Make Your Own Pocket Hole Jig Using A Handheld Router!
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- čas přidán 29. 08. 2019
- Get the step-by-step plans to build this Pocket Hole Jig here: www.woodsmithplans.com/plan/p...
You're probably familiar with a pocket hole jig that uses a handheld drill to form the pockets. Here's a way to speed up the process while using your router. This smart jig cuts clean pockets and is easy to make in less than a day.
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And for me, there is that certain satisfaction of making this jig and accomplishing the task without buying something. Also for those of us trying to train young people to think in engineering terms there is that "ahaa" moment when they build or use this and use the store bought jig (not everything has to come from the store). I hope that makes sense. Great job John!
I think that is exactly the reason why I felt compelled to build this project even though we have a Kreg Pocket Hole Jig... more for the fun and novelty of it.
Same concept to the $400 castle pocket hole machine this diy version is in my budget. Thought this was a cheesy jig till stumpy nubs highlighted the castle machine. Then I remembered seeing this on woodsmith. I have a new appreciation for this simple looking jig.
Now that it is a grand with a Systainer box...
I bought the plans and built this jig. I watch an episode of This Old House years ago where they were demonstrating the the Porter Cable now Castle pocket machine. I really liked the the look of the clean pockets it produced but it didn’t make sense to buy one for my home diy shop. I bought a Kreg jig and always think of that episode when using it. The pockets aren’t as clean, the work shifts during assembly even when clamped, and to me the pockets are not as professional looking even though they are going to be hidden, I still know. Yes the Kreg jig is faster and cheaper, but if you want a better looking pocket and less frustrating assembly this is a really good jig. I have spare corded trim router since going cordless. I’m reworking the plans to cut the pocket and drill the pilot like the Castle TSM-12. This was a fun quick build and works really good. 👍
For all the naysayers that are bashing this jig, you're right that if you have just a few holes even the $20 jig will work. However, I could see using this if you have a large project or need to batch out a lot of parts quickly. You could make the fence removable and have different fences for the stock you are using. Heck, you could probably add a hole or two to a single fence if it were a little taller in the center.
If you already have some scrap ply in the shop, it probably would cost less than $125 to make (cost of a router and bit). I don't think that's a bad investment for a hobby or small shop.
A Castle pocket jig setup DIY. Thank you.
For a lot of the naysayers out there: do what you want. I like the look of a routed pocket hole better than the drilled version personally. But this is more than I need for the job (I will use a sled jig and cut from the top, faster to build and uses scraps, but won't last as long.)
If you are doing a hundred pocket holes a day, buy professional equipment. It will be worth it. If you are doing 8 a week, do what you want (HFT has a jig for that matter.)
I like how the screw is more parallel to the faces of the two pieces being joined than with a Kreg pocket hole jig.
The pocket looks much nicer then using a Kreg jig.. but if we still have to drill that pilot, you might as well use the Kreg.
Yeah, it's just another option if you don't want to spend the money on the kreg version.
Well actually no. You can make these pockets at a much lower angle thus eliminating the dreaded kreg shifting
@@n0rth3rnlight exactly. 15deg vs 3deg.
You can attach a drill bit with a spring that is just long enough and leave a small 12v drill attached to the bit so it just sits in the brass tube until you compress the spring while drilling.
I know this is 4 years old but the Kreg jig is vastly inferior to what this can do because, the Kreg jig can only do a 15° angle, and this design can do a 3° angle hole. There is no comparison in the performance of the joint.
This is a copy of a Castle machine, which is $700 for their cheap model. Their most expensive one is $60,000. Their second cheapest one is $1,800. They have several models.
seems like it should be relatively easy to add a cheap right angle drill that could swing with the handle on the return to automatically drill the small hole.
Was it pointed out somewhere in the video? Does this produce the same 5 degree angled pocket hole as the castle? Or is it the 15 degree that kreg and most others use?
A lot of folks are missing the point and immeasurable value of this design compared to the Kreg design. The constant sliding out of alignment that occurs when screwing 2 mating pieces together, face frames, for example is an effing nightmare. Anyone that builds cabinetry for a living knows exactly what I’m talking about. That alone makes this jig more than worth it
Contrary to what kreg would like you to believe face clamps never properly address the issue either, no matter how much you tighten those clamps the pieces will still shift when you drive the screws home.
They are selling you a solution that doesn’t work for a problem that they created and could’ve be remedied simply by changing the boring angle. But they would rather sell you all these nifty accessories that don’t do jack.
just like Castle.....
Awesome jig! I love the simplicity brought by forethought with for instance the automatic stops in the router cradle!! 💪🏻
I do have a question, though, it was hard to derive from the video, at what angle did you drill the guide hole for the drillbit?
The Kreg jigs typically do a 13° angle on the holes, and something like the Castle do a 3° angle on the hole.
From the video yours looks almost at 0°, perpendicular to the workpiece.
Can you add a stop for different thickness material
Add a fence stopper for reference at the user edge and use different width/thickness fence to accurately locate the pilot hole for different piece thicknesses. Nice work John that I'd love to copy if I didn't buy the Foreman yet ;-)
Thanks, Khalid! :) Now on to the biscuit jointer workstation :)
@@WoodsmithShowandmagazine are we talking about the same plans that I built mine of, or are you about to make me envy you with a newly designed one that makes mine a thing of the past? }:-)
Khalid Al-Bahi - The one you did... ever since I saw that I’ve wanted to go back and rebuild it.
Look up "blum swivel stop" had them in a cabinet shop, perfect for what you're talking about, set it to common stops and just but it against the one you want and the others push away, obviously make a diy version because they cost a fortune if you want more than one.
What size router do you recommend with this?
What are bit heights for different thicknesses? Is the rule of thumb middle of the piece, so 3/4 should have a bit height of 3/8?
This would be great for a young woodworker learning all about patience. For the rest of us, it might be our last project.
Yeah, I agree with that. It was an easy and fun project... great for a beginner.
Possible to get plans in metric for this? Not currently available.
I was JUST talking to my buddy about how I can build my own Festool Domino, and this is exactly how I explained it... In theory it can be done with any hand held drill, but a dremel and a capsule-shaped die would function similarly, and in about the same timespan. All you'd need to do is make the die in the desired shape.
I was wondering if a Dremel could be used in a jig like this, and not with the actual Dremel embedded, rather with a spare snake attachment permanently embedded and the Dremel just connecting when you use it... 🤷🏻♂
I would just be concerned about whether the Dremel can handle the load.
You can certainly make a loose tenon jig, but it's no domino. If you have ever used the actual Festool Domino machine, what makes it incredible is that not only it's precise and all that but it's a small and versatile tool that can be used in all kinds of angles. This is because of how it's actually made, it just doesn't have the same internal shape as a router, the cutter comes down right to the bottom and it's some purpose built bits, etc. Very special machine.
which issue was this in?
Very nice but I keep a £9 pocket hole kit in a pocket of my drill bag and can can finish my joins before you have even set the depth of the router bit.
Wow... that sounds like a challenge. :) We need to have a pocket hole jig showdown. Fastest Pocket Holer wins!
I think the real issue is quality of the result vs the dust clean-up every router job requres, even with extraction provided for. But routed joints are stronger, they do not make the angle of the cut dependent on what drill bits can achieve.
The only thing I would add is a foot switch for the router.
Yeah, that would be helpful. Thanks!
Isn't the Kreg jig cheaper than basically dedicating a router in that table?
The router is held in place with 3 screws. You could take the it off easily and use it elsewhere if needed. That’s kind of like saying you are dedicating a drill to the Kreg Pocket Hole Jig. It also depends what Kreg Product you are comparing it to... For instance the Kreg Foreman is $400 and the K5 is about $130. I think I could find a perfectly capable router for less than that. This is just another way to get it done. If you have a Kreg Pocket Hole Jig and are happy that, I wouldn’t abandon that method for this jig.
There is a reason why there are stationary machines that cost $400-thousands. And they are not preplaceable by the kreg plastic jigs, but a version of this thing would do it.
what issue is this in
I don't think I caught the router bit size, any ideas?
Found it, 3/8" spiral. Would a down-cut make a cleaner surface?
Correct!
This is the same idea as the early Kreg stationary machine.
Their version is done with a drill bit and costs at least $400, but yes they both are box shaped and make pocket holes. :)
@@WoodsmithShowandmagazine The early ones used a router in the same manner as yours. You pushed the handle to rout the pocket and then pulled it to drill the hole.
@@williamellis8993 - Hmm, I guess I need to check out my Kreg history.
@@WoodsmithShowandmagazine I emailed Kreg and the machine I remembered was a Porter Cable and is now owned and made by Castle. It uses a router and drill.
Yeah, that makes sense. I was talking to one of the other designers and they thought this was based on an old Porter Cable Pocket Hole Machine. Compared to Castle's cheapest Model ($475), this shop-built version is a pretty good deal :)
Wait a minute.... Where did castle get its inspiration from?
Or where did the article gets its inspiration? 🤔
The plan for this project was featured in ShopNotes Magazine #46 (July 1999)... I'm not sure who it was inspired by but I AM sure that pocket holes pre-date both Castle and Kreg. It is believed that pocket holes date back to 18th century woodworking, but were fairly common during the Industrial age in 19th century manufactured furniture.
@@WoodsmithShowandmagazine that's true. I still have a coffee table which built and carved by my grandfather in the 60s uses pocket hole screws. Not the nice uniform machined holes that Kreg Jig or yours makes, but hand chiseled pockets to hide ordinary wood screws. I'll try to post a photo of them later.
Nah. Kreg has this one nailed - one step and done, plus that fine blue plastic is almost invisible in the ocean.
Yeah, if I have a Kreg K5, I'm probably just going to grab that first... but if you don't want to spend the money on that jig and you already have a router it is a nice alternative. Just another option to get the job done. :)
@@WoodsmithShowandmagazine Or living in a country where Kreg products didn't reach yet. Or in a 3rd world country where you can barely afford to buy a Chinese quality router. Thanks for all the out-of-the box alternative solutions you provide.
Kreg jig produces weak joints, that can none the less be perfect for some applications. But this allows the builder to choose their pocket and opt for stronger joints if preferred. Not everyone is working to save the last second over quality.
Considering that I can buy a Kreg pocket hole jig for $20 at Lowes that includes the special drill bit, this is tip is a dud. A cheapie chinese router is going to cost no less than $50. Then once you have it built, it still takes considerably longer to make the actual pocket hole. I'm usually all for homemade shop tools, but not this time. Also considering the number of tips you guys put out, its only natural that once in a while a dud will slip through. In this case, the machine is cool, but not practical.
So you've never had two pieces cut with a Kreg jig slip out of alignment because of the Kreg 15 degree cut? This Jig allows a 6 degree cut that makes all of the difference.
Or you could spend $400 and get the Castle 110 Pocket Cutter that cuts a 3 degree angle cut. You know what they say - 5 minutes with Google will make you look 200% smarter.
You are comparing apples to oranges.. The Kerg jigs are $20-$450 for Foreman, this is more like the Castle machine. It goes for $400-450, two similar machines that make “pocket holes” but Castle is on another level. He’s making something similar to Castles TSM-12 that $1500 and that’s a huge difference in prices and what he’s showing you how to make.. $1500 plus tax plus shipping!! For those reasons it’s definitely worth trying to make this and save me $1500+ This morning they have a 4 week lead time after you pre order. Huge Thank you for making this video!!!!
More work than using the Kreg jig. Not worth the effort.
Too much work requiring too much shop tools for the average DIY guy IMHO.
👎It's not a DIY video; it's a commercial.🤬