The massive concern is: which pocket gap jig is right for your demands? How do you slim the checklist of candidates down to a manageable measurement with out throwing away a great deal of time in the approach? There are virtually hundreds of different goods from dozens of brand names out there.
Glad ya asked!
We’ve previously carried out the challenging operate for you, and the final results of our labor are yours to command, so sit down, kick your feet up, relax, and read through our reviews.
A Brief Summary of our 2022 Favorites
| Rating | Image | Product | Details | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Best Overall
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Kreg K5 |
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CHECK PRICE |
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PORTER-CABLE 560 |
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CHECK PRICE |
| Best Value
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Kreg R3 Jr |
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CHECK PRICE |
| |
Kreg K4MS K4 |
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CHECK PRICE | |
| |
Osaava 47709 |
|
CHECK PRICE |
The 5 Best Pocket Hole Jigs
1. Kreg K5 Pocket Hole Jig – Best Overall
Quick and straightforward would seem to be the watchword for the K5 pocket hole jig from Kreg.
We appreciated the changing clamp on it, and moving the deal with to the front of the jig in which it’s not blocked by the wood you’re working on was a excellent go by Kreg. The adjustments for wooden thickness and size of screws ended up equally straightforward. We also appreciated the new slide-in drill blocks. They are exceptional for micro-screws and functioning with 2x4s.
The quality of the clamping system is leading-notch. It is also quite tough we dropped it from the bench without undertaking any damage to it at all.
The help wings for holding screws attach really effortlessly and securely. They are manufactured of plastic but appear to be quite strong. The top markings on the gauge are easy to read through.
The vacuum port operates excellent, even cleaning the drill little bit as you go.
The inside of of the jig is primarily plastic and looks to count on a rubber ball to assist keep strain on the clamp. We’re not confident this is a excellent notion, but that was the only criticism we had.
This is our top pick of the greatest pocket gap jigs due to the fact of its longevity and relieve of use.
- Easy to use
- Durable
- Excellent clamps
- Good clamp placement
- Great vacuum port
- Inside mechanism is plastic
2. PORTER-CABLE 560 Pocket-Hole Jig System
Our runner-up is incredibly properly constructed. The design and style of the PORTER-CABLE 560 was well considered out, and even though it seems intimidating at 1st glance, it is really very straightforward to work.
There’s no need to modify the lock collar on the drill bit when you adjust wooden thickness. When the drill bit is established up with the lock collar the initial time, you merely set a piece of wooden in it regardless of size, then push down on the manage, twist the knob, and drill. The jig stops instantly at the proper depth. It’s simplicity itself.
The base on this jig is the identical measurement as a 2×4. There’s no want for measuring and slicing when you are attaching it to your workbench. The hefty steel construction stabilizes and secures it.
Nonetheless, we didn’t like its weak keeping electrical power when using ½” or scaled-down wooden. At ¾” and earlier mentioned it is wonderful, but you want a independent jig for thinner items. Also, owing to its excess weight, it’s not practical to use besides when hooked up to the workbench. If you want to carry a jig to the wooden, this is not the one.
For this purpose, we’re placing it in 2nd area.
- Above-average design
- Minimal adjustments
- Ease of workbench attachment
- Metal construction
- Weak holding ½” wood
- Workbench use only
3. Kreg R3 Jr Pocket Hole Jig – Best Value
Junior is the proper term listed here. This KREG R3 Jr pocket hole jig is modest in dimension, functions, and cost.
The measurement, of training course, tends to make it quite transportable. You can just take it to the substance instead of the other way all around. It is also easy to use, simple ample for newcomers to use appropriately their first time out. You won’t have any problems with this jig.
You will need to get a independent clamp to hold it in spot, although, which must have been integrated in the kit. We had been a little bit dissatisfied in that.
The drill guides are solid steel, but the encompassing plastic is a bit low-cost. In our assessments, it showed a marked inclination to crumble and split following only a few employs. The style is fantastic but the top quality of the development leaves some thing to be desired.
This is a excellent, effortless-to-use jig, but the lack of an integrated clamp and the bad good quality hold it out of our best two. Nonetheless, we’re supplying it our greatest pocket hole jig for the income score due to the fact it does a wonderful job for the price tag.
- Easy to use
- Portable
- Makes good pocket holes
- Affordable
- The plastic material is a bit cheap
- No clamp in the kit
4. Kreg K4MS K4 Pocket Hole Jig-System
In spite of their other impressive entries in our assessment, Kreg did not supply the products on this a single. Within its constraints, it operates and will get the occupation accomplished, but you should not anticipate as well considerably from it.
It will come with “almost” almost everything you need: a template for the base for making adjustments, a built-in toggle clamp on the foundation, and a C-clamp for attaching it to a workbench. We say “almost” since 4 bolts are essential to attach the toggle clamp to the foundation, but they are not included in the kit. We had to purchase them from a local components shop. A minor little bit of examining unveiled that this wasn’t a glitch or an oversight. This is the way it ships.
Colour us confused.
The holes we drilled weren’t uniform due to the fact of slippage. No issue how much we tightened it, it held on taking place, so we experienced to re-tighten it following every pass. This is a enormous time waster. The graduation marks are the same coloration as the human body, making them very tough to see. Plus, the carrying case won’t keep all the components.
This jig performs, but it has some significant concerns.
- Good templates
- Nice C-clamp
- Constant tightening needed
- Not the best case
5. Osaava 47709 Twin Pocket Hole Jig Kit
This kit is minimal-priced, we’ll give it that much, but that is about in which it stops. Soon after that, there is extremely small good to say about this kit.
Our very first grievance is the misleading wording and images on the outside of the bundle. It advertises a clamping magnet for use with metal clamps, and the clamp is plainly shown on the exterior, but inside it is nowhere to be found. It’s not included. A small research uncovered that this is regular for this item. Nevertheless, this might be an accidental error on their finish. Do enable us know if this is solved, and we will get rid of this from the review.
The built-in drill depth gauge is not precise. If you stick to it you will wind up drilling through to the other facet, ruining your materials. You have to experiment with the drill bit collar to get the proper placing – for each different thickness. If you don’t use a file to make a mark on the circumstance for each and every thickness, you will have to do this every single time. This is a enormous time waster that established our enamel on edge.
The plastic is low cost. It breaks extremely simply. At the very least the scenario is nice.
There’s way too considerably wrong with this 1, leaving it useless very last in our evaluations.
- Nice case
- Cheap plastic
- Deceptive advertising
- No clamp
- Settings aren’t accurate
- Constant slippage
Buyer’s Guide – Choosing the Best Pocket Hole Jig
Pocket hole jigs do far more than increase the outward look of your operate, though they surely do that too. They also strengthen the joints in your finished item.
Nails do not grip the wood they’re in, so they tend to perform on their own out when they’re utilised in anything which moves usually or is moved from location to area often. Bookshelves, doors, cabinet drawers, household furniture, and tables are usually built with screws relatively than nails for exactly this explanation. Wood things from centuries earlier utilised dowels or wooden pegs, a bit swollen and hammered into spot, to attain the exact same consequence.
Screws are the obvious option for long-lasting power. They grip the wooden and attract the pieces collectively when they are joined, unlike nails that tend to press items aside when they’re currently being pushed into place.
Nevertheless, screws have significantly much more obvious heads which spoil the appear of the product, consequently the invention of pocket holes, and the jigs for generating them properly and consistently. With out a pocket hole jig, you’ll never ever get the holes straight, regular, or correct. Depart seat-of-the-trousers traveling to the Tom Cruise-wannabes in the Air Power – you require dependable benefits every time.
There are some important items to consider when discovering the appropriate pocket hole jig.
The sort of operate you are performing will dictate which pocket hole jig is proper for you. Consider a few minutes to stop and feel about it – you’ll be happy you did.
If you are undertaking a broad selection of work, as a general carpenter or handyman, you are going to need to have a jig with as a lot of purposes as achievable. It is wonderful to have a great deal of resources in your perform truck or on the bench, but several resources can sluggish you down switching from one particular to another. Typically it is much better to have 1 resource with a wide variety of utilizes.
As long as it has sufficient changes to handle almost everything you’ll occur across on the job, it’s far better to make individuals changes than to consistently be swapping out equipment. A standard-function jig with a great deal of features and additions is the greatest concept in these instances. This is especially accurate when you are going to the customer’s website to do the perform.
If you are performing most of your perform at your personal home or shop, a permanently mounted bench jig may possibly be the way to go. This allows you spend a small further on a hefty-duty, metallic jig with some true heft to it, which translates into lengthy-expression energy and toughness. Not to mention, it’ll usually be where you still left it, so there’s no need to have to seem all around for it.
What makes a good product in this category?
Very first and foremost, you want an precise jig. A pocket hole jig could be created out of pure gold, but if it isn’t exact or is continuously slipping out of alignment, ensuing in ruined substance from holes drilled too deep or not deep adequate, it is worthless. You have to insist on reliable accuracy in the gauges, along with non-slip clamps that won’t progressively dress in out over time.
One particular position about gauges that may well seem to be minimal but will become a main irritant at the conclude of a lengthy day is the markings on them. Make certain they’re marked in a substantial-distinction colour. Some gauges amongst the jigs we reviewed experienced blue-on-blue markings, which helps make them hard to read, specially in wavering, unsure, or dim light. Hold that up for prolonged and your eyes will hate you.
2nd, you want a tough jig. Some of the pocket hole jigs we reviewed can set you back a pretty penny. A single that breaks very easily will expense time and funds you don’t have or really do not want to invest or equally. If you count on to use it a lot, and it’s vital to your perform, devote the further income upfront to get one that lasts.
Of program, if you are only utilizing it occasionally, the very best solution for you may possibly be the low cost one you can find the money for to toss absent if it breaks following you’re done with it.
Very good jigs must constantly arrive with all the clamps essential for their use. If they really do not it is due to the fact the maker is making an attempt to nickel and dime you to loss of life. We hate it when that happens.
Tips when buying
As constantly, search for a manufacturer’s guarantee and return plan. Even the very best producers will from time to time permit a lemon slip through High quality Control. If you throw away the warranty paperwork or get from a firm with a little time body for returns, you could locate your self caught with a damaged resource, and out the cash, you invested on it. Also, verify to see if the firm delivers an extended warranty.
You should only acquire from set up businesses with a confirmed track document. This does not promise that you will not have problems with your tools, but it drastically diminishes the odds of it going on to you. Fly-by-evening, no-name organizations might have wonderful prices, but the top quality and workmanship of their merchandise are horrible – and that is putting it properly.
We stick to the title brand names and hope you do as well.
Last but not least, because you are going to far more than most likely be getting your jig on the internet, make confident free of charge shipping and delivery is included. Thinking about how significantly you’ve already invested on the resource, companies should not be making an attempt to adhere you with a great deal of transport expenses too. Consider an added few seconds to read the wonderful print about transport. A handful of minutes could preserve you a ton of transport expenses.
What kinds of options are there?
As you might have observed, various kits come with diverse alternatives – extra bits, spare clamps, a number of gauges, and many others. Are there stripped-down “bare-bones” designs accessible from the manufacturer, or are you caught obtaining a single with all the bells and whistles? Possibly there are insert-on kits or packages.
Some will consist of added plugs and screws in the kit other individuals will not. Probably the producer has a regular areas package to go with the jig. If you get them at the very same time, you are going to often get a diminished price tag on the complete package.
See if the business offers any spare elements or repair kits. These can help save you worthwhile time down the road. Murphy’s Regulation claims issues will constantly go incorrect at the worst possible time – conquer it by possessing the parts previously in hand.
Some of the carrying situations did not keep all the parts or felt flimsy. From time to time makers will market a different or “upgraded” circumstance. We really do not approve of companies undertaking this kind of thing – it would seem like gouging – but if a single is offered you ought to possibly get it to keep every little thing collectively in a single place.
Conclusion
It’s our task to do these testimonials so you really do not have to. We offer you with the details you need to have to make a decision that’s right for you. Together the way, we supply some tips.
In our testimonials, the Kreg K5 is our top choose between pocket hole jigs. It is the entire deal – difficult, durable, effortless to use, and precise. You will be in a position to concentrate on your perform rather of the resource. Isn’t that the entire stage of a good tool in the initial place? Of course, it is, and this one particular matches the invoice. Use it, git ‘er accomplished, and go on to the up coming point.
The Kreg R3 Jr is our option for greatest for the income. It is tiny and moveable, which can make it excellent for these tight areas the place you have to consider the device to the occupation, within cupboards and this kind of. We have to confess we have been unhappy with the deficiency of an included clamp and decrease top quality, but you nonetheless get a lot of bang for the buck. For the occasional use, this jig is a great device.
We hope that with this manual in hand you’ll be able to make a lot quicker, less difficult choices on your choice of resources and then get again to what you adore. Happy trails!
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