Replies

1. 
   woodshaver | May 20, 2002 07:04am | #1

   HELLO KIM, IVE BEEN USING CONFIRMAT SCREWS FOR 5 YRS WITHOUT ANY MISHAPS THERE MADE MAINLY FOR USE IN PARTICLE BOARD TYPE CORE MATERIAL, THERE  STRONG AND HOLD WELL. YES THE ZENTRIX DRILLING SYSTEM  HELPS IN ASSEMBLY ,THE ONLY DRAW BACK IS DRILLING IN THE  MIDDLE OF THE CASE I REMOVE IT AND DRILL FREE HAND. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUISTIONS FEEL FREE TO ASK.REGARDS  FROM MARK CHERRY CABINETS. 

1. 
   Adrian | May 20, 2002 06:22pm | #2

   I like them a lot; acceptable in any published standard (AWI, AWMAC, etc) too if you don't have dowel boring equipment or other production equipment. The Zentrix jig works well....overpriced, but it does a good job. I keep a drill dedicated to the setup in my school shop. For drilling away from the edges, we just take off the little bar that references on the edge, and line up the centre mark with a pencil line....that way, you can still use the jig to drill straight.cabinetmaker/college instructor. Cape Breton, N.S

2. 
   gweisenburge | May 20, 2002 06:40pm | #3

   Hi Kim,

   I think I was the one who brought up Confirmat screws in that earlier post. I've been using them for carcase assembly for about seven years. We probably go through about 500 to 1,000 screws per month, and we've shot all of them free-hand. I think we've missed, "holed out," about a dozen times in seven years, and its usually me when I've drank too much coffee. Like most every woodworking task, there's a gizmo that'll keep you accurate, even when you have the shakes. I don't like most of them, and I think drilling for Confirmat screws is far simpler without that thing added to the end of my Souix right-angle drill. We clamp together our plywood carcases with Universal clamps (there's a new brand called Shop Fox), and then we align the drill bit with the center of the clamp and parallel to it's screw - drilling dead center and straight every time, and the clamps assure the parts are at perfect right angles.

   I'd cancel my Zentrix order and spend the money on another few thousand screws.

   Gary

1. 
   kcg99999 | May 20, 2002 08:18pm | #4

   Hi Guys,

   Thanks for your comments. Gary - can you point me to the clamp you recommend? I Googled “shop fox” but couldn’t find a universal clamp.

   Many thanks,

   Kim Carleton Graves Carleton Woodworking

1. 
   gweisenburge | May 21, 2002 07:51pm | #5

   Kim,

   Try Woodworker's Supply at http://woodworker.com/cgi-bin/fullpres.exe?PARTNUM=125-051&DF=125-052#125-052. I've use both clamps shown, but I've worn out a few "right-angle" clamps. They're the most useful, because the other clamp can be used only at the assembly's corner.

   Hope all goes well with you, Kim, and that your getting back to normal since 9-11.

   Gary

1. 
   kcg99999 | May 22, 2002 01:22am | #6

   Hi Gary,

   Oh, that’s the clamp you meant.  Very good. I’ll check it out.

    The backorder Zentrix drilling system came today. Of course it doesn’t fit any of the five drills I have! I have to order the Hafele drill which is another $75 making the entire system $227 plus shipping! I think I’m going to take your advice and use the bit without the jig for this job and see how it goes. If I made a lot of kitchens it might be worth it off the bat. But we can eat for a couple of weeks on that money. ;-)

   Getting back to normal: I thought we were. Masha and I live right by the Brooklyn Bridge, and this morning there were cops all over it. This afternoon brings news of an alert that NYC landmarks, including the Brooklyn Bridge, are potential targets in this round of warnings. Pretty scary stuff.

   In the next couple of weeks the “recovery” effort at the World Trade Center site will officially end. They’ve already started rebuilding the subway and path train stops that run through there. The demolition effort has been nothing short of remarkable. See the before and after pictures in this weeks (last weeks) New Yorker. When I drove down West Street the other day, which goes past the site, past the World Financial center, you go past this big open space filled with sunshine. It takes you by surprise because this is a city of tall building and shady streets. It’s almost beautiful until you remember the horror and see the boarded up, burned out building surrounding the site that are still being worked on.

   This is the new normal.

   Thank you for your thoughts and best wishes.

   Kim

   Kim Carleton Graves Carleton Woodworking

1. 
   gweisenburge | May 22, 2002 07:12am | #7

   Kim,

   Poetically put, about the brightened area near the tip of Manhattan.

   You've probably shot a lot of straight holes in your years building things of wood, so I think you'll do fine without the expensive Zentrix gizmo.

   I guess I do mostly cabinets, and so confirmat screws have become the most common fastener in my shop.

   Take care,

   Gary

2. 
   Adrian | May 22, 2002 05:52pm | #8

   Kim; the jig fits a pretty standard drill.....doesn't have to be a Hafele, whatever that is....mines on a Metabo, but there are lots of others too. I think Makita has one, and Bosch.

   Never holed out a screw with the jig, BTW, and the bigger issue is alignment.....shouldn't be any problems that way with the jig, but all it takes without it is one screw slightly angled and either you have an alignment problem, or a head that won't sink below the part. I can make it work with just the drill bit....if I had to. But the jig does a good job, and that's what it's about for me.cabinetmaker/college instructor. Cape Breton, N.S

3. 
   studiouw | May 23, 2002 07:22am | #9

   Kim -

   I have been using the Confirmat system for about 2 years now. I really like the screws. Cabinet assembly takes only minutes now. I do use the Zentrix drill and I had to get a drill that it fits, I picked up a Hitachi, the main thing is that it has to have a key chuck - not a hand tight one.

   My procedure for doing the cabinets -

   Cut all panels to size - all joints are butt joints - no rebates on the panels.

   I have a table setup with the Firmus clamp (from Haefle) which works great - place the bottom of the panels into the clamp, then I use a Bessey corner clamp to secure the tops of the panel. I plan on recessing the Firmus clamp into the table surface, right now I use 3 shims to get the panels up to the level of the clamp. The clamp is very fast and keeps the panels aligned at 90 degrees.

   Drill the holes with the Zentrix system every 8 or 10 inches.

   Screw the cabinets together without any glue - you could use Roo glue, but I found that the screws alone are very strong. Once I forgot to bore the holes for shelves in a cabinet - I simply unscrewed the cabinet, drilled the holes and then put it back together - this saved me from making a new cabinet.

   I use the Makita battery powered impact screw gun for driving the screws - it works great.

   I used to not use the Zentrix system - just the stepped drill bit with a stop collar, but sometimes when I was tired I drilled through the top of the cabinet. Since the screws are the only thing holding the cabinet together, I prefer to have a straight hole for maximum strenght.

   Scott