Kreg pockethole jig - any comments?

[phatmanace]

Hey folks, need to build a few basic cabinets and a desk. Seen this gadget on you tube and it looked quite cool. Was slightly nervous about "wonder gadget" hype - but reviews on other fora on the web seem broadly +ve.

Wondered if anyone had used here ?

-ace

[-Pete-]

I haven't tried one but if you give an Axminster Power Tool Centre shop and ask for a demo, I'm sure it can be arranged. The Sittingbourne shop is 01795 437143.
I have a cheap biscuit joiner and find it can join just about anything at 90 degrees or inline, the wood will break before the joint, and biscuits are cheap.

[ldt]

Get one, they are brilliant. Ive not used mine for any particularly fine cabinet making yet but I did use it for every join on a garden studio made largely from 4x2. Probably not what pocket hole joins are typically used for but very neat, sturdy and accurate. Make sure you use the proper kreg screws, they are expensive but worth it and of a design useful for other applications. The drill bit alone is very useful with its stepped end and adjustable collar.

[phatmanace]

Thanks folks, the videos did seem quite compelling.

lots of the other blogs I looked at did say that one needed practice to get the sort of quality they show on the videos - but that doesn't seem unreasonable

-Ace

[phatmanace]

I thought that I would repost here, as I went out and bought one. Overall quite impressed, pretty much does exactly what it says on the tin, and it's a nicely made and packaged bit of kit.

I think that the forums are right - you do need some practice, and you need to invest in some good clamps - the pieces have a tendency to move apart as you screw them together, This happened even when I clamped both to a baton that was clamped to the workbench.

[singlecoil]

The point about the movement is a good one, and is about the only problem with the pocket hole system.

The trick is to find a way of clamping the joint up tight before inserting the screws. Once the clamps of whatever type are tight, you can use a position adjuster (AKA hammer) to get the joint lined up perfectly, and then insert and tighten the screws. I use a set of these when making up cabinets, maybe to pricy for occasional use though

http://www.axminster.co.uk/kreg-kreg-khc-right-ang...

Pocket screws are used extensively in American cabinet making, especially for making up face frames for 'in-frame' kitchens etc.

[phatmanace]

Yep, I bought some 'L' shaped corner clamps from eBay for about 15 quid - they are not as good as the kreg clamps, but they do the trick. They are the sort of thing you might use for picture framing

Again, overall, I was happy with the kreg thing - worth the money in my view

[944fan]

Watch the New Yankee Workshop, Norm uses pockethole joinery loads. Swears by it.

[CedGTV]

I had some ally bodied jigs about 20 years ago and it was one of the best tools I had in the bag so to speak. If I remember correctly it came with a shed load of different sized and length'd shoulder drill bits

Brilliant for secret fixing.

I've still got them floating around somewhere.