Kreg Pocket Tool!

[Dreamscape]

Wow! This is one neat tool! I know some of you have used it, for those who haven't, you have to get one! It makes me look like I know what I'm doing!



Now if I can just remember where I store it! 

~Paul~

[cody]

.

[Dallas]

Great to see you got a new toy Paul!

Just for information, I got tired of paying $10/100 for the pocket hole screws so I looked around on eBay and found some good deals.

I bought mine from a seller called Daveman38
Here is one of his listings:  200345955453

Even with shipping it's a much better price that at the box stores.

Dallas

[FloridaCliff]

Paul,

Which one did you get?

[Dreamscape]

Thanks Dallas, I'll save it for the future! Although I think the pkg. I bought will hold me until further review!

Cliff, I bought just the mini kit



It sure worked great! Cost about 20 bucks.

~Paul~

[Dallas]

You'll be surprised at how many you can go through in a days time. I've also found that if I use my dowel jig with the pocket hole drill bit I can make nice strong 90° joints using the pocket hole screws... as Cody said, it makes it easier to take down and remove stuff if done with screws.

Now.. the next question..... when are you gonna get the ultimate drill sharpening tool needed by every bus converter... The Drill Doctor. I have the XTK and it's good for all my bits up to a half inch. It even sharpens cobalt bits, masonry bits and can cut different angles for different needs.

[Dreamscape]

Now.. the next question..... when are you gonna get the ultimate drill sharpening tool needed by every bus converter... The Drill Doctor. I have the XTK and it's good for all my bits up to a half inch. It even sharpens cobalt bits, masonry bits and can cut different angles for different needs.

I'll have Becky put that on my Christmas Wish List!

Along with all the other "Stuff" she already has on the list!

~Paul~

[JohnEd]

I will second the drill Dr. suggestion.   I borrow one often.

John

[Hi yo silver]

Yeah, Laryn (Barn Owl) demonstrated his Kreg tool for me; pretty neat!  He loves it.  You should see the nice job he did on his dinette.  Maybe after his long trip he will do a how-to on using the Kreg. 

Dennis

[Skykingrob]

Hey Paul
You are right, it is a great tool. I have the bench mounted guide and the portable model like you. I found that I didn't always think ahead to put pockets in all the right spots before putting the cabinets together so the portable model comes in handy to do a CYA. A tip for you, if you drill a small hole on each side of the chip exhaust slot, you can put a screw through these holes and screw the portable jig down almost anywhere to make slots without clamping it. Comes in handy when you need a slot somewhere that you can't clamp the jig down.
The screws are pricey and like Dallas, I went to another option to get them cheaper. I have built all my doors, drawers and cabinets, and so far have used nearly 2500 screws. The rerason for the large amount of screws is because I used the jig to make slots to hold the face frames to my cabinets. This was a quick, efficent, tight way to attach face frames that allowed them to not have holes from nails or screws in them.
One thing I didn't see you had that is very handy to make sure everything stays nice and tight plus flush is the special clamp made by KREG in several sizes. Grizzly's has 3 different sizes and although pricey as well, very handy to use. Since everything stays tight and flush, don't have to use fillers and sandpaper to sand down uneven joints, so cost may not be as bad as it appears.
I got the drill doctor eveyone talks about but have had mixed results with it. Some bits are great after resharpening and others seem to be nearly as dull after as before. I have read and reread the manual to see what I am doing wrong to no avail, thus I still think it is me doing something incorrect.
If you're going to make cabinets and doors, this jig in invaluable for quick, easy, repeatable results with little or no practice necessary.
If I get it to a rally, I would be happy to do a seminar on it's use. With all the experience I have with the jig, I kind of feel like a semi-pro.

Rob
91 LeMirage XL
Missouri

[Tenor]

I just used my father-in-law's one last week to build cabinets on each side of our queen size bed and the face frame for our overhead cabinets above the sink.  I LOVE IT!  I believe that he has one of the special clamps to hold 2 pices of wood together as you put in the screws.  Basically a vice grip with a wide flat pivoting head.  I think the same thing could be done with welding vice grips.  I'd buy one, but he has the rest of the tools to do a professional job.

glenn

[Dreamscape]

Rob, Good advice, Thanks! Although I just got it I'm trying to think of what I have left to do so I can use it. After I complete the front cabinets I still have the kitchen uppers to do, then I'll think of something else to use it for. I can't believe I waited this long to get it. I'm no cabinet maker but it sure makes what I do look pretty good. I'll look into those clamps you mentioned. You are welcome to come to TBR in October and give a seminar!

Glenn, I just used a pair of similar plastic clamps that have pivoting pads. They worked pretty good, but I found they don't hold it tight enough. Would be great to have ones that grip and hold better!

~Paul~

[JackConrad]

Paul,
   Look in the area around where they had the Kreg tools at the store. The locking pliers (similar to vise grips with floating heads) should be in that area.. The round head will "snap fit" over a round grey plastic disc that locks into the top side of the Kreg tool to hold it in place will drilling.  Jack

[Dreamscape]

Thanks Jack, Another great idea!

[RJ]

Yeah, Laryn (Barn Owl) demonstrated his Kreg tool for me; pretty neat!  He loves it.  You should see the nice job he did on his dinette.  Maybe after his long trip he will do a how-to on using the Kreg. 

Dennis

Dennis -

I had lunch with Laryn & family here in Fresno on Tuesday, as they were enroute from Kings Canyon National Park over to San Simeon.  Laryn showed me the dinette - very, very slick. 

They're having a great time, altho the kids are a little restless being cooped up in the aluminum can - yet they all agree it's way better than the 15-passenger van!

Of course, I had to tease him about his "battleship gray" paint. . . especially on the roof!

But back on topic, he did show me how/where he used the Kreg tool, and I'll admit, that's one neat little gizmo!  Gotta get one myself, even if wood and I don't always get along - anybody know where I can buy a "board stretcher"??

FWIW & HTH. . .