Comments on: Pocket Hole Joinery Made Easy

By: Toolmonger » Blog Archive » Kreg’s New Precision Router Accessories

Mon, 01 Oct 2007 17:00:27 +0000

[...] Kreg, best known for their pocket hole systems and easy to use jigs, is looking to make a name for themselves once again. Disengage your routers and brace yourselves – Kreg’s new precision router accesories are scheduled for an October 1st launch. [...]

By: Roscoe

Roscoe — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 20:03:07 +0000

James, I’ve found that my pocket holes work best when I leave everything clamped tightly while securing with screws, else, things move. Kreg even makes some clamps that will pull a piece tight using a pocket hole next to the one being screwed.

By: Patrick Fitzgerald

Patrick Fitzgerald — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 18:49:16 +0000

The Nov 2006 issue of Wood magazine had an interesting article “Wood joint torture test” where they tested various joints (including pocket-hole joinery). I just looked and they have a video of how they did the tests:

http://www.woodmagazine.com/wood/story.jhtml?storyid=/templatedata/wood/story/data/1158959100390.xml&catref=cat5610002

By: Warden Streets

Warden Streets — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 17:03:14 +0000

I love the mini jig. I bought one on a lark, and wound up looking for projects to build with it. I agree with the criticism that getting the pieces to line up when you’re putting together can be a challenge, but I still think its great. Its another one of those ’small workshop’ great finds. If you don’t have the space, skill or time for a full-on mortise and tenon job, this is a solid alternative. I”m looking forward to building more stuff with mine.

By: james b

james b — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 15:31:16 +0000

After breaking the tapered end off two of those high dollar drill bits I’m not a big fan of these. And despite my best clamping efforts during drilling, when I tighten the screws the pieces offset and have to be planed/sanded flush on the face side. The joint is mechanically sound, and much better than trying to glue end grain to cross grain, but I still prefer mortise and tenon.

By: Roscoe

Roscoe — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 12:49:36 +0000

I’ve had pretty good luck using pan head sheet metal screws with my jig in pine and some plys, but for hardwoods, I can’t find a substitute for the Kreg screws.

By: Michael W.

Michael W. — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 11:58:42 +0000

For a less expensive foray into pocket joinery, Kreg also makes the R3 jig that lists for $44.99 (seems to be readily available online for $39.99). It doesn’t come with the nifty Kreg clamps and isn’t as versatile as the K3, but for the casual or occasional user it’s a good buy.

By: Sean O'Hara

Sean O'Hara — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 22:41:40 +0000

Good catch Bill, That should have been drill holes at a shallow angle.

By: Bill

Bill — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 21:46:24 +0000

“When you want to join one piece of wood to another at a shallow angle,”…

Just a word of wisdom, pocket hole joinery is not used for joining wood at shallow angles. Most pocket hole joinery is used to join wood at right angles. Say, a face frame to a cabinet, or joining the sides of a cabinet.

By: nrChris

nrChris — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 20:53:03 +0000

I use the Kreg bench clamp system–rout the little plates into the surface of your workbench and you can hold just about anything flush to your bench. Great for sanding and edge routing.

By: TourPro

TourPro — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 20:05:55 +0000

Me, I like the mini-jig for its size and convenience.

The hot-tip for those that want to use pocket-hole joinery - grab the screws when you see them on sale. Believe me, you can never have enough of every size. Buy them in the hundreds if you can!