[sidfarkus]

The porter cable jig is frustrating to use and requires the workpiece to be held vertically which limits the length of board you can use with it.

The pantorouter is so much faster when cutting m&ts and so much more versatile than any other tool in its' price bracket I think it's an incredible value even at $1000. Heck the only thing that really comes close is the Leigh D4r which runs 600 bucks and doesn't allow nearly the variety of cuts the pantorouter allows.

The best part of the pantorouter is that you can think up a crazy joint (I've cut an 'S' shaped through m&t), cut it out on the bandsaw, do minimal cleanup, and because of the 2:1 reduction it comes out silky smooth on the finished piece.

[cpwright]

The initial setup of the PC4212 is certainly fiddly and takes some test joints; but so does the panto router. Once it is dialed in for the particular thickness you're using; I find that I can cut as many joints as I want. I've never had a problem with the length of the boards, since I mount mine on a 36" bench and that is plenty for the drawer sides that I'm doing. With the panto router, you can't cut both sides of the joint at once, so you're going to need to get all your tails, then all your pins.

I don't deny that this is a nifty and versatile machine, I just don't think it is going to be better than the special purpose jigs. Thankfully, no one tells me what machines I can use, and no one tells you what machines you can use. Improving your own personal methodology for things over the course of different projects is half the fun.

[mosdave]

you're correct that it might not be the best tool for cutting dovetails, but after trying just about every method under the sun for M&Ts, this tool does have its benefits. Cutting double tenons on both ends of an 8' sofa rail would certainly have been easier with a pantorouter. (although using it for through-mortises seems at best ugly and at worst blasphemous).