What is the best Kreg Jig to buy? Well that all depends on what you need the jig for as they differ in features and sizes. One thing for sure is that Kreg certainly know their stuff when it comes to drilling a good hole!
For the DIY beginner and advanced woodworker alike, Kreg Jigs have been around for years and there’s a good reason why they are still the leaders in the field. I personally have several of their products so have included some tips I have found to be of use when working with their tools.
To help you out, we selected a broad cross section of 5 different Kreg Jigs and have included the pros, cons and what each jig would be suitable for.
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[lwptoc hierarchical=”1″ title=”Quick Links To Items On This Page” toggle=”1″ labelShow=”show” hideItems=”1″]What is the Best Kreg to Buy?
Kreg K5 Pocket Hole Jig – Top Pick
There seems to be a lot of buzz at present on the ease of this pocket hole jig from Kreg. This is one of their latest releases that brings together the benefits and expertise we’ve come to expect by Kreg as featured in their earlier tools.
I like that it can be used as both a tabletop and portable jig, which gives you the freedom to work at home, or on the go. It also has lots of different spacing holes that will allow you to put your screws exactly where you need them to be, as long as the material you are drilling is relatively thin.
The adjusting clamp on it is also really great. This is because you can move the handle to the front of the jig where it’s not blocked by the wood you’re working on (a good move here Kreg!) Likewise the adjustments for wood thickness and length of screws is pretty simple too. The new slide-in drill blocks are excellent for micro-screws and working with 2x4s.
The clamping mechanism is also a good one. So durable as I accidentally dropped from the bench without doing any harm at all!
Overall it’s oversized support wings provide a nice stable base for portable drilling which will give you a much more accurate hole. Plus they can be opened and shut hold different accessories and tools. Really it’s the new clamping system that has been upgraded from the K4 which makes it easy to adjust it to the thickness of your material. It is excellent for pockethole joinery so it is my top pick in this category.
To check the price of the Kreg K5 Pocket Hole Jig, Click here.
The Good:
- Great for small to large scale projects (eg 25 – 50 pocket holes)
- Multiple thickness settings
- Built in clamping
- Storage wings to accommodate all your accessories
- Dust port links to standard vacuum hose to keep the work area clean
- Option to upgrade to micro-HD (accessory required)
- Lifetime warranty
The Bad:
- Vacuum port connection doesn’t secure well and can detach during use
Good for….
- Large projects and furniture such as
- Workbenches
- Tables
- Outdoor benches and coffee tables
- Garden cabinets
- DIY dog gate
Best Budget Friendly Jig?
Kreg R3 Jr Pocket Hole Jig – Budget Friendly
In short, the Kreg R3 Jr Pocket Hole Jig is exactly that; a junior. It’s the best budget friendly jig. This beauty is small in both size and features but equally small in price too.
Really If you are just getting into the world of woodworking, and have been told that you should be using pocket holes, then this is a good system to start with. It is both good-quality and budget-friendly, making it the ideal starter for a beginner (no headaches here!)
The size also makes it quite portable as you can take it to the material rather than the other way around.
This system can be used with a variety of wood widths and will allow you to set the depth and location of your holes easily. As you would expect with a budget-friendly option, it is a bit light on accessories. And If you do choose to go with this system, just make sure that you have a good clamp on your own, since it does not come with one. It was designed to be compatible with Kreg face clamp (for faster and more repeatable pocket holes), C-clamp and standard bar clamp.
What’s great is that the jig can handle just about anything, thanks to its 9 depth settings that let you join materials ranging from 1/2 inch to 1-1/2 inches thick. This is done in 1/8-inch increments for more precision. A mounting hole is included to let you work in restrictive areas that don’t fit a clamp. Kreg R3 provides the convenience of an optimized drilling angle to enable you create compact holes less than 1-1/2 inches.
One tip I will mention though is that barrels are a bit too close together for 2x4s and I have found that Kreg’s 3 barrel jig (the K4 or K5 model) work better here. With a 2 barrel jig you will need to move the jig to drill the 2nd hole on 2x4s. It’s no biggie, but just thought I’d mention for those who like me who work with a lot of 2 x4s.
It’s also worth mentioning that the R3 is not the highest quality product on the market, but it is good for those getting started so hence, it is number 2 on my list. The old adage of ‘you get what you pay for’ is true in this case as it is more ‘budget friendly’ than ‘premium quality’. It all depends on what your needs are. If you are first starting out, then I would recommend it. It’s easy to use on a large variety of different sizes and makes decent holes. Just make sure you use it with an external companion clamp to be sure your piece won’t slip on you in the middle of drilling!
The upside? Each drill guide hole has a wood chip relief that keeps the drill bit free of any excess wood chips. With it, you get to minimize drill torque while adding more life to your drill bits. The kit includes an organized carrying case for safe storage and easy access. The jig comes with a drill, drive bits, 5 pocket hole screws, depth collar and Allen key. So really a good beginner’s kit here to get you started.
Overall, the Kreg R3 is a great tool for small scale repair and joinery for all sorts of DIY projects. It is a much better solution to joining wood than using traditional nails and wood glue. It is perfect for beginners and those after an affordable and portable product to make good pocket holes. It even comes with a lifetime warranty.
To check the price of the Kreg R3 Junior Pocket Hole Jig, Click here.
The Good:
- Perfect for beginners
- Projects with 10 – 25 pocket holes
- Great for repairs
- Easy adjustment for unlimited material thickness
- Portable and comes with everything needed
- Affordable – Budget friendly
- Lifetime warranty
The Bad:
- No clamp in the kit therefore keeping your workpiece in one place can be a challenge
- Harder to work on 2x4s than the R4 and R5 version by Kreg
- Although the drill guides are solid metal, the surrounding plastic is a bit cheap (think that’s how they saved on costs here).
Good For…
- Repairs to wood home furnishings
- Broken chairs
- Drawer boxes
- Frames
- Bookshelves
- DIY furniture (beds, tables, storage projects, bathroom vanities)
Kreg Jig K4 Pocket Hole Jig System – Middle of the Pack
This was my 3rd Kreg Pocket Hole Jig I ever bought. Initially I hesitated on buying it, as my tried-and-true clamp-on jigs work fine, but ultimately I am very glad I did. Before this one, I didn’t realise how much time I previously spent messing around with clamps! It’s a great time saver. I just jam it against a bench dog, clamp one end, mark and lay out all my work, and then off I go. You can easily punch 20 perfect pocket holes in 5 minutes with this thing.
As with all Kreg products I have encountered, this is primarily made of plastic with some strategically located steel bits and brass thread inserts. Although that doesn’t inspire confidence, it works well and I use it a lot. The clamp handle is also a little bit short, so you can really rap your knuckles into the clamp bar if you aren’t careful. I have gotten use to that though, but I thought I’d mention it.
The good thing about this jig is that is has been designed to provide premium level accuracy and precision. It’s a durable system that gives the convenience of 9 settings for material thickness. Done in 1/8-inch increments, the system handles materials that are 1/2 inch to 1-1/2 inches thick. (2x4s are 1 – 1 ½ inches thick) which is great for my projects. You would need something bigger such as the K5 for larger bits of lumbar.
Kreg Jig K4 is equipped with a patented 3-hole drill guide to accept unlimited material thickness. Thanks to a dust collection shroud, you get to achieve a work area that is clean and tidy. This tool eliminates the need for those cumbersome clamps. Instead, it sports a large built-in recess clamp that secures easily to a workbench.
The tool comes with a removable drill guide. This means that it can be used with both bench top and portable bases, a feature that comes in handy when working outdoors. The K4 also comes in a nice package with quite a few accessories not found in the R3 version such as a spacer block, 6-inch square driver, stepped drill bit, starter screw set, starter plug set, quick start guide and Sillbuilder DVD. Therefore the Kreg Jig K4 is a nice choice for a weekend warrior who requires a little bit more in a DIY repair and joinery starter kit than it’s R3 cousin.
To check the price of the Kreg Jig K4 Pocket Hole Jig, Click here.
The Good:
- 3-hole drill guide for accuracy and precision
- Projects with 25 – 50 pocket holes
- Small incremental settings for greater control
- Handles material thickness from 1/2-inch to 1-1/2-inch
- Removable drill guide compatible with both bench top and portable bases
- Dust collection shroud keeps the work area clean and tidy
- Lifetime warranty
The Bad:
- Requires some little talent to get a hang of it
- Should really use in combination with a pockethole clamp
Good For…
- DIY furniture such as tv cabinets,
- Baby cribs
- Shelving
- Side boards
- Desks
- Gates
- Repairs
Kreg Tool Company KJHD Jig HD – Best for Larger Materials
What’s different about this Kreg tool kit option? One word; size. This jig is designed to assist with bigger materials than the smaller versions. The HD version allows for bigger holes that when combined with the KREG HD Pocket Hole Screws, makes for a strong connection. I actually used it to build shelving constructed from 2x4s in my garage and it worked brilliantly. I also made a dining tale out of 4 x 4s, and that worked great too. You will need a clamp with this to hold it in place while you drill but just be mindful that the HD clamps don’t fit into the Kreg gear organizing box (I learnt this the hard way!) Still, the HD drill bit, jig and driver fit, it’s just the larger Kreg clamp that doesn’t.
To check the price of the Kreg Tool Company KJHD, Click here.
The Good:
- Large pocket hole guides for larger materials
- Extra strength for 2 x 4 material and larger
- Projects with 1 – 100 pocket holes
- Can be connected to various Kreg benchtop accessories
- Portable
- Easy to use for beginnners
- Works with the Kreg Jig K5 and K4
The Bad:
- Really only good for large materials
- You don’t get a lot of screws and may need to buy more
- You will need to purchase a clamp if you haven’t got one already
- The jig and case are made of plastic (however, as much as I hate plastic, I have found the product to work fine)
Good For…
- Framing walls
- Building deck railings
- Indoor and outdoor furniture
- Large projects
Kreg Jig Mini – Best for Small spaces and repairs
The Mini Kreg Jig is exactly that; mini. It is good for applications whereby the smallest jig possible is required. If you need to plug your pocket holes for whatever reason, the Mini’s plug setting features offers a great way to do this. You need to be mindful that there aren’t any markings so don’t throw out the instructions that you get with the kit! It is a bit of a pain to keep referring back to this every time you use it, but that said, it still works just fine.
I would suggest drawing a line across the board where you’ll be putting this jig, to make perfectly level line of holes (after all, this isn’t an expensive multi-hold version!)
Once in place drilling pocket holes is a breeze. A perfect little handy tools to make your projects a little easier than using wooden dowels and gorallia glue for example.
For the low price you pay, it is not worth my time to screw holes by free hand. If you are after a doing a bigger project, then perhaps invest in the bigger versions.
Overal the Kreg Jig Mini works great and is a best seller. There is a little learning curve to work out, but there are a lot of tutorials online on using this tool as well as jigs you can make for it to make it perform like a fancier model.
To check the price of the Kreg Jig Mini, Click here.
The Good;
- Projects with 1 – 10 pocket holes
- Light weight compact design
- Low product cost compared to other more advanced versions by Kreg
- Wood-chip relief hole for easy drilling
- Glass-reinforced nylon body
- Great for repairs
- Small so it can fit into places where other jigs can’t (perfect for those hard to reach repairs)
- Lifetime warranty
The Bad:
- Really only for small scale projects
- The mini kit does not have everything you need
- Will need a screw clamp to hold the jig down while you drill (a spring clamp isn’t strong enough – can use one from a local hardware store)
- No measurement tools that you receive with the larger version
Good for…
Repairs to;
- chair legs
- bed frames
- window sills (inside and out)
- planter boxes
- roof fascia boards
- doors etc
Small DIY projects such as;
- Gates
- Dart boards
- Black boards
- Chopping boards
What is the Best Kreg Jig to Buy – Buyer’s Guide
What is a Pocket Hole Jig?
A pocket hole jig, involves drilling a hole at an angle — usually 15 degrees — into one work piece, and then joining it to a second work piece with a self-tapping screw.
Why Use a Pocket Hole Jig?
Rather than just drilling a series of holes until a pocket hole is created, a pocket hole jigs can make the process much simpler and neater. With a pocket hole jigs you can just drill a hole angle fairly accurately and you will get a good, strong joint. It also gives a much neater and cleaner cut over one you might do without a jig.
What Are the Benefits of A Kreg Pocket Hole Jig?
Pocket hole joints have been proven to be superior to traditional joinery. Kreg is the leading manufacturer of pocket hole jigs in the field synonymous with the popular pocket hole tool.
I have found that the staff over at Kreg to be super helpful too. I once drilled a hole and the bit seized up and was bent about 1 mm out in the middle. It wasn’t what I expected to happen to a piece of metal in such soft wood and I couldn’t return it to Amazon as my 30 days had passed. I called up the Kreg company and they were more than happy to help even though I had purchased it over 6 months ago from memory. They shipped it out to me that day.
I have been recommending their products ever since and have had no issues with the the Kreg face clamps, angle clamps or even pocket hole plugs.
You really do need to buy from a company with a good reputation and great customer service as things can go wrong from time to time. So for this reason we endorse Kreg Pocket Hole Jigs – and certainly wouldn’t recommend them is they’re were a bit ordinary. They have quite a few in the range and we selected our top 5 from ones we use ourselves and from other reviews we have read. We encourage you to read plenty of reviews so you can get a good sense of the pros and the cons of each product to find the right fit for your needs.
Quick Links to Our Top 5 Kreg Jigs
- Kreg K5 Pocket Hole Jig – Top Pick
- Kreg R3 Pocket Hole Jig – Budget Friendly
- Kreg K4 Pocket Hole Jig System – Middle of the Pack
- Kreg Tool Company – Best For Larger Materials
- Kreg Jig Mini – Best for Small Spaces and Repairs
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