Woodworker's Journal 2009-33-6, страница 49

also won't do half-blinds. But, Prazi recently added several more inserts as standard items, so you can now use the same jig for cutting box joints, hybrid box/dovetail joints, mortises and even dowel joints. If variable-spaced dovetails are what you're after, ChestMate's versatility, sturdy construction and ease of use make it an excellent value.

General Tools E*Z Pro Dovetailer

I was introduced to General's new jig last summer at the AWFS trade show, and you can watch a video of the E*Z Pro in use on our website {woodworkersjournal.com). In a nutshell, here's how it works: the jig's aluminum framework clamps to a workpiece with four integral thumbscrews. Fingers on the right half of the jig guide half-blind pin-cutting with an included, piloted dovetail bit. You rout the corresponding tails on the jig's left side with the same bit. The Dovetailer will make half-blinds on

Tool Review continues on page 52...

ChestMate clamps over the workpiece, and you provide a 3/4" dovetailing bit, 5/8" guide collar and a straight bit to carry out the milling steps with your handheld router. The system is very easy to warm up to. After making one adjustment to the pin insert to alter my pin thickness, I was cutting glue-up-ready through dovetails on the second trj^. Bit depth doesn't

impact the joint fit, just the amount you want the pins and tails to stand proud for final sanding. So, that reduces the possible variables that affect how the joint fits to just one: pin thickness. It's a huge timesaver.

Downsides to the ChestMate? There aren't many. It's designed to cut 3/4", 7° or 14° dovetails. If you want other dovetail sizes, you'll need to experiment with it. The jig

Woodworker's Journal December 2009 49

Changing over the ChestMate between pin and tail cuts is easy: loosen the jig wings and slip in the appropriate pin or tail insert.

A tab under the pin and tail inserts locks positively into saw kerfs you cut in your custom template. They index the router cuts.