What is a Kreg Jig?

Submitted by zoebird on Thu, 09/23/2010 - 16:38

I know that i'm not in the know, so i thought i would ask. What is it? it seems *so* necessary, but alas my free workshop doesn't have one. i don't think i want to make a donation of an expensive tool to the workshop just yet. 

 

did i mention i got a gig making crates for our food coop? all because i said "hey, instead of buying cardboard boxes every week (because, yes, they buy them), why don't i just make crates out of these pallets?" and they said "oh, yeah, good idea!" and so now my crate count should be up around 200. LOL ;)

 

anyway, i still need to know what this thingy is. :D and what it does. 

kristen

Fri, 09/24/2010 - 02:50

I got into a similar situation in our school's PTO--they wanted to get seat sacks for each child at $10 a piece.  I said "I could sew those for a LOT less."  I ended up cutting out all 275 and personally sewing 125 of them.  Still don't know how I got it done (and I had a 6 week old at the time!).

 

Anyway, I just completed my first project and I did invest in the Kreg Jig.  It basically replaces the need to countersink your screws.  Ana has said that she used a countersink bit for years before she was introduced to the Kreg Jig, so by no means is it necessary to buy.  It is a box that guides the special drill bit in your wood at an angle so that when you join the wood to another piece, it ensures a strong joint.  Their are different models to purchase where the convenience of making the pocket hole joins goes up in price.  The one that I bought has a clamp contraption that holds the wood in place behind the box with the special drill bit guides and has a list price of $100.

 

There are great YouTube entries that show the Kreg Jig in action that would do a far better job of showing you than my clumsy explanationSmile  If you want to see a pocket hole, the DIY Storage Closet Doors entry on this site shows them on the bottom of Grace's closet doors. 

 

Good luck with the crates!  I love that you are eliminating the need for cardboard boxes.

Tsu Dho Nimh

Fri, 09/24/2010 - 05:00

zoebird said:

did i mention i got a gig making crates for our food coop? all because i said "hey, instead of buying cardboard boxes every week (because, yes, they buy them), why don't i just make crates out of these pallets?" and they said "oh, yeah, good idea!" and so now my crate count should be up around 200. LOL ;)

 

anyway, i still need to know what this thingy is. :D and what it does. 


Tell the food co-op that they need to buy the jig for you so you can make the crates faster and better.

 

It is not expensive - as woodworking tools go, it's dirt cheap - and can be used for other projects around the co-op

sjohnston

Fri, 09/24/2010 - 06:10

I just got mine this week!  And, of course, have had no time to build.  

 

Some other points in its favor . . .  the joint is going to be a good bit stronger than a regular butt joint (where you butt the boards up to each other and screw or nail straight through one and into the other).  Also, you can do joins with a Kreg Jig that you can't do with regular screws.  You can join boards edge-to-edge, for example.  A tabletop could be done by edge-joining all the boards and then fixing the whole top to the aprons with more pocketholes.  Makes the tabletop nice and clean without any holes to fill.

amanda.leonard

Sat, 09/25/2010 - 16:01

I watched lots of those videos on you tube and decided to get the junior one for about $30.  I loved my tests but found I needed the clamp too.  The first big project I completed with it was my media center.  I should have it completed this weekend, but here are some post for you see a work in progress.

 

Drawer construction:  http://uffdaprojects.blogspot......awers.html

Cabinet construction:  http://uffdaprojects.blogspot......er_24.html

Early cabinet construction:  http://uffdaprojects.blogspot......enter.html

 

I tried to get pocket joint pictures so hopefully you find it helpful.

 

Amanda

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