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Kreg jigs

2K views 10 replies 9 participants last post by  landfillwizard 
#1 ·
Okay, so I have made various jigs over the years that perform similarly, but keep hearing about, and running into from time to time, Kreg jigs. A lot of things come and go, so it takes me a while to buy into some of them, but every once in a while something comes along that sticks; who would have thought that cordless tools would make it to the jobsite. :laughing: Anyway, have been looking a bit, and thinking about the K4 set along with the R3. Or is that redundant? I saw a jig that Jim made in another post, looks like using maybe an R3 type, so maybe that would do the trick by itself. Need to open a box someplace and touch them a bit more, but hate doing that until I know that I'm getting close. Anyway, just curious what some of you might suggest. Thank you.
 
#2 ·
If I hadn't already made a jig I would go with one that has the two holes, it saves a lot of movements and time. I know it don't seem like it would but it would. You won't be disappointed with any of the jigs, if you buy or build, they are defiantly worth it.

By the way, you can make the plugs to fill the holes with, they are easy to make. Just get a dowel, stick in the hole where the bit goes and cut off the part that sticks out at the bottom, then cut to length. I made a jig to cut them on my miter saw also.
 
#4 ·
There two types of ways to make pocket holes for screws.
1.Bring the wood to some kind of a jig or to a pocket hole machine.
2.Bring the jig to the wood e.g. Kreg R3 or Kreg Mini.
Advantages of each:
1.Speed
.....For a large number of pocket holes especially true for pocket hole machines.
2. Versatility
.....By bringing the jig to the wood there are no limitations for size
e.g. Drill pocket holes in any dimension or thickness of wood.
And there is no limitation for orientation
e.g. Drill pocket holes in existing vertical or even overhead structure.
.
So think the Kreg is overkill except it does have that nice 2 1/4" opening Face clamp which I consider indispensable for my own use.
So my advice would be the Kreg Mini Jig Kit ($23.10) or the
Kreg R3 Jig Jr ($41.95) Either one needs the Kreg Face Clamp ($23.10)
Note Price is from the McFeely's July/August 2014 catalog
Shop around, I just included prices that were easy to get.
 

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#5 ·
I've got the K4 set. Mounted it to a 6' piece of 3/4" plywood. Cut some ~1¼" slats and screwed them on. End result is a longer version of the new K5.

R3 wasn't out when I purchased and would opt for an R3, as Bob ^^ suggested for the same reasons of size and orientation.
 
#6 ·
Thank you very much. I think I will get the R3, and am pretty sure it will suffice. It's very similar to a few that I have made over the years, so would be an easy transition. Frankly, what I have been doing works, except that I still resort to dowels or biscuits a lot of times because I either can't find or can't remember which screws I want to use for which applications. Am hoping that it will be easier on my failing memory to use their jig, their bits, and their corresponding screws.
 
#10 ·
I use regular sheet rock type screws but you can not put too much pressure on them or they will mess up the wood. I found if I use a clamp right at the edge of the hole that the wood doesn't get messed up and the screws work fine, takes a little practice to get it worked out but it does work though.
 
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