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 explanation
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:
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