Replies

1. 
   Walker1 | Nov 29, 2005 12:22am | #1

    Hi Mark;  I share your enthusiasm for the Kreg Pocket Holer. I've had the Kreg 2000 Pro pak for two years now. I'ts been a great addition to my tool arsenel, and I wouldn't want to be without it.

     Cheers. Shawn

2. 
   paulc1 | Nov 30, 2005 01:57pm | #2

   Mark

        I've owned my Kreg 2000 for quite a while and have used the heck out of it from cabinetry to general remodeling been very happy with the unit. It certainly saves in the clamp usage department. Kreg has a new jig the K3 I believe and I think our K2000s are upgradible to this I have to go to the web site to find the details

1. 
   ram | Dec 01, 2005 09:30pm | #12

   "Kreg has a new jig the K3 I believe and I think our K2000s are upgradible to this..."

   I took a look at http://www.kregtool.com and didn't find any upgrade options.  Did you find one?

   I have a K2000 and like it a lot. The K3's dust collection feature is extremely interesting to me, but not worth junking the K2000.

   -robert

1. 
   paulc1 | Dec 02, 2005 01:37pm | #16

   I believe that there was an upgrade coming sometime but wasn't sure when, I read it somewhere. not sure where. But I agree I'm sure if you had a thickness that wasn't covered by the K2000 you could make the K2000 work. I like mine very much In what I've saved in buying clamps has easily paid for the unit. I am also reading a book on pockethole jointery by Danny Proulx "The Pocket Hole Drilling Jig Project Book" From Popular woodworking books Got it at Barnes and Noble once during a brousing time for my family. Note: ISBN is 1-55870-687-9 I believe the book was around $20.00 (US)

1. 
   YesIWood | Dec 02, 2005 03:53pm | #17

   Yes,  I agree that the Kreg tool is another "system" to use while we do our own "Fine Woodworking".  I use mine when time is short and using plywood.  I wish I would of invented the d*mn thing.  I bought mine off of e-bay.  Mine is a no frills machined aluminum and it works like a charm. 

     I gave one as a gift to my brother in law and he loves it too.Joe

   Is it really saw dust or wood dust?

3. 
   Knotscott | Nov 30, 2005 04:58pm | #3

   I agree!  Love my Kreg jig. I got the Rocket nearly 2 years ago and find it to be incredibly handy. 

   For those curious who don't want to invest alot, I think the basic $20 jig held in place by a QuickGrip type clamp will do just fine.  Try it!

    

1. 
   MarkRD | Nov 30, 2005 05:55pm | #4

   I think mine is the basic kit. It came with the blue drill guide, drill bit, clamp, and a handful of screws (allen wrench, drill depth collar and a few other blue plastic pieces that I havn't figured out yet).From opening the package to gluing and screwing my first two pocket holes - 15 minutes...MarkMeasure it with a Micrometer,
   Mark it with Chalk,
   Cut it with an AxVisit my woodworking blog Dust Maker

4. 
   Handrubbed | Dec 01, 2005 04:31am | #5

   I don't know that I would say "Wow", but I would say "Fast".  Not quite as enamoured with pocket hole joinery as all of you.  Curious, do you glue these joints, as well?  I found the screwed joints to be a little weak for anything but face frames and such.  Can you use the phrases pocket holes and fine woodworking in the same sentence?  What am I missing?

1. 
   notDusty | Dec 01, 2005 07:33am | #6

     Hi Vicejaws ,

                       That's sort of like a fly fishermen turning their noses up at bait fishermen , the "purist " vs, the "slobs" . Whether you M & T half lap dowel , biscuit or pocket screw a face frame imo has little to do with the level of quality when it comes to case work . I mainly do case work , what I call furniture grade cabinetry , I use pocket screws for my face frames then glue and clamp them to the boxes . I think the rest of the process are the parts you actually see , sanding , joinery, scale and finish are more paramount and can be the determining factors that decide just how fine a piece is .

               I will take a risk and venture to guess you have never used the pocket hole system yourself , correct me if I am wrong . You definitely do use glue , but typically no bar clamps are needed . An 1/8" steel screw has more tensile strength then say a 3/8" dowel . The screws actually pull the joints together while aligning the surfaces .The screws are very accurate , fast and strong . Not to  suggest a good M & T joint should be forsaken but a quality piece can utilize the screws , well , Is it fine woodworking ? that entirely depends on the ability of the maker and the outcome of the piece . I have over tightened and stripped out a few over the years but have never had a joint fail . In theory once the face is glued solidly to the case the rest is history .

                   keep an open mind , try em you'll like em

                            regards  dusty

1. 
   sailalex | Dec 01, 2005 04:17pm | #8

   Are special screws required for pocket hole joinery? I notice Kreg sells them but I was wondering whether regular old particle board screws would work?

1. 
   JohnG | Dec 01, 2005 05:29pm | #9

   Yes special screws are best.  The have a pan head to prevent pulling through the hole. 

2. 
   notDusty | Dec 01, 2005 06:16pm | #10

         Hi sailalex ,

                           I use a 1 1/2" face frame screw . They make them for softer woods and for hardwood . I just use the standard hardwood one . They have a self tapping end and a very slight or slow pitch to the fine threads. The ones designed for softwoods have a more aggressive thread and more pitch. Any cabinet hardware supplier will carry them . The diameter or shank size is a bit smaller then a standard drywall screw , and the main difference besides the threads is the smaller head diameter for clearance . My guess is to prevent cracking and splitting is why they are thinner.They come in square drive and phillips heads.

                                       dusty

2. 
   MarkRD | Dec 01, 2005 03:25pm | #7

   Hi VJ,
   I just built a M&T Mission style Sofa table (follow the link to my blog below and search for "sofa") No pocket screws.On the other hand, I'm building a base for my front load washer/dryer.
   Plenty of glue and a few pocket screws where plywood needs butting. It' not a pretty piece of furniture but highly functional. When all is done, it will be painted so it "dissapears" in the laundry room.I'm about to build a counter for a craft room, I had planned on using biscuits but compared to my biscuit setup (router table) the pocket screws are way better...Mark
   Measure it with a Micrometer,
   Mark it with Chalk,
   Cut it with an AxVisit my woodworking blog Dust Maker

1. 
   Walker1 | Dec 02, 2005 11:04pm | #18

   Hey Mark;  I chuckled when I read your post. The last project I used the Kreg on, was a base for our dryer. I'ts really nice having it up higher.

   Using the Kreg made the assembly quick and easy, and the joinery is very stong.

      I took time on a few details on the base, then painted it to match, and you can't even tell it's an add on. It looks great, and now my Dryer sit's on a piece of Fine Woodworking.    View Image  

              Cheers.    Shawn

1. 
   MarkRD | Dec 03, 2005 01:45am | #19

   Cool. I'm doing a washer/dryer stand (double wide :-)With drawers. I'll post a pic when it's done. The washer mfg wants $180 per machine for a stand - $40 materials, 3 to 5 hours....and as you say, it's "fine" woodworking :-)MarkMeasure it with a Micrometer,

   Mark it with Chalk,

   Cut it with an Ax.

   Visit my woodworking blog Dust Maker

5. 
   BossCrunk | Dec 01, 2005 07:18pm | #11

   Just a quick endorsement for the Kreg pocket hole cutter. Wow what a great device. I've owned one for more than a year (got it as a gift) but hadn't needed to use it until last weekend.

   Easy to set-up, use, and makes for a nice strong joint.

   I was butt joining 3/4 plywood - worked like a charm.

   Mark

   Oh the joys of fine craftsmanship - pocket screws 'n plywood.

1. 
   MarkRD | Dec 02, 2005 01:20am | #13

   We're not going to have the "fine woodworking" conversation are we?Frankly, just about everything I do in my shop, except for sharpening my lawnmower blade, is fair game for this forum. Fine or not. (I once posted info about a hot wire foam saw I made because there is no magazine or web site called Fine Foamworking :-)Based on the responses, it appears that a fair number of readers have to (or want to) work in plywood. So what's wrong with endorsing a tool ideally suited for the material?MarkMeasure it with a Micrometer,

   Mark it with Chalk,

   Cut it with an Ax.

   Visit my woodworking blog Dust Maker

2. 
   MarkRD | Dec 02, 2005 01:25am | #14

   And another thing,"the joys of craftsmanship" comment ...I make clipboards for fun out of scrap wood. People of lesser wood talents ooh and aah and I think, eh, I was just using up scrap. No big deal. They, on the other hand, are impressed with my "fine woodworking."I promise you that someone will see my washer and dryer stand and say, "You built that? Cool Boy I wish I could do that." Then I'll show them the mission sofa table with the morise and tenon joints. And I'll say, "it has mortise and tenon joints." and they won't know what I'm talking about.So tell me, what does "craftsmanship" really mean anyway?MarkMeasure it with a Micrometer,Mark it with Chalk,Cut it with an Ax.Visit my woodworking blog Dust Maker

   Edited 12/1/2005 5:30 pm ET by MarkRD

1. 
   notDusty | Dec 02, 2005 02:36am | #15

     Hi Mark ,

                   "  I resemble that remark " Most of my clients are either referred from others or have seen some work of mine or are repeats . In over 25 years I have never been asked , " what kind of joints will you use " not that it's not important but ,,,,  it's just not something that affects my business . The end result of work performed crisply and finished beautifully is what is important . I do try and educate my clients to help them make better decisions . Pocket screws are certainly not correct for all applications but used correctly (with glue) they do have their place in this modern day.

                          dusty