Jessem's new dowel jig WOW!!!!

[Bill Huber]

What are the comparative prices between the two? I have long considered buying the Dowel Max when I got some cash and needed it for a project, but haven't seen pricing for a few years.

And, how would you rate this vs. OTHER methods of cutting/installing floating tenons?
Thanks!

I have the Mortise Pal but I really don't use it that much, dowels are so much faster and easier to do then making a mortise and tenons.

I guess I am not at the point of being a real craftsman and doing mortise and tenons, they are nice but the stuff I build the dowels have worked really well.

The Mortise Pal will do dowels but its not that good at it. The thing with the Jessem and the DowelMax is the way they set the reference surfaces. This makes both of them very accurate.

Now I really can not comment on the other systems like the Festool but then again all of these are less then half the cost.

Mortise Pal - $169, will do dowels but not that flexible in doing them
DowelMax - $310 will do everything with a dowel
Jessem - $199 will do everything with a dowel

[Phil Thien]

Great review! I know you've been a big Dowel Max fan so the fact you're talking about selling the DM and keeping the Jessem speaks volumes.

[Rob Wright]

Bill -
Great review. You should take over for Workshop Demos!

[Kevin Gregoire]

leave it to Jessem to make a high end dowel jig, very S W E E T !!

might have to put that on my wish list. ssshhhhh

[Bill Huber]

leave it to Jessem to make a high end dowel jig, very S W E E T !!

might have to put that on my wish list. ssshhhhh

I have heard that are coming out with a new router lift also, just have to wait and see on that one.