For more related content, subscribe to our newsletter! The core of a dowel jig is comprised of a steel block with holes that are precisely located. Select Your Local Ace. By Gareth Branwyn. These screws won't hold as well threaded into end pocket hole jig near me you. The sheer number of jig kits on the market can make choosing difficult, so we've been making some comparisons. Iig Cancel.

There are special pocket hole jigs you can buy and they use special drill bits, specialty screws, and special angled dowels for finishing off the holes. In this Cactus! Workshop video, Carlos shows you how he made a simple pocket hole jig that uses regular countersink wood screws. He made the jig out of little more than a chunk of MDF and a length of rod.

One drawback to this jig design is that you need to drill in from both sides of the workpieces using two different-sized bits to get around the specialty pocket hole bit that has two different cutting diameters on the same bit. But, as Carlos points out, you usually have access to both sides of your workpieces. In this video, Dave Stanton shows you how he makes pocket holes in large outdoor decking lumber with a jig of any kind. There are dozens of other techniques for creating pocket hole jigs in your shop and for making pocket holes with a jig of any kind.

Do a search on YouTube to scoop up a bunch more. He is the author or editor of over a dozen books on technology, DIY, and geek culture. 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. Read more. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers. Use coarse-thread screws for softwoods, MDF, particleboard, and plywood.

Most pocket-hole screws come with an oversized washer head for increased contact with the Kreg Jig K4 Pocket Hole System Youtube Up pocket shoulder, but you can also get screws with a smaller pan head for use with shallow pockets where a washer head would protrude above the workpiece surface. For outdoor applications, choose stainless steel or coated screws. Never use drywall screws -- they break easily while driving, and their tapered "bugle" heads can split the bottoms of the pocket shoulders.

Don't forget the glue. Screws alone make a plenty-strong pocket-hole joint, but adding glue helps prevent a joint from opening up due to seasonal shrinking and swelling. Clamp across a joint whenever possible, see photo below , to avoid the parts creeping out of alignment as you snug up the screws.

Clamp parts to a perfectly flat surface so the front faces align. If one of the parts is offset, shim below it, if needed. When screwing an edge to a face, such as the table shown below, always clamp the assembly securely before driving screws. Learn to drive a clutch. Although handy for driving fasteners, avoid using an impact driver for driving pocket screws. Because you can't see the screw snug up against the pocket's shoulder, the tool's high torque can easily strip out the screw hole.

Instead, use a drill or cordless screwdriver with an adjustable clutch, set to pull together joints without stripping out the holes. After marking and installing biscuit joints in several boards that I've glued up edge-to-edge, I Skip to main content.

Pocket-hole pointers. Whether you own a pocket-hole jig or are considering buying one, these shop-won insights will help you get more from your jig. Prepping the stock Make precise, square cuts. Facebook Pinterest Twitter Text. Printer-friendly version.

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