Kreg questions

[isuhunter]

Hi all

I'm wanting to build a workbench that has a nice finished look to it.

I have never used the kreg system before and happen to have a kreg jr R3 setup in my toolbox. I also picked up a Kreg K4 set I found on a clearance shelf last weekend. I havent used either of these and could return them for something different if you guys think there are better options.

Couple questions I have:
- What fasteners do you guys use? Kreg, Milescraft, GRK?
- How do you get perfect 90* corners using the kreg system? Any tricks?

 

[Mr Ratchet]

I have the Mini jig kit. It makes rock solid joints without using any glue. I just clamp the jig on the wood with a quick clamp. I leave it about an 1/8" from the edge and then drill the hole. I have some Kreg screws but, now just cheaper off brand long pan head screws that are the same thing. It's strong and clean with no exposed holes or fasteners.

 

[SRSemenza]

GRK discontinued the pan head line (except Caliburn concrete screws) a few years ago. You can still find some but it is not easy.

Seth

 

[BukitCase]

"How do you get perfect 90* corners using the kreg system? Any tricks?"

Yup - you tune your SAW til it makes a perfect 90* cut - pocket screws pull the joint til there's no gap between the pieces. So if the EDGE you are butting up to the other piece is NOT 90*, then neither will the finished joint be 90*.

I've used them on everything from 1/2" material up to 2x; each combo of joined piece thickness takes a different length of screw, and the stop collar on the step drill needs to be adjusted for the correct depth on the pockets.

If you get all the above set correctly, they're fast and strong. Here's a mezzanine stair I did a couple years ago; stringers are 2 thicknesses of 3/4 ply, joints offset, glue lam - cleats are glued screwed, using pocket screws (NOT pocket holed) - treads and stiffeners are ONLY pocket screwed, screws holding treads to stringers are about 1/8" shy of going clear thru the 1-1/2" thick stringers. Saw is a refurbed Powermatic PM-66.

I'm 180, have carried more than 50# up stairs and they (the steps, that is) feel like concrete... Steve

 

[BukitCase]

Next set...

 

[BukitCase]

Last one...oops, last TWO

 

[vavet]

I typically use the kreg screws, but I have used standard construction screws.
I like it because I’m a lousy woodworker. I can get a strong joint. I see the kreg method as a way for lousy woodworkers like me to get a decent joint.

 

[isuhunter]

I typically use the kreg screws, but I have used standard construction screws.
I like it because I’m a lousy woodworker. I can get a strong joint. I see the kreg method as a way for lousy woodworkers like me to get a decent joint.

Sounds like thats what I need. lol

 

[jimreed2160]

I think you will enjoy using your Kreg. I got one a few months back and really like it. I have the smaller Kreg along with the HF clamp version. The HF drill and screws are not so hot--I prefer the Kreg. The Kregs have a panhead with a smooth upper shank and a self tapping point. Other screws would probably work, but I would never substitute screws because the Kregs are idiot proof.

Good luck with your projects.

 

[SRSemenza]

You can get away with flat head screws if need be but pan heads are better. The pan keeps the screw from being driven too deep, draws the joint tight better, and prevents an over drive from splitting and end grain pocket hole.

I have used flat head "construction" screws for some larger longer pocket holes. #10 x 3 1/2" plus length with no problems. But need to be careful driving them so that you don't go too far. Especially on the smaller sizes. The cone shape head can be easily pulled into the predrilled shaft portion of the hole.

Seth

 

[engineer2]

Very easy to accidentally snap the tip off that $15 drill bit. I set the drill down and it tipped over.

 

[bdbecker]

Yup - you tune your SAW til it makes a perfect 90* cut - pocket screws pull the joint til there's no gap between the pieces. So if the EDGE you are butting up to the other piece is NOT 90*, then neither will the finished joint be 90*.

+1

My buddy was just getting into woodworking (mostly simple, pinterest type projects) and was getting really frustrated. I helped him tune up his miter saw and (along with a few other pointers) it completely changed his level of enthusiasm for woodworking. I wonder how many people buy a saw, start using it, and just live with crappy cuts?

BTW... nice avatar OP... loyal sons forever true!

 

[Voi]

I havent used either of these and could return them for something different if you guys think there are better options.

What size lumber will you be using? If 1.5" or thicker you might return one of them for the Kreg HD kit.

 

[snickers muncher]

The biggest problem I've had with pocket screws is the screws pulling the joint slightly out of alignment when you screw them in. If you can clamp a piece of wood as a stop it helps. I was building a very large cabinet a year ago and assembled it with a finish nailer. That allowed me to get everything lines up perfectly before driving in the screws.

 

[mrobins297aaa]

Last one...oops, last TWO

wow nice job

 

[BukitCase]

Thanks; sure beats the step ladder it replaced ...Steve

 

[matt01073]

As said above if you are using 2x lumber the hd is a better option. I have used tons of the standard kreg 21/2 inch screws on 2x framing , however the hd screws are much stronger
You can buy the hd kit to go into your k3 set up . Just try to clean out the woodchips after every hole because the tip on the hd drill tends to break easy if bound up with chips much easier than the standard drill.

 

[isuhunter]

Awesome guys! Thanks for all of your input!

I think I need to spend some time tuning my saw too. Any tips?

 

[jshillin]

I use the Kreg setup quite a bit. I just buy the Kreg screws from lowes and try to keep several sizes on hand.

 

[Daddy B]

Watch the kreg screws on sears.com. They go on sale and with sywr points the plastic case of them can be had cheaply. I just got one and paid zero out of pocket. I think it's around $30 today.

 

[aka Larry]

The Kreg jig is the best thing since sliced bread for a novice woodworker IMO. I built this pantry for our kitchen with my Kreg jig. 100% held together with pocket screws.

 

[Ray-CA]

Awesome guys! Thanks for all of your input!

I think I need to spend some time tuning my saw too. Any tips?

When in doubt, consult Dr. Google!

https://www.google.com/search?q=how...e.1.69i57j0.8057j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

I love videos!!!!

Ray

 

[ez-duzit]

...I'm wanting to build a workbench that has a nice finished look to it...

Then return, sell or throw away your Kreg tools.

If you ever hope to do woodwork which has a finished look, learn woodworking techniques that produce that look. And avoid DIY shortcuts.

 

[Two Door]

Awesome guys! Thanks for all of your input!

I think I need to spend some time tuning my saw too. Any tips?

Something like this:

https://www.woodpeck.com/pct.html

or this https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RR0L898/?tag=atomicindus08-20

or this https://www.woodpeck.com/gb225.html

 

[Parrothead]

Then return, sell or throw away your Kreg tools.

If you ever hope to do woodwork which has a finished look, learn woodworking techniques that produce that look. And avoid DIY shortcuts.

Unless you're planning on being a professional woodworker, just use the pocket hole jigs and have fun actually making stuff. You can do a damn nice job with the Kreg system. IF you want to use woodworking techniques, in 10 years you can build your first birdhouse. lol. Kidding, but only kind of.

I have the Kreg master set and love it. You can get the look you want AND use pocket screws.

 

[Crazyjake8493]

Unless you're planning on being a professional woodworker, just use the pocket hole jigs and have fun actually making stuff. You can do a damn nice job with the Kreg system. IF you want to use woodworking techniques, in 10 years you can build your first birdhouse. lol. Kidding, but only kind of.

I have the Kreg master set and love it. You can get the look you want AND use pocket screws.

Pocket holes are plenty for cabinet projects and can produce some really nice results. Not everyone has the time for mortise and tenon joinery, and not many have $800+ for a Festool Domino.

Kreg makes some great products for DIYers and hobby woodworkers. I have the R3 jig and never felt the need to get a K4. Lowes has the best stock of supplies and screws around here, but can be found at most supply houses and hardware stores too.

 

[neblinc]

I used mine to completely build new screen window frames for the old farmhouse. They were an odd sized thickness so I ripped all by lumber to match.

Randy

 

[Bessy]

I love my kreg k3 system. Bought it used from a garage sale probably two years ago and for the most part it sat on the shelf at home for a long while before I found a use for it. Now, I look for specific reasons, or even plans that give me a reason to use it. as a rule of thumb you really should use pan head screws simply for the clamping force that the flat head exerts on the piece, where alternatively a tapered head will drive itself into the wood until either it strips out or reaches the end of the threads. set your drill's clutch to avoid driving the screw too far, and fire away with some pan heads, and you'll have fantastic joints.

As for building a bench, Dad and I recently built a miter saw bench along the East wall of the garage with shelving and storage underneath as well as a quick and dirty (at least it was supposed to be) seating bench for the patio (it actually turned out so nice I wanted to keep it inside) using the kreg system. The trick is preplanning how you are going to hide your screw holes, yet still be able to access them to get a screw in place, due to the angle. In most cases, it's not too difficult as long as you plan the order your pieces are going to go together in relation to accessing screw holes so that you can get the drill/driver into the space to drive the screws. During the outdoor bench build, I ended up having to rig up a long series of extensions in order to get at one of the screw holes, but it worked all the same.

 

[ez-duzit]

...Not everyone has the time for mortise and tenon joinery, and not many have $800+ for a Festool Domino...

After 4+ decades of professional yacht woodworking I still do not own a Domino; it is not required to do fine woodworking. Owning expensive equipment does not make someone a woodworker. Neither does a $15 Kreg jig.

Mortise and tenon joints are extra ordinarily rare in my work. So are pocket holes.

The reason for my post is to encourage any wood-be woodworkers to see beyond the "good enough" $15 Kreg "instant DIY woodworker" solution, for them to realize that such joinery is second rate, and to seek out proven traditional methods which will elevate the quality of their work.

Don't settle for second rate.

 

[rharman]

Square cuts, Kreg screws, and a good right-angle clamping system (see Rockler Clamp-It).

If you get the small bar clamps with the Clamp-It, you may notice that the clamps tend to pull the heads if you put too much pressure on them. I drilled mine and out in a very small roll pin thru to anchor them.

For tuning the saw, very small changes, cut, test - lather, rinse, repeat. Sometimes just tightening the clamp-down screws will tweak it a tiny bit out of square.

 

[dacan23]

Clamp the hell out of the pieces you are joining when drilling the pocket holes and screwing together, be careful not to overtighten the screws. Sand out any imperfection in the joins..

 

[dnschmidt]

There are many sources for Kreg screws other than Kreg. Quickscrews has many different varieties as does Hafele. I have an industrial account with Hafele so I can get them easily but most people will not be able to go that route. Quickscrews has a website and will sell to anybody.

 

[Parrothead]

The Kreg jig is the best thing since sliced bread for a novice woodworker IMO. I built this pantry for our kitchen with my Kreg jig. 100% held together with pocket screws.

Looks great! I’m showing the wife because I’m hoping to do a built in the same style.

 

[IndyGarage]

After 4+ decades of professional yacht woodworking I still do not own a Domino; it is not required to do fine woodworking. Owning expensive equipment does not make someone a woodworker. Neither does a $15 Kreg jig.

Mortise and tenon joints are extra ordinarily rare in my work. So are pocket holes.

The reason for my post is to encourage any wood-be woodworkers to see beyond the "good enough" $15 Kreg "instant DIY woodworker" solution, for them to realize that such joinery is second rate, and to seek out proven traditional methods which will elevate the quality of their work.

Don't settle for second rate.

Professional Yachts aren't made of wood anymore. The wood on them is purely ornamental.

Furthermore, that Kreg jig is probably extending the life of your profession because it is quick, precise, and doesn't require 40 years of experience to give a good result - since it is only for looks anyway, then the quicker and cheaper that look can be achieved, the more demand there will be for it.

 

[aka Larry]

Looks great! I’m showing the wife because I’m hoping to do a built in the same style.

Thanks man. I learned a lot from the folks here on GJ when I built it. Check out my pantry build thread (if the pics show up for you) if you want to know more. Let me know if you have any questions.

 

[ez-duzit]

Professional Yachts aren't made of wood anymore...

You should really write a book on all you know about the use of wood on yachts.

 

[BukitCase]

I'm makin' popcorn; this thread has potential

 

[isuhunter]

Thanks for all of your input guys! I'm going to use the kreg system and pickup the milescraft screw set (seems like a pretty good deal).

 

[crewchief888]

Looks great! I’m showing the wife because I’m hoping to do a built in the same style.

i built something very similar a few years ago. i was amazed it turned out as nice as it did. i'm definitely NOT a carpenter

i have the kreg jr kit, i usually buy kreg branded screws from menards. ( they typically have a better selection, at least around here, than any place else.

i also picked up a kreg shelf pin kit when i was working on the pantry.

last year my stepdaughter wanted a wall unit/shelf thingy to store/display her video game collection on. i cut all the material for her, and she assembled it using the pocket hole and shelf pin jigs. once she got the "hang of it" she couldnt stop drilling holes !!

 

[derosa]

+1

My buddy was just getting into woodworking (mostly simple, pinterest type projects) and was getting really frustrated. I helped him tune up his miter saw and (along with a few other pointers) it completely changed his level of enthusiasm for woodworking. I wonder how many people buy a saw, start using it, and just live with crappy cuts?

BTW... nice avatar OP... loyal sons forever true!

This is the biggest issue, I'm a little OCD about setting up my tools but being able to get perfect glue lines without clamping can be a thing of beauty. I just had to spend 20 minutes readjusting my jointer which I hadn't used since my move but the result was perfectly straight boards faster; better 20 minutes setup and less wasted wood and time over the course of the project.

Awesome guys! Thanks for all of your input!

I think I need to spend some time tuning my saw too. Any tips?

Get a digital angle finder, about 30.00, tells the blade angle in relation to the table top. Also a zero clearance insert that's flush with the top and check the fence and blade are parallel to your channel in the table top.

Then return, sell or throw away your Kreg tools.

If you ever hope to do woodwork which has a finished look, learn woodworking techniques that produce that look. And avoid DIY shortcuts.

I fully disagree with this. I'm making a kitchen table with 6 chairs and there will be only glue and mortise and tennon, it's a great way to build. If I ever get to making a professional work bench it will also be mortise and tennon. If I wanted a nice, polished bench for the basement or new kitchen cabinets I wouldn't screw around and would go pocket hole screws for the while thing. Pick the tool that does the best work for the job.