CMT Pocket Hole Jig

[dietz]

Sommerfeldtools.com is getting rid of the CMT pocket hole jig for $99.00. This is a much better unit than the Kreig IMHO. I purchased one and used it for a new bookcase face frame. I works really well because you can vary the angle of the pocket hole to miss the tongue of the side panels ie: changing for the thickness of the wood. The Kreig is only set a 3/4".

Ted

[dietz]

here is the actual address to the jig http://www.sommerfeldtools.com/products.asp?id=9

[Andrew Benedetto]

I have no issues with a Kreg pro pack 2k ,never heard a complaint, is more versatile, and is on sale due the newer jig. CMT's sales are probably the reason for the clearance.
Why do you think it is better?

[Scottydont]

I have the CMT jig and I really like the thickness adjustability. FYI htye have been selling the starter kits at the woodworking shows for $59 bucks. Can't beat that with a stick.

[dietz]

As stated you can adjust the for the thickness of the wood that you are using. This enables you to vary the angle of the pockethole and obviously the angle of the screw. Why this may be important is because if you tongue and groove your faceframes to your side panels (when making any type of cabinet) and use the FIXED setting on the Kreig jig it will drill right through the tounge which destroys the tounge and groove joint (where all the strength is).
The second is the Kreig is a ONE PIECE JIG so this means that you have to place the item that you are going to screw on jig itself and balance it on a small piece of plastic (again, a one piece jig) if it is a big piece of wood this is not very easy.
You can mount the CMT onto a table top as seperate jig and hold down which allows you to NOT have worry about balancing the wood.

This is only my personal opinion, and what I have found after using both. I have nothing against Kreig, but it appears that CMT built a better mouse trap. When it first came out it was very pricey but now that Sommerfeld has it reduced its a great deal. BTW they are reduced because CMT and Sommerfeld are cutting ties !!!!

[Jeffrey Schronce]

[QUOTE=dietz]
The second is the Kreig is a ONE PIECE JIG so this means that you have to place the item that you are going to screw on jig itself and balance it on a small piece of plastic (again, a one piece jig) if it is a big piece of wood this is not very easy.
You can mount the CMT onto a table top as seperate jig and hold down which allows you to NOT have worry about balancing the wood.
QUOTE]

Based upon photos and reviews I like the CMT, especially since it would fit nicely in my CMT router table (which btw is a great deal right now!).
As far as large material on the Kreg, I mounted my K3 to a square of sheet goods. I then built supports 12" out on each side to support larger material.
I posted under seperate thread that while I like the K3 (dust collection and clamp lever on front) the Kreg 2000 package seemed to offer a lot more tools for the money, for example long plastic supports for large material. Also seperate rocket jig and mini jig which K3 does not have.

[PALefty]

I have been considering a pocket hole system.. and this thread made me look at the CMT version. Are the comparisons being made between the CMT Deluxe ($99) and the Kreg K3 Master ($125)? It seems they both have 1/8 increment settings.. so perhaps the CMT is being compared to an older/different version of the Kreg? If they both have 1/8 increments then it would be a wash on that. The Kreg has dust collection and metal 'holes' for presumably longer life. The CMT is two piece and Kreg is one piece... which seems to favor the CMT. So the question would then be.. does the 2 piece of the CMT outweigh the DC and metal of the Kreg which is $25 more? Are there any other factors to consider?

[PALefty]

I have been considering a pocket hole system.. and this thread made me look at the CMT version. Are the comparisons being made between the CMT Deluxe ($99) and the Kreg K3 Master ($125)? It seems they both have 1/8 increment settings.. so perhaps the CMT is being compared to an older/different version of the Kreg? If they both have 1/8 increments then it would be a wash on that. The Kreg has dust collection and metal 'holes' for presumably longer life. The CMT is two piece and Kreg is one piece... which seems to favor the CMT. So the question would then be.. does the 2 piece of the CMT outweigh the DC and metal of the Kreg which is $25 more? Are there any other factors to consider?

ttt

anybody?

[Brian G]

Well, it appears to me that the comparisons are to the earlier (K2000) Kreg or to the Kreg Rocket. I don't have the K3 or the K2000, but I do have the Rocket and the mini jig. I like it for the few needs that I have. I've contemplated going for the K3, but I can't pull the trigger because I don't do enough with pocket screws to justify it, yet.

I don't quite understand the references to one-piece versus two piece. I view the K3 Master system as a two piece jig.

Go Here and also view the interactive demo on the K3 Master System

[DaveS]

anybody?

I will add my humble opinion...

I have the Kreg 2000 kit, I like it a lot... I think I would get it over the K3 or the CMT for the following reasons:

(I heisted all these pictures from the Amazon website)

I use the two holes really close to each other all the time for face frames - it is super handy. The CMT does not have this.


I have done this before - you can't do this with the CMT without making a little jig thing (not really a problem, just the anti-reason to the "it's a one piece" argument)


I keep mine attached to a piece of plywood like this - I never have a problem with longer pieces.


If I ever do need to put some pocket holes in really big pieces, I use one of the other two little jigs they put in the kit:


I saw a little jig for adding dust collection to the k2000, in this month's Workbench magazine - someone just cut the side out of a piece of 3" PVC pipe, put a cap on the end and hooked the other end to their shopvac, put the cutout section over the top of the exit holes in the jig.

[Andrew Benedetto]

Same here, I have mine mounted like that too. As I said before, the 2k pro pack is great,would not trade it for the k3 or CMT. It is the most useful, I use all the parts all the time and the dust thing is no problem really, not like a TS/CMS fine wood dust cloud . Do we hook up vacs every time we drill a hole next to the bit while drilling the hole? I wait until the dust ,actually really more like shavings build up,turn on the vac, away they go, or make a vac jig if you want. You do not need to vav it every hole anyway.
I still say buy a Kreg propack 2000 while they are still available. I use it all the time in many different ways.