Do not force the connection of dust extraction and tool or attachment to do a job for Newsletter signup: You agree that BobVila. Cancel Delete. Molded or engraved markings will still be there after painted ones wear off. The jigs below are top-rated for ease of use, durability, and affordability.

Thickness increments also vary. Drill guides must be hardened steel. If not, your high-speed steel HSS drill bit will quickly wear them out, and your joints will no longer be accurate. Top manufacturers offer a lifetime guarantee on their drill guides, which indicates how tough they are. Two holes: Two-hole jigs are the most common. If you need to join wide boards, you just need to reposition them.

Three holes: Three-hole jigs offer greater flexibility. The spacing between the holes varies, allowing you to choose two close together or two farther apart, depending on the task.

A basic drill jig is designed to be portable. You use a clamp to fix it to the workpiece sometimes included, often not. More advanced models can be portable or bench-mounted. The latter usually features a toggle clamp, which quickly and securely holds your board while you drill. A face clamp is the quickest way to fix a portable jig to your workpiece. It's nice to find a kit that includes one. The most comprehensive pocket hole jig kits also provide special pocket hole screws and wooden plugs to start you off, but it's seldom very many.

Some offer a screw set as an option, which can be a convenient way to buy an initial supply. A few also provide a screwdriver attachment.

It's nice to have a case to keep your jig and accessories neat and organized. Some low-cost kits provide one, but often a case only comes with larger sets.

Particle board, plywood, and fiberboard can produce lots of chips and dust, which is not only unpleasant but can also make your drill bit overheat. The best pocket hole jigs have clearance channels and a dust collection hood so you can attach a shop vac or other extraction system.

There are some very cheap pocket hole jig kits around, but cutting corners on materials usually leads to questionable accuracy and durability. Mid-range: With hundreds of kits to choose from, what you pay largely depends on the number of components in the kit. You'll pay a premium for top brand names, but it does buy you excellent quality. If you're doing this kind of work all day, every day, the fast, accurate production these jig kits allow could well make one worth the investment.

Pocket holes are fast, but isn't traditional joinery still stronger? There are lots of factors to consider here — materials, thickness, type of joint, number of screws used — so it's impossible to give a yes or no answer. Do I need to use special pocket hole screws? You don't have to. Standard wood screws will work.

The difference in thread design gives a stronger fixing. The cost difference is negligible, so trying to save a few cents on cheap screws really isn't worth the hassle. Should I use glue as well as pocket hole screws? It's very much a matter of personal choice — and sometimes pocket holes are used on knock-down joinery that might be put together and taken apart again. If you're intending to make a permanent joint, a good-quality glue can only make it stronger.

White wood glue has always been popular and is very cheap , but some modern polyurethanes are stronger and easier to clean up, and they can be painted or stained so they're practically invisible on the finished job. A top-of-the-line jig kit by a top name that comes with numerous useful accessories and tools ideal for the hobby or professional carpenter.

An investment for your tool collection. Do-it-yourselfers who have small tasks around the house to complete will find this set useful, but others on our list either offer superior quality or more features at better prices. You can spend more money on a similar kit, but there's no need to — this one has the components you need to complete most jobs for a fraction of the price. A good mid-level pocket hole kit with enough tools to accomplish a host of projects.

The fact that it comes with a clamp makes it an even better deal. While it's an affordable kit with several impressive features, it also comes with some quality concerns and limitations. BestReviews wants to be better. Please take our 3-minute survey, and give us feedback about your visit today. BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own.

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Best of the Best. Check Price. Other types of screws can work in the jig but the self-tapping screws reduce splitting in the timber Square Drive Bit and are hardened to reduce breakage. Self clamping whilst dowel and biscuits. Self clamping whilst glue is drying. T- Joints — faster and stronger than dowel and biscuits. The joint is created not by cutting each mitre to half the angle but by cutting angle on one jointing piece and drilling pocket holes into the square piece.

The method results in the mitred edge having an overhang, which will need to be removed by plane or sander. Jig making — very useful for jig making and Post and Rail Joints — For the location of your nearest Trend Service Agent, please call the telephone number at the back of this manual. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form without prior permission. Our policy of continuous improvement means that specifications may change without notice.

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