New Kreg Tool Cordless Lineup

[bdbecker]

This popped into my YT feed a few days ago. I've been avoiding it, but finally gave in and watched it last night.

TLDW... Kreg is entering the cordless tool market. They are taking an interesting marketing approach in that they seem to be targeting hobby woodworkers and weekend warriors specifically. The video is more of an overview of the lineup and touches on a few interesting features that have been incorporated into the tools, but doesn't really go too deep on any of them.

Unless I totally missed something, I really didn't see anything that is going to upend the woodworking power tool market. While there are certainly some interesting and well thought out features incorporated into the tools, I didn't see anything that is a 'game changer'. The star of the lineup - the Rebel pocket hole machine - seems like a solution looking for a problem. If you need to do pocket holes in the field, my gut says most people will likely just keep using one of the jigs they already own. If you need to do so many pocket holes that you need a machine for it, I don't see a reason why you'd spend $300 on a bare tool Rebel when you can get the corded Foreman for $400 and end up with a much more robust machine. That's just my opinion of course, I'm not a ******** woodworker either.

Despite all that, I certainly hope they do well with the lineup. Kreg is local to me and I had the pleasure of meeting Craig Sommerfeld and touring his personal shop (he's got some pretty nice cars) ~20 years ago. It'll be an uphill battle for sure.

More info here:

Kreg Ionic Drive Power Tools

Kreg Ionic Drive Power Tools

www.kregtool.com

 

[WWheeler]

What are the tools that are blacked out? And why?

Oscillating tool, orbital sander and .... jigsaw? biscuit joiner? something else???

 

[bdbecker]

Not sure... maybe they didn't have the design finalized in time for the advertising art? The one in the top center is the jig saw, lower right is the oscillating tool, lower left is the palm sander - all of which were shown/discussed in the YT video.

 

[loganb]

Still got mixed feelings on this one...struggle to see how they viably compete against the established brands at the big box stores....but then without knowing the margins it's hard to know how good they have to be to make it financially viable. They also may be able to secure better distribution/display agreements with Woodcraft, Rockler etc if they have a more fully fleshed out line.

The pocket hole machine and track saw I can see...the rest ... competition is tougher there. But I hope they achieve their goals here, I've toured their new building and have a number of former coworkers who have gone there and enjoyed it.

 

[purplezr2]

One of the blacked out tools I believe is a cordless pocket hole machine, which makes sense considering what a larger focus of Kreg tools main line is. That is the only one that seems like a game changer for the home shop, you will be able to work big panels in place with a handheld machine. Combine the speed of a dedicated machine, with the portability of the current Kreg system.

Kreg Rebel™ 20V Ionic Drive™ Pocket-Hole Joiner (Tool Only)

 

[merkyworks]

What are the tools that are blacked out? And why?

Oscillating tool, orbital sander and .... jigsaw? biscuit joiner? something else???

That YT vid reviews the blacked at tools, they are a barrel jig saw, orbital palm sander and a oscillating multi-tool.

From the review the tools seem like they are decent quality and function well. But as stated by others this is already a very saturated space. Kreg's market has to be people who are just starting woodworking and have zero power tools, cause I don't see people jumping platforms.

 

[jar944]

Not sure I can see the point of any of those tools over existing tool platforms. Even the pocket hole drill.

 

[dnschmidt]

The pocket hole drill makes sense. The rest are pointless as everybody and his brother makes the rest of these tools. A case of a marketing group having nothing better to do simply tying to justify their existence.

 

[tyyost]

Who owns Kreg tool? They look reminiscent if the Kobalt line of cordless tools, with some Dewalt mixed in. I wouldn’t buy one but I doubt I’m the customer focus groups landed on when planning this stuff. Kreg already competes in the lower cost power tool segment, so I would imagine pricing will habe a bit to do with their overall success in the market.

 

[finn]

Kreg Tool is a private family business with an ESOP plan for employees, according to Google.

 

[neophyte]

Who owns Kreg tool? They look reminiscent if the Kobalt line of cordless tools, with some Dewalt mixed in. I wouldn’t buy one but I doubt I’m the customer focus groups landed on when planning this stuff. Kreg already competes in the lower cost power tool segment, so I would imagine pricing will habe a bit to do with their overall success in the market.

Kreg, in addition to being one of the leaders, or the leader in the pocket hole jig market, also makes other useful jigs, such as a track guide system “Accu-Cut” that allows most circular saws to be turned into a track saw.
The Accu-Cut system, or maybe a predecessor Kreg track system, goes back to when Festool was practically the only track saw system on the market in the USA, and allowed the user to use standard US circular saws, which usually gad better motors than the Festool ones of the time period.
I suspect the big market for the cordless tool lineup might be cabinetmakers who routinely use pocket hole screw joinery, who want the Kreg cordless pocket hole joiner, and who will then buy other cordless tools that use the same batteries, for efficiency.

 

[jar944]

I suspect the big market for the cordless tool lineup might be cabinetmakers who routinely use pocket hole screw joinery, who want the Kreg cordless pocket hole joiner, and who will then buy other cordless tools that use the same batteries, for efficiency.

That would surprise me. The kreg market is more diy than anything imho short of their commercial offerings

Kreg Pocket-Hole Machines | KregTool.com Official Store

Kreg pocket-hole machines bring precision and efficiency to your workshop. Whether drilling 1 or 5 pocket holes at once, these machines make quick work of the job.

www.kregtool.com

Most cabinet makers have a stationary type pocket hole machine (castle, safety speed, Maksiwa, cantek or ritter) Even the Kreg Forman would be more likely than the cordless in a shop

 

[Mas78]

Despite all that, I certainly hope they do well with the lineup. Kreg is local to me and I had the pleasure of meeting Craig Sommerfeld and touring his personal shop (he's got some pretty nice cars) ~20 years ago. It'll be an uphill battle for sure.

More info here:

Kreg Ionic Drive Power Tools

Kreg Ionic Drive Power Tools

www.kregtool.com

Ever since Kreg tool built their new building between Des Moines and Ankeny I've wondered if they do any kind of tours or have a museum when I drive by every couple of months.
I have some Kreg tools and like them quite well, but as with many others I don't see myself buying into their cordless tool line simply because I've already gotten most of the tools they offer in another brand myself.

 

[bdbecker]

Ever since Kreg tool built their new building between Des Moines and Ankeny I've wondered if they do any kind of tours or have a museum when I drive by every couple of months...

Lol... me too! I've been meaning to call or stop in sometime to find out, but keep forgetting. I had the perfect opportunity a few weeks ago when I was in Ankeny renewing my driver's license, but didn't even think about it until later that day.

 

[neophyte]

That would surprise me. The kreg market is more diy than anything imho short of their commercial offerings

Kreg Pocket-Hole Machines | KregTool.com Official Store

Kreg pocket-hole machines bring precision and efficiency to your workshop. Whether drilling 1 or 5 pocket holes at once, these machines make quick work of the job.

www.kregtool.com

Most cabinet makers have a stationary type pocket hole machine (castle, safety speed, Maksiwa, cantek or ritter) Even the Kreg Forman would be more likely than the cordless in a shop

Maybe, but Festool, and Lamello, and Mafell, ll make tools that are designed for portability, to be used for making or modifying cabinetry and other work on sight, with minimal or other issues in offices that might be occupied or need minimal shut down time.
A lot of woodworkers seem to like pocket hole joinery.
The Kreg cordless pocket hole joiner costs all of $300, without batteries,
which is a hell of a lot cheaper than a basic new Lamello biscuit Joiner at $850-$2,400.
Or a Festool Domino at $1,300-$1,800.
Or a Mafell Duo Dowell at $1,500.
Or even the Virutex Doweller which is around $500-$700 depending on if you want corded or cordless.
The only thing cheaper than the Kreg from a “professional brand” as a “Joiner” is probably a cordless biscuit joiner from Makita or Dewalt, and I suspect a lot of cabinetmakers who have to do work on site will probably prefer pocket hole joinery.
If a cabinetmaker has to use the Kreg unit on site, than buying the other tools might make sense to avoid dicking about with mire than one battery system, and Kreg also has a semi reasonably priced track saw in the lineup, and a couple other circular saws, and a router/trimmer, and a drill and impact.
The batteries and chargers aren’t on the website so no clue about price on those, but even with buying an extra drill or batteries a Kreg package will still likely cost less than a Festool Domino, without all the extra Festool packages and accessories you might need to optimize use of the Domino.
Even the cost savings over Festool domino connectors, or Lamello connectors is worth it if pocket hole screws can be used.

 

[jar944]

Maybe, but Festool, and Lamello, and Mafell, ll make tools that are designed for portability, to be used for making or modifying cabinetry and other work on sight, with minimal or other issues in offices that might be occupied or need minimal shut down time.
A lot of woodworkers seem to like pocket hole joinery.
The Kreg cordless pocket hole joiner costs all of $300, without batteries,
which is a hell of a lot cheaper than a basic new Lamello biscuit Joiner at $850-$2,400.
Or a Festool Domino at $1,300-$1,800.
Or a Mafell Duo Dowell at $1,500.
Or even the Virutex Doweller which is around $500-$700 depending on if you want corded or cordless.
The only thing cheaper than the Kreg from a “professional brand” as a “Joiner” is probably a cordless biscuit joiner from Makita or Dewalt, and I suspect a lot of cabinetmakers who have to do work on site will probably prefer pocket hole joinery.
If a cabinetmaker has to use the Kreg unit on site, than buying the other tools might make sense to avoid dicking about with mire than one battery system, and Kreg also has a semi reasonably priced track saw in the lineup, and a couple other circular saws, and a router/trimmer, and a drill and impact.
The batteries and chargers aren’t on the website so no clue about price on those, but even with buying an extra drill or batteries a Kreg package will still likely cost less than a Festool Domino, without all the extra Festool packages and accessories you might need to optimize use of the Domino.
Even the cost savings over Festool domino connectors, or Lamello connectors is worth it if pocket hole screws can be used.

Imho the zeta p2 or domino are different use cases. Most shops are using pocket screws for face frame construction, and a to a much lesser extent face frame to box attachment.
The zeta p2 offers an advantage over pocket screws in for attaching a ff to boxes. Tooling cost is minimal compared to labor.

$300 for a cordless pocket hole drill (w/o batteries) vs $400 for the Forman, I'd personally go with the Foreman for site work between the two.