Pocket hole jigs

[Monkey Mark]

I've never used a pocket hole jig but fancy giving one a try.

Any recommendations?

How long do the special drill bits for them tend to last?

 

[Hemsby]

I have a Kreg K4MS Master System, not used it a lot but when I have it has proved to be very good and simple to use.

The K4 system has a rear clamping handle the K5 has a front clamping handle.

If your projects use largish panels a rear clamp system may be a bit inconvenient as you will be reaching around or over the panels to access the clamp handle.

There seems to be various makes of pocket jig systems available. I can only say the KREG is very well made & robust. Not sure about the longevity of the drill but see no reason why they should not last.

Screw prices can vary so you need to search the net.

Hope this helps.

Regards,

Keith

 

[Bigbud78]

My limited experience says make sure you get the right screws xD I tried to get away with 1 1/4 screws for 13mm... Nope doesn't work xD I got the little mini jig as I don't expect to use it much but that, the screws, some driver bits (square ends) it came to £30 ish. Now need the 1" screws too xD

 

[Bluekingfisher]

There are several manufacturers of pocket hole jigs. Kreg are a big player with several models available. Trend also make a version and there is one available from Rutlands and Axminster for about £40 I believe.

I have owned the Rutlands version and found it very good value for the money. Well made and compact with drill bit and tooling, screws and long and short driver bits. It was supplied in a compact wooden box

The drill bit was also good quality, I never found it had to be re sharpened even after drilling around 1000 pockets with it.

They all pretty much function the same way so you should have no issue with whichever one you decide to buy. I think Axminster sell additional drill bits for around a tenner if you ever need a spare.

Good luck.

David

 

[Bodgers]

I have a pretty good 'Benchdog' jig.

It has too main advantages:

- Unlike some other more complicated jigs, like the Kreg ones, it holds the two pieces firmly in place and prevents the drilled end piece of wood from shifting and ending up off Centre.

- It is cheap.

There is always the Matthias Wandel route: just use a scrap lump of wood clamped to the joint.

 

[Monkey Mark]

Thanks guys.
I'll take a look at what's on offer. The kreg ones look good but are pricey for how much I'm likely to use them.
Benchdog one's are a little different but interesting.

 

[artie]

I have a pretty good 'Benchdog' jig.

It has too main advantages:

- Unlike some other more complicated jigs, like the Kreg ones, it holds the two pieces firmly in place and prevents the drilled end piece of wood from shifting and ending up off Centre.

- It is cheap.

There is always the Matthias Wandel route: just use a scrap lump of wood clamped to the joint.

Is it just a clamp or can you use it to drill the holes.?

 

[Bodgers]

I have a pretty good 'Benchdog' jig.

It has too main advantages:

- Unlike some other more complicated jigs, like the Kreg ones, it holds the two pieces firmly in place and prevents the drilled end piece of wood from shifting and ending up off Centre.

- It is cheap.

There is always the Matthias Wandel route: just use a scrap lump of wood clamped to the joint.

Is it just a clamp or can you use it to drill the holes.?

It is a clamp with a hole in it to guide the drill bit.

Google 'benchdog pocket hole jig'

 

[Graham Orm]

Mine is a Trend. works well.

Tip: Be very careful putting the drill in and removing it from the metal guide. Clumsy operation leads to the thinner end on the drill snapping off.

 

[artie]

I have a pretty good 'Benchdog' jig.

It has too main advantages:

- Unlike some other more complicated jigs, like the Kreg ones, it holds the two pieces firmly in place and prevents the drilled end piece of wood from shifting and ending up off Centre.

- It is cheap.

There is always the Matthias Wandel route: just use a scrap lump of wood clamped to the joint.

Is it just a clamp or can you use it to drill the holes.?

It is a clamp with a hole in it to guide the drill bit.

Google 'benchdog pocket hole jig'

I did, but it said to put it in the pocket hole and clamp it down, that confused me a little.

So I guess you clamp it to the wood first, drill the holes then put something else in the clamp to fit in the pocket hole, clamp it up, put in the first screw, unclamp it and put in the second screw.

I am thinking, if making a largish box with this clamp, the pockets would need to be on the outside.

Correct.?

 

[artie]

Mine is a Trend. works well.

Tip: Be very careful putting the drill in and removing it from the metal guide. Clumsy operation leads to the thinner end on the drill snapping off.

thanks for the tip.

 

[Donk]

The Trend has no adjustment for thicker material other than the clamp - you cannot alter the drilling position of the exit hole in the pocketed piece as it only drills at 9.5 mm in from the face. The Kreg drill guides adjust vertically, moving the exit hole farther `in`and it wouldn`t be a big deal to modify the Trend to do similar but if you`re planning to use it on thicker material, I would avoid the Trend.

 

[Graham Orm]

The Trend has no adjustment for thicker material other than the clamp - you cannot alter the drilling position of the exit hole in the pocketed piece as it only drills at 9.5 mm in from the face. The Kreg drill guides adjust vertically, moving the exit hole farther `in`and it wouldn`t be a big deal to modify the Trend to do similar but if you`re planning to use it on thicker material, I would avoid the Trend.

Mine has 2 settings as well as the screw. The screw mounting unbolts and moves back.

 

[skronk]

The Trend has no adjustment for thicker material other than the clamp - you cannot alter the drilling position of the exit hole in the pocketed piece as it only drills at 9.5 mm in from the face. The Kreg drill guides adjust vertically, moving the exit hole farther `in`and it wouldn`t be a big deal to modify the Trend to do similar but if you`re planning to use it on thicker material, I would avoid the Trend.

Mine has 2 settings as well as the screw. The screw mounting unbolts and moves back.

Same here...adjusts no problem.

 

[Donk]

You have both missed my point, which was that the exit hole position isn`t adjustable for thicker stock unlike the kreg or the ujk. You may be able to put 50mm stock in but the holes will still be 9.5mm from the edge rendering a weak joint.

 

[Graham Orm]

You have both missed my point, which was that the exit hole position isn`t adjustable for thicker stock unlike the kreg or the ujk. You may be able to put 50mm stock in but the holes will still be 9.5mm from the edge rendering a weak joint.

Ah! You're quite right. Just had a look at mine and the back fence that carries the two drill guide posts is held from underneath with two machine screws. It would be a ten minute operation to remove it and make a packer of the required thickness then re-fix with longer screws. I might just do that and have the packer handy for bigger jobs. ;-)

Although this was built using the original set up and it's solid as a rock. No glue used so I can dismantle and tweak.