Kreg R2 or R3?

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  • scoly
    Established Member
    • Jun 2003
    • 395
    • Lubbock, Texas, USA.
    #1

    Kreg R2 or R3?

    Already have a ph jig (penn state) but am thinking about the kreg. The r2 has the face clamp included which seems like a necessary component. R3 has no face clamp but is touted as the newer version. Is it an improvement over the r2? What is the trade off? Could buy the r3 and add the face clamp for just a little more total than the r2. Help with my decision!
    Thanks
    Steve
    It\'s the combined experience of the members on this board that make it such a great place.
    Tags: None
    • Tom Hintz
      Senior Member
      • Feb 2004
      • 549
      • Concord, NC, USA.
      #2
      The R2 is a sort of "Starter" kit that comes with minimal components and lets you build your own setup with the parts you think you need. The R3 is a full on setup. I have reviews of both sets at the link below, scroll down to Bench Tools.

      http://www.newwoodworker.com/reviews/index.html

      Note: I just noticed I have both kit links marked R3 in the directory but the first is the R2 kit. I'll fix the link later this morning......
      Tom Hintz
      NewWoodworker.com LLC

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        • siliconbauhaus
          Senior Member
          • Dec 2006
          • 925
          • hagerstown, md
          #3
          Tom...I like your site btw.
          パトリック
          daiku woodworking
          ^deshi^
          neoshed

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            • scoly
              Established Member
              • Jun 2003
              • 395
              • Lubbock, Texas, USA.
              #4
              Tom,
              Thanks for the site reference. I have used it often in the past but had not seen your review.
              The sets I was concidering are the r2 (discontinued) and the replacement r3. From what I've seen it looks like the better buy would be the r3 and a face clamp though according to your site the kreg face clamp is not mandatory.
              Thanks again,
              Steve
              It\'s the combined experience of the members on this board that make it such a great place.

                Comment

                • Tom Hintz
                  Senior Member
                  • Feb 2004
                  • 549
                  • Concord, NC, USA.
                  #5
                  Steve,
                  The face clamp is not absolutely mandatory but is very nice to have. I think this is another case where a purpose designed tool really does work better than the often cheaper alternatives. In testing these kits we have tried clamping pocket hole joints with and without the Kreg face clamp, and it can be done either way, but I use the face clamp in all of my own pocket hole work.
                  Tom Hintz
                  NewWoodworker.com LLC

                    Comment

                    • scoly
                      Established Member
                      • Jun 2003
                      • 395
                      • Lubbock, Texas, USA.
                      #6
                      Thanks Tom. After looking at the clamp I had pretty much decided that it would be worth the extra#$'s and your opinion seals the deal. Will be waiting for a sale on the r3.
                      Steve
                      It\'s the combined experience of the members on this board that make it such a great place.

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                        • 10sCoachRick
                          Established Member
                          • Jan 2007
                          • 134
                          • Austin, TX
                          #7
                          Funny that this thread jumped out at me after I ducked into the local Rockler at lunch today to escape the wind and cold...lo and behold--the K3 DVD was running and I was looking for ideas on drawer building and faceframe construction. I can't justify it at this point but I may pull the trigger tomorrow on the whole kit and kaboodle. I already ordered some of the 'sale' screws from Amazon just so I can say I saved money!

                          Guess I'm running out of excuses for not starting the built-in entertainment cabinet project!

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