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General => Owner-Builder Projects => Topic started by: Virginia Gent on August 22, 2009, 04:48:10 PM

Title: Opinions: The Kreg Jig
Post by: Virginia Gent on August 22, 2009, 04:48:10 PM
YouTube Infomercial video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LnhMFNqRZ4 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LnhMFNqRZ4)
Website: http://www.kregtool.com/index.php (http://www.kregtool.com/index.php)

There you go. Does anyone own one of these? Also, do you think this tool would be feesable in building your own house? I ask because it looks like a good tool and I would love to have one to make simple stuff around the house. It sure would have made building that knitting box for my fiancee easier. I also ask because I know next to nothing about the actual construction processes of building a house. Seeing the tool in that infomercial, would drilling holes and screwing them in make framing a wall/floor/roof easier/stronger/faster? Is assembling any of the before mentioned with this tool even a reasonable way TO assemble those?
Title: Re: Opinions: The Kreg Jig
Post by: new land owner on August 22, 2009, 08:34:23 PM
I have a smaller version of the Kreg tool.  I love it and used it to build the screen frames for my screen house.  I also used it to secure the corner braces I used as well.

The portable one works well so I would think this would be a good tool to have.
Title: Re: Opinions: The Kreg Jig
Post by: Virginia Gent on August 22, 2009, 10:02:51 PM
Do you think it would be suitable for a larger home? Say, the 20' wide 1 1/2 story cottage plans? I have, almost, decided on making a house similar to the Alaska Cabin on the front page of Country Plans, cept I was thinking a garage dormer instead of normal dormers.
Title: Re: Opinions: The Kreg Jig
Post by: Jens on August 23, 2009, 01:48:27 PM
I would not use it for anything structural, but it is a great tool to have when doing things such as building cabinet face frames.  I also use mine to put together trim before installing it, sometimes.  Gluing and pocket screwing the leg to head casing is very nice.
Title: Re: Opinions: The Kreg Jig
Post by: MountainDon on August 24, 2009, 09:37:56 PM
It's a cabinetmaking tool, not a tool to be used for a structure.

How much do the special drill bits cost?



Title: Re: Opinions: The Kreg Jig
Post by: pickngrin on August 25, 2009, 02:09:04 PM
As Mtn. Don said it's a cabinet making tool - not for building buildings.  Besides, it takes longer to use than a nail gun does.  I have an older one and like it quite a bit.  It's a well-made tool and has worked well for me on several projects with no problems so far.  I used it to make a pair of these tables:

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3301/3254057336_a2f707af66_b.jpg)

I bought mine 5-6 years ago for about $100 including jig, special drill bit, and special clamp.
Title: Re: Opinions: The Kreg Jig
Post by: rdzone on August 25, 2009, 05:18:13 PM
Definately not for sturctural elements, but it can be very useful when doing trim.  I have used it to preassemble window trim and to add extension jambs to windows.  I also have used it like others have stated for cabinets and face frames.
Title: Re: Opinions: The Kreg Jig
Post by: Jens on September 03, 2009, 04:57:47 PM
nice table PNG, is that cherry?
Title: Re: Opinions: The Kreg Jig
Post by: ben2go on September 03, 2009, 05:06:24 PM
I have only used a jig like that on furniture.I have helped build a few houses and finish a few.I have never seen any place that I would use one,but I also use a trust hammer instead of nail guns.
Title: Re: Opinions: The Kreg Jig
Post by: pickngrin on September 04, 2009, 08:44:10 AM
Yep, cherry.  This was my first project where I began with rough sawn wood.
Title: Re: Opinions: The Kreg Jig
Post by: Squirl on September 04, 2009, 08:53:11 AM
I saw this on BLOG cabin on the DIY network last night.  It looks like it is mostly for finishing furniture corner joints to hide the screws.
Title: Re: Opinions: The Kreg Jig
Post by: Virginia Gent on September 04, 2009, 09:27:26 PM
Well I thank everyone for their thoughts. It would appear there is a consensus   :D

The reason I asked is because they did a few demonstrations on how strong the joints were and they appeared (at least on TV) to be very strong, so I figured perhaps they were good enough for framing or something else.

I'm also glad to hear that it is, indeed, a good tool to use. I plan to buy my dad one for Christmas, which is a plus because then I get to use it too hehe.

That's a beautiful table too. I hope to become profiecent at woodworking to assemble such fine pieces of furniture to litter my house with  ;D
Title: Re: Opinions: The Kreg Jig
Post by: rick91351 on September 05, 2009, 07:30:13 AM
Hey Gent - I did notice the jigs, bits and the pan head screws they market were 'on sale' in the last Woodcrafters catalog.  I would agree that jig would be very useful in some furniture applications.  For me however I think it would be a lot like a biscuit jointer; I just had to have one of those.  Very seldom to I dig mine out anymore.  I went back to my old methodology.  Come to think of it, very seldom did I even venture into the wood shop this summer.  Usually this means there will be a fall - winter season.  I seem to remember two drop leaf tables cut out..... and something about an entertainment center.  Humm!