Kreg Jig for making pocket-holes (carpentry) is awesome

[StageLeft]

I dabble a little bit in building wood furniture and recently came upon a $20 jig from Lowes (http://www.kregtool.com/products/pht/product.php?PRODUCT_ID=30), it lets you make pocket holes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pocket-Hole_Joinery) very easily. I bought it without reading any reviews, but people have reviewed these very highly.

I finally got to try it out last night and the thing is superb, it's almost like cheating. I had to make a "fence" looking front and back to an end-table. When I did that earlier this year with vertical holes I had to drill pilots very straight, then put in my screws. With this jig, though, the holes were super quick and I drilled in with the self-tapping screws. It really is every bit as easy as it seems. I've recently found that this company has some infomercials going now. Interesting thing about infomercials is that unlike in the past sometimes there actually are good products sold on them (jaw horse and fein multi-master coming to mind). It's not all ab-reduction crap.

 

[vi edit]

Interestingly enough...the Jaw horse and the Kreg Jig are both items at the top of my Amazon "wish list".



I didn't know there was a $20 version of the jig though. All I've seen is the $99 one with the self clamping guide.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

Sweet. I've been looking for something like this that wasn't rediculously priced.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

Oh wow... I could've REALLY used one of these numerous times over the past few years.. I'll have to pick one up, and prolly one for Dad too.. Thanks!

 

[StageLeft]

Interestingly enough...the Jaw horse and the Kreg Jig are both items at the top of my Amazon "wish list".



I didn't know there was a $20 version of the jig though. All I've seen is the $99 one with the self clamping guide.

There is this one at Lowes (Home Depot carries another brand. It would appear that Kreg may be the best known one though) and also for $40 what appears to be this jig but also a case and a clamp. Since this works with any quick-clamp (like an Irwin, also available at Lowes) I don't think you need another one.

Only complaint is lowes only seemed to sell 1 1/4 and 2 1/2 size screws and I need badly 2" so I'll be using normal wood 2" plus drilling a little pilot for those portions of the project.

I really think that unless you are building a lot of stuff and need blazing speed that this one is fine. I think it creates the exact same holes as the upper end units. I did some testing on fairly soft wood (pine, sold cheaply in strips at HD) with the self-tapping screws and they appear only to split the wood when you really get to the edges of it.

 

[StageLeft]

Also, 5/5 stars on Amazon after 30 reviews doesn't lie

 

[spidey07]

I'm confused. How do you adjust it to any angle and are there different inserts for different bit sizes?

 

[StageLeft]

I'm confused. How do you adjust it to any angle and are there different inserts for different bit sizes?

Always the same angle. Depending on how thick your piece of wood is you offset it from the edge either in or out so that the screw comes out in the middle of the wood. And at the same time as doing that if you have thicker or thinner would you also adjust the collar on the screw with the allen key so that your screw head still stops at the desired distance within the hole. This particular jig is suitable for 1/2" to 1.5" thick would joins, i think.

You can download the manual (1-2 pages) on the site and see how it's done.