DrillMaster Kreg Jig

Submitted by dabsabre on Wed, 04/06/2011 - 13:02

Anyone have any experience with how the PHJ from Harbor Freight differs from the Kreg ones? I'm just getting started with all of this but they both look similar.

http://www.harborfreight.com/portable-pocket-hole-jig-kit-96264.html

Frank Maraschino (not verified)

Thu, 04/07/2011 - 23:42

I could write a novel, but I won't (my wife constantly reminds me to keep it short). Get the Kreg jig. Trust me. The 30 bucks you save will be repaid exponentially in pain and frustration. By the end of it, if you haven't abandoned home crafting entirely, you'll gladly pay 300 bucks to get back the hours of fruitlessness and misery a cheap tool has stolen from you. 

claydowling

Fri, 04/08/2011 - 04:26

The jig you linked to is much less versatile than the Kreg jig.

If the price of the Kreg jig bothers you, there are pocket hole jigs with similar designs to the Kreg jig on sale at the big box stores. But I agree that it's probably not worth the comparatively small savings. The kreg jig is a lot more flexible than most.

The only one I've seen that is more versatile is http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/page.aspx?p=42329&cat=1,180,42311 but it also requires the end-user to be a bit more sophisticated.  It doesn't have the nice stops for registering against the edge of a kreg jig. It does allow you to use a wood screw instead of the pan-head screws of the Kreg jig.

dabsabre

Fri, 04/08/2011 - 11:11

thanks for the feedback. much appreciated. I've goggled around and it sounds like the K3 is easier to use than the new K4 due to the position of the handle? Not sure if a K3 can be found anywhere now but I'll definitely opt for a Kreg based on the feedback.

Frank Maraschino (not verified)

Fri, 04/08/2011 - 21:26

I was dimly aware of the K3 v. K4 controversy swirling around Kregworld, but was unaware that Kreg would be eliminating the K3. Dumb move. I would think reaching around a large panel to clamp it to the jig would become annoying. The K3's are still available online, but the price has gone up by about 50 bucks. That sucks. I'd still bite the bullet and get the K3 if you're going to do pocket joinery.