1st project for kreg jig

Submitted by skartrip on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 20:08

I am so excited got my kreg jig tonight !!! I was wanting to see if anyone had any good tips working with it and what would be a good 1st project to do that would help me get use to it. thanks

Tsu Dho Nimh

Sat, 05/21/2011 - 05:18

Good first project? $10 ledges give you lots of practice clamping and screwing.

Any of the small box projects are good too for learning how to make things square. If you can make a square box, you can make almost anything on this site. A dresser isjust a big box with smaller boxes in it.

TIPS:
Ana's plans are deceptively simple. They require precise cutting.

Take the time to check the alignment of your saw. My miter saw was a couple of degrees off when I unpacked it, which is just enough to make everything not fit.

Learn to cut square: square across the end of the board and vertically on the end grain of the board. If your cuts are not square, nothing works out well. Use saw guides instead of trying to free-hand it.

Use clamps during assembly and your edges align better.

Measure once, cut once, take another trip to get a new board. Double-check your measurements!

If you are cutting several pieces out of one board, cut the first one, measure for the next, cut the next. Don't measure and mark for them all because the sawblade chews out a tiny bit and it's enough to make the project be that teensy bit off. Experienced carpenters allow for the blade, but we're in the baby steps stage.

Measure the actual thickness of the wood you are using and make sure to adjust the collar on the drill bit AND the blue plastic jig.

Make a few test holes in some scrap until you are comfortable with the drill and jig.

Do what Ana does, dry fit the pieces and put a light pencil mark where you will drill the pocketholes for best concealment and strength.

After my first project ended up with the screws in the wrong spots, I now use an arrow ==> pointing in the direction the screw will go, and an X where the other piece of wood will be

solomonson

Fri, 05/27/2011 - 14:26

Really good tips!

"Measure the actual thickness of the wood" - made me think of this. Something I've found is that a lot of Ana's plans (at least the ones I've built) assume boards are 1/2" less than their measurement - i.e. 1 x 12 is 3/4" x 11.5". At my Lowe's a lot of times, it's more like a .75" x 11.25". I've had to cut many an extra trim piece to compensate.

Guest (not verified)

Fri, 05/27/2011 - 16:25

i did clara's table first with my kreg - it was amazing how fast the table came together! and it will get alot of use if you have little ones