Harbor Freight pocket hole jig

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  • Harbor Freight pocket hole jig

    Has anyone here tried the HF pocket hole jig # 96264 as yet? I saw one in their local store the other day and decided to try one....on sale for $49.99 down from the usual $69.00. I haven't actually used it on a real project as yet , but have made a couple of test cuts and joints using the jig on some scraps and it works surprisingly well so far!

    Good points: (1) 4 different drilling positions for the pocket holes in different thickness of stock. (2) good quality, adjustable stock holding clamp (3) a good step drill bit with stop collar and allen wrench, (4) width adjustment for spacing of pocket holes, (5) solid overall construction, (6) clear instructions included, (7) hardened drill guides for the step drill bit.

    Bad points: (1) long screw bit not included with the tool, (2) supplied screws
    are hex head and may " cam out" easier if proper pressure is not used during
    installation into pocket hole, (3) a better temporary mounting flange should have been cast into the rear of tool for use of c- clamp or vise grips.

    I hope this mini-review/ mini-gloat helps someone who is contemplating
    buying a pocket hole jig and needs a good quality item for a decent price.

    • LCHIEN
      #9
      LCHIEN commented
      Editing a comment
      kreg was not very aggressive with patents and so almost lost the company to a guy who came along and got a patent on something close to what kreg was already making. They were in (corporate) life and death struggle and finally won against the guy with the patent who wanted large royalties for all the Kreg jigs sold.

    • lrr
      #10
      lrr commented
      Editing a comment
      Originally posted by eezlock
      Yes, that is the one for sure, a very good jig as I stated in the original post. I'm not excited about their screws that are included with the jig, so I did buy the Kreg screw assortment for $29.00 from Lowe's and it came with a driver bit as well. I think that these screws will be an improvement over the others for sure.
      The instructions weren't clear as to proper setting of the depth collar on the step drill bit....so, I used the directions obtained from Kreg's
      website and adjusted the collar with a nickel as an adjustment for the
      stop collar....it worked just fine! Hope this helps.........eezlock
      I just bought a Kreg screw assortment on sale from Rockler for $22.49, although Amazon has it for $23.99 (link below). I think the Rockler special deal I got may be over, but if you spent $50 or more, you got free shipping, and a $25 eGift card good online or in-store. That was probably one of the better deals I've ever gotten from Rockler.



      The HF jig looks pretty good. I've got two from Kreg and they are well-built and designed. I also have their shelf pin jig which is really nice. I used mine after a cabinet was built, and it was easy to use.

    • dbhost
      #11

      dbhost
      commented
      Editing a comment
      While I can only make assumptions about the Kreg based on hands on handling in store, and the fact it is made with plastic, I have a comparison / review of the HF Jig on my blog I did some quick testing compared against the General EZ Pocket Hole Jig, and found the Drill Master vastly superior. The adjustability and the ability to rapidly change out workpieces is priceless. The complaints about tearout seen on the HF website aren't unfounded, but I see the same complaints with pretty much every single jig out there not just the HF jig.... Tearout was the worst with plywood, and best with walnut (hardly any at all).

      My next step is to make a platform for the jig and a box to hold the small pieces. (Boxes of pocket screws, step bit, hex wrenches, square drive driver etc...)
    Posting comments is disabled.

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