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I broke down and bought the fairly recent Kreg Pockethole jig 720 Pro - even though I have one about 2-3 generations older that still works fine.
It was on sale, and I liked how they have improved it.
My old one is in a blowmold case... The storage spot for the bit doesn't allow the collar to be stored in the usual position, and the bits and drivers always fall out. This one has storage in the base and everything snaps neatly into position and the bit storage has not only room for the collar at any usable position but also has an index for adjusting it in place.
Another improvement is that they've gone to a step drill bit with a hex quick change style shank end instead of leaving the shank at the head cutter 3/8" diameter step all the way to the end. This makes it easy if you have one drill driver and you are changing the pockethole step drill with the long Robertson square drive bits. Constantly swapping between 3/8" and 1/4" hex was a bit of a pain; more than a couple of holes I always made sure I had two drill/driver tools with the old jig!
Aside from better storage this can be turned 90 degrees for horizontal or vertical drilling of pocket holes, and has wings and supports.
And unlike my old one with no dust port, this one has a dust port that can installed from either left or right. A nice touch
Finally instead of having to wrestle with a stack of height adapters for each thickness, and monkey with the clamp tension, this one has a self adjusting clamping mechanism that adjusts height to each workpiece.
Downsides:
doesn't come with the face clamp (which I have one of from the old kit) or the mini-jigs which have come in handy
losing the slim blow mold case about which I expressed complaints above and the new cardboard storage box is bulkier.
Overall I like the engineering thought that went into this kit.
official Kreg photo:
It was on sale, and I liked how they have improved it.
My old one is in a blowmold case... The storage spot for the bit doesn't allow the collar to be stored in the usual position, and the bits and drivers always fall out. This one has storage in the base and everything snaps neatly into position and the bit storage has not only room for the collar at any usable position but also has an index for adjusting it in place.
Another improvement is that they've gone to a step drill bit with a hex quick change style shank end instead of leaving the shank at the head cutter 3/8" diameter step all the way to the end. This makes it easy if you have one drill driver and you are changing the pockethole step drill with the long Robertson square drive bits. Constantly swapping between 3/8" and 1/4" hex was a bit of a pain; more than a couple of holes I always made sure I had two drill/driver tools with the old jig!
Aside from better storage this can be turned 90 degrees for horizontal or vertical drilling of pocket holes, and has wings and supports.
And unlike my old one with no dust port, this one has a dust port that can installed from either left or right. A nice touch
Finally instead of having to wrestle with a stack of height adapters for each thickness, and monkey with the clamp tension, this one has a self adjusting clamping mechanism that adjusts height to each workpiece.
Downsides:
doesn't come with the face clamp (which I have one of from the old kit) or the mini-jigs which have come in handy
losing the slim blow mold case about which I expressed complaints above and the new cardboard storage box is bulkier.
Overall I like the engineering thought that went into this kit.
official Kreg photo:
Loring in Katy, TX USA
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