Kreg K4 Pocket Hole Jig Tool Review
Woodworking Joinery Techniques made Easy without Dovetails
Jan 13, 2009
Pocket hole woodworking joinery techniques are nothing new, but Kreg has taken a great idea and made a family of jigs that minimize set-up hassles and takes the guess work out of measuring drilling depths and calculating angles.
This tool manufacturer offers several different models, including the Kreg Jig® Master
System (K3), the Kreg Jig® (K4), the Kreg Jig® Jr. (R3), and the Kreg Jig® Mini (MKJKIT).
Exactly what is Pocket Hole Joinery?
The woodworking tool manufacturing community has one thing going for it that reflects the personality of the craft enthusiasts that purchase their creations: no-nonsense, to-the-point, descriptive, accurate communication.
A woodworking jig is simply an item that makes the project working easier.
Joinery is what the term implies – joining two or more pieces of material. A pocket hole joint is a method where one or more holes are drilled (the pockets) at an angle through one of the pieces. A screw is then inserted through the hole and screwed into the second piece.
There are two advantages that jump to mind. First, the hole being at an angle, the strength of the joint is enhanced. Secondly, in many cases, the pocket may be placed where it will not be seen in the finished project.
Components of the Kreg K4 Kit
Kreg obviously put a lot of thought into the K4. It's basically a light-weight, self-contained unit with all measurements clearly marked and accessible. The kit contains:
- Heavy-Duty Case – Keep everything organized in the case.
- The Pocket Jig Body (Benchtop Base)– This is the heart of the K4 system. The best way to describe it is a clamping vice. It may be secured to a work bench permanently or temporarily.
- Toggle Clamp – The clamp mounts to the body. It uses an adjustable lever/piston/pad to hold the work piece securely while drilling the pockets.
- Drill Guide – The drill guide does just that; it guides the drill bit. With a combination of holes (A, B, and C) proper spacing can be set up for 1” - 2”, 2” - 3”, 3” - 4”, or wider stock lumber. The guide mates to the body for project joinery or may be removed for repair work.
- Drill Bit with Depth Collar and Allen Wrench – The step drill bit is engineered to work with the kit in that the adjustable depth collar may be secured to it and it is sized properly for the guide. To make setting the collar painless, Kreg has molded a trough onto both sides of the body to set the bit in while securing the collar at the precise depth. Measurements are in inches but metric equivalents are embossed on the body!
- Drill Guide Spacer Block – This is used for repair jobs. It 's designed to automatically position the jig to drill accurate holes for 3/4" inch repairs. 3/4" is the most common boardsize.
- 6” Square Driver Bit – The driver bit is used to install the screws. Being a square rather than a Phillips screw bit, stripping is virtually eliminated.
- Screw Assortment – The kit comes with an assortment of self-tapping screws to get the user started.
- Plastic Caps and Solid Wood Plugs – When the holes will be hidden, they can be left as is. But when they need to be accessed, Kreg supplies plastic caps which snap into and out of the holes. The wood plugs can be used to cover holes and add a decorative touch on a finished project.
- Instructional DVD – An instructional DVD is supplied in the kit which goes through set-up, use, and 10 skill-building chapters to help the user complete projects such as leg and rail joints, picture frames, tabletops, and furniture repairs.
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