Opinions on the Kreg Pocket Hole Jig

a1gutterman · Post by **a1gutterman** » Sat Mar 10, 2012 1:12 am

missfixit wrote:wow okay, after reading this thread I am going to go ahead and try the kreg jr...

A wise decision, IMHO. I have used the Kreg pocket holer in a cabinet shop and found it quite useful for face frames.

roy_okc · Post by **roy_okc** » Sat Mar 10, 2012 11:48 am

Katy,

I bought a Kreg jig a couple years ago and absolutely love it. Thus far, I've used it for some workshop projects and child-size tables and chairs. They have proven to me to be very strong. The only caution I'd offer is to make sure your pieces are well clamped when you're ready to screw them together as they will want to move a little as the screws start into the second piece of wood.

If you can afford the extra, I think you'll be much happier with the K4 jig (~$100) or, even better, K4 Master System (~$140 @ Amazon minus $15 rebate). The clamp body that comes with these makes it so quick and easy to drill the pocket holes. Set up the depths properly, adjust the clamp for your material, and you can change in/out the pieces you're drilling in seconds.

If you go with the Jr., you should probably look at the Kreg clamp. I don't know how well a regular clamp would hold the jig in place.

Roy

ryanbp01 · Post by **ryanbp01** » Sat Mar 10, 2012 1:24 pm

Since this is Kreg-related, how many of you took advantage of the Kreg Toolboxx which was offered around last November? My wife gave me one for Christmas.

BPR

swampgator · Post by **swampgator** » Sat Mar 10, 2012 7:09 pm

I have never used a Kregg unit. Planning to attempt it with the SS by tilting the table 15 degrees. You can set up your SS either as the horizontal boring machine or drill press mode and offset.

When I build bookcases, use a Titebond II or III glue, clamp it good and you'll break the surrounding wood in most cases rather than the joint. I've had excellent results with gluing and even brading/finishing nailing the face trim on bookcases. But, nothing is as exciting as broadening your experiences and knowledge. It's worth a try on some scrap.

Your avatar indicates you are using a biscuit cutter. If the face wood is thick enough, that will be as strong as screws in my opinion. Looking forward to your process and pix.

Edit: Had a closer look at your avatar and see now that it is a circular saw in your hands. Sorry for my blindness.

jm51 · Post by **jm51** » Sat Mar 10, 2012 8:25 pm

Even without the jig the Kreg (or Kreg type) screws are worth having imo. Self tapping and a square head, I use them for knocking up plywood jigs, easy to recycle.

afaik the 1 hole jig is for furniture repair, can get into hidden places under the table or chair etc. to tighten things up. Can be used instead of the more expensive jigs for building but more work.

The basic clamp (large disc meets smaller disc and locks similar to a vice wrench) is well worth having. No point doing real fast holes then the job going ever so slow while you fiddle with the clamping.

wa2crk · Post by **wa2crk** » Sat Mar 10, 2012 11:16 pm

I have the Kreg pocket hole jig and although I don't use it often, when I do it works out real good. It is one of those gadgets that looks good when the experts demo it and when you get it home you find that IT REALLY WORKS LIKE THE GUY SAID IT WOULD. I think Miss Fixit asked why use screws and wouldn't nails hold the joint together? The nails would hold I suppose but the screws really serve to pull the joint together.
I have a friend that put the joints together using the pocket hole screws and biscuits. His rationale was that after the glue cured he could remove the screws and use them again. I tried to explain the difference between FRUGAL and CHEAP but I don't think he got it.
Another item in this gadget category is the Drill Doctor. This thing works REAL good and has saved a ton of drill bits and maybe should deserve it's own thread here.
Bill V

paulmcohen · Post by **paulmcohen** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 5:51 am

ryanbp01 wrote:Since this is Kreg-related, how many of you took advantage of the Kreg Toolboxx which was offered around last November? My wife gave me one for Christmas.

BPR

I also got it as a gift this past Hanukkah and I love it. It is a perfect adjunct to my Shopsmith.

putttn · Post by **putttn** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 9:11 am

I would recommend that you make yourself a "setup" table somewhat like Kreg uses in their videos. If you can get yourself a "square corner" that you can clam to you will end up with good square corners. I have a table that I have set up with a square corner and I can't tell you how much time that has saved me in the set up of various projects.

wa2crk..Does the Drill Doctor work on the Kreg drills? I wondered about the pointed end part and how DD would work with that.

wa2crk · Post by **wa2crk** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 11:32 am

Puttin
I don't think the Drill Doctor would work on the Kreg drill bit except for the very tip. (smaller diameter). Sometime in the past I saw a drill advertised that the smaller diameter drill was removable from the larger one by loosening some set screws. The large drill had a hole along the length that accepted a standard drill bit. These two pieces would be able to be sharpened by the DD.
Bill V

bobgroh · Post by **bobgroh** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 12:29 pm

As a late comer to this discussion, I would like to add my support for the use of the Kreg jig concept. I have the little 2 hole jig and have used it a lot. For example, I had to make a shelf on a builtin bookcase wider to accomodate a DVR recorder. I just took a piece of clear white pine 1x2, cut it to the proper length, stained and put shellac on it and used my Kreg to put screw holes on what would be the underside of the shelf extension. Then I put a bit of glue on the wood, put it in place and, with some clamps, I drove in some screws (again through the bottom so they are not visible) to hold it all together. Easy.

So, overall, I regard the Kreg jig as a handy addition to my toolset.