spot on and fit perfect, it does what it is made for and very easy to boot.
I know you can make a jig really easy and fast but I have never had much luck doing it, they never come out like they should. I use my PC dovetail jig with the box joint plate for all of my box joints until now.
Is it worth the $79, no I really don't think so is it worth the $49.99 well maybe, it is very easy to set up and it makes a really quick job of making a box joint so I guess you will have to decide that.
Likes:
Very easy to set up and use.
Good hardware
It comes with 3 keys, 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2.
It is made ok, the keys are screwed on and there is a metal plate inside so you are not using a wood screw that will screw up the hole in a shot time.
Things I didn't like:
I think the whole thing should be made to use by pulling the the boards to you and not pushing them. I do not like NOT seeing the bit at all times and when you are pushing a board and holding it at the same time it is hard to see the bit.
http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=25122
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