HF Portable Pocket Hole Jig

[IWannabe]

Hello,

I was in my ritual of walking the Harbor Freight aisles when I saw this pocket hole jig. Anyone have any experience using this? Item #96264. http://www.harborfreightusa.com/usa/...submit=find+it

Thank you in advance for your responses.

[docrowan]

It doesn't appear to come with the specialized drill bit that the Kreg jigs come with. Might be able to buy it separately. How much was it at the store?

[LCHIEN]

It doesn't appear to come with the specialized drill bit that the Kreg jigs come with. Might be able to buy it separately. How much was it at the store?

go to the regular HF website (for the online store, www.harborfreight.com) and use the same stock number 96264, it lists the drill bit as being included and 100 screws.
Price is $70, which seems high by HF standards.

My comment is that there appears to be two angles for the drill guides. There seems to be an unusual pivot on the guide blocks I'm presuming that allows different heights of workpiece to be placed under the drill guides by tiliting the drill guides. I'm not sure but guessing the knob on front allows selection of the drill guide position (width) and or angle for the different heights?

[BigguyZ]

At that price, or even with the coupon, I'd say just save up a bit more for the real thing. I got the K3 jig a bit ago and finally had a chance to use it. SO handy for building case work.

[jziegler]

Buy the real thing. I haven't looked at the HF, but when I bought a cheap jig, the drill bit snapped at the step after only about a dozen of so holes, and only a light tap against some surface. If a cheap bit from a woodworking store does that, imagine what a HF step bit could do.

Jim

[tfischer]

I bought a Kreg at a WW show a couple years ago, and still have yet to use it for a major project. But Kreg's quality is impeccable -- I have several of their products, including the BS fence and a few other jigs. For $70 I'd save up a bit more and get the real thing. I got the full Kreg master kit (many more pieces than this) plus a few extra clamps and a DVD for around $140 at the show...

[jeepjohn]

I would spend a little more on a kreg jig... I have the new K4 jig set and it is really cool. The quality is top-notch and it is bullet-proof. I have completed several projects in record time and the joint it creates is really strong and fool-proof.

[pacwind3]

I have to second the Kreg jig nomination. I really is nice. I've used mine quite a bit. My only complaint: the handle needs to be larger around. Maybe an inch longer wouldn't hurt either. I've been kind of thinking of making a sleeve that fits over the handle. Other then that I really is nice. I think I just saw it as Lowe's for $99 and I know I paid about $130 for it, but that was over 2 years ago.
If it broke: I'd buy it again in a heartbeat. Also, they have a lifetime warranty on the part that you drill through, in case it ever wears out.

[Sawatzky]

For even less than this jig you can get the Kreg Rocket. It is a clamp on version so it is smaller and takes more time to set up, but it works great. This is what I use, and I use it on every project that has a face frame - which for me is every project.

[IWannabe]

Appreciate all the inputs! I had my eye on the Kreg K3MS master pocket hole jig, but have yet to see it go below $139. Guess I better save up some more

[tfischer]

Appreciate all the inputs! I had my eye on the Kreg K3MS master pocket hole jig, but have yet to see it go below $139. Guess I better save up some more

Yeah, even at the woodworking show, it was one of those "we can't lower the price, but we can throw in lots of free stuff..." sorts of things...

-Tim

[LCHIEN]

yeah, Kreg seems to have some sort of dealer requirement that the Kreg never be sold for less than the retail price... you sometimes see it with extras thrown in but never on sale. Its one of those items that's always excluded from sales prices when Rockler or Woodcraft has sales and coupons.

I guess if you're the standard of the industry you can afford to be that way.

[jackellis]

I just bought a Kreg pocket hole jig and have used it once so far to fasten a french cleat to the back of a cabinet.
All I can say is, "Accept no imitations". The Kreg is drop dead simple/foolproof. I know I'm not going to regret this purchase.

[IWannabe]

Kreg! Kreg! Kreg! I figure if I chant it enough, I'd convince myself to buy it now! I've been feverishly "saving money" by buying only stuff on "Bargain Alerts" and other deal-saving websites, and scouring the clearance aisles on the big box stores. Somehow my method doesn't work, as I just end up shelling out more money