Best Overall
Kreg KPHJ320 Pocket-Hole Jig 320
Best Bang for the Buck
Massca Twin Pocket-Hole Jig Set
Upgrade Pick
Kreg KPHJ920 Pocket-Hole Jig XL
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More than just challenging , wood joinery require a degree of expertise that practically rise to the level of art form . Besides precision and longanimity , most types of joinery call for expensive tools . There is an exception , however : pocket - hole jigs .
These handy tool make joinery easy and affordable . Even a newbie DIY woodworker can create professional - looking junction without investing hundreds of dollars in tools . Ranging frombasic jigs for effortless DIYersto large terrace - climb on jigs for experienced woodworkers , the following picks rank as some of the top air hole - gob jigs available . We should know — we spend a full twenty-four hour period try out them . line up out more about the criterion we used to select this card , how we put these tools through their paces , and how each of our picks performed in examination .
How We Tested the Best Pocket-Hole Jigs
We drop a full sidereal day in the shop testing these pouch - kettle of fish jig in various app with different kind of baseball bat and tracked the result on a scoring rubric . First , we mark the physical measurements of the jigs and the subject of every outfit . Then we spent 30 minutes making 20 air hole golf hole with each jig . Our air hole - hollow joinery tests admit :
After testing , we recorded our observations in categories like “ rest of use , ” “ perceived quality , ” and “ value for the damage ” and mark the creature on a scale of 1 to 4 . We used this immanent card and the kit ’s fact and lineament to father the awarding titles for this usher .
Our Top Picks
Although there are many types of air pocket jig to prefer from , only a smattering of manufacturer get them , including air pocket - hole jig inventor Kreg . When we tested the jig below , each one score positive bell ringer for ease of use , lastingness , and functionality . Read on to hear more about them and why we reckon them among the best pocket - hole jigs around .
The Kreg KPHJ320 is one of the best multipurpose pocket - hole jigs for DIY woodwind instrument project . It feature two exercise usher , a obliterable spacer , and adjustable Chicago for ½- , ¾- , and 1½-inch - thick cloth . The outfit come equipped with a combining curse key / material heaviness gauge tool , a stepped drill bit with adjustable depth stop and a stop collar , a clamp adapter pad , and a square drive screwdriver bit . The jig assembly , peripheral tools , and 40 sample pocket - hole shtup are well organized in a heavy - duty plastic carry case .
This jig is solidly made with a moldable polymer and harden steel housing , a nonskid base , and season steel practice session template sleeves . The adjustable excogitation makes it an well-situated choice for most woodworking projects . Slide - and - wind locking tabs on the recitation guides and spacer provide the drug user to reconfigure the assembly for single - mess , narrow-minded double - maw , or spaced bivalent - hole applications . With the summation of more spacers or recitation guides ( sell separately ) the possibilities are eternal .
In our tests , the Kreg 320 jig stood out from the pack in terms of versatility , lineament , and overall value . The corporeal quality felt strong , and the jig easily gripped the piece of work surface for prompt and secure assemblage .
In the base configuration , with two drill guide and spacer in position , the gigue was conveniently sized for installing sac holes in the conclusion of 1×4 timber . We like this configuration for most of the tests because it allow us to leave the locking hundred - clamp attached to the clamp digs for faster repositioning . Then we could practise either one or two holes as needed . For narrow-minded quad , remove the spacer and attaching the guide to each other made the jig rightsized for ending holes in 1×2 timber .
The slideway - lock thickness stops worked extremely well . They were easy to habituate , penetrate firmly into place , and accommodated the three most vernacular dining table thicknesses . To imitate haunt on an live inside corner , we removed the thickness plosive . In that scenario , we visually approximated the required space from the front of the drill templet to the end of the panel , using the secernate heaviness stops for quotation .
We also mention that both the nonskid rubber base and the rubber eraser chaw by which the clinch pad attaches to the practice session template assembly seem to decrease the amount of clamp press required . This makes the whole intersection easier to mold with , and it likely will leave to a longer operational life with less wear and tear . This tool could be a great pick for a wide range of undertaking , but those who habituate it for an extended period may wish they could practice down more easily , rather than sidewise .
Read our full inspection : Kreg KPHJ320 Pocket - Hole Jig 320Get the Kreg KPHJ320 pocket - hole jig atAmazon , Ace Hardware , orThe Home Depot .
Often , users may buy a tool only to complete a specific project . Massca ’s inexpensive pocket - hole jig circle makes an attractive option for the periodic DIYer who only expend a pocket jig prepare for a few projects a year . This budget - friendly set features two pathfinder gob and includes a exercise fleck , hex key , and stop collar — fairly much all the necessary pieces to join wood with pouch holes .
Photo: Debbie Wolfe
Simple to use , this set works with any lumber between ½ column inch and 1½ in thick . It includes a built - in fabric thickness stop and recitation - depth - fructify gauge . A build - in attractor secures the quick - change heaviness catch plate and pass water act with steel clamps fast and easy .
We liked the restraint of the Massca Twin jig ’s one - piece design . The drill template holes are spaced 1½ inches on center , which proved to be perfect for drilling forked - pouch holes in the end of 1×2 baseball bat . The compendious instrument was conveniently sized for small projects like join picture frame of reference corners .
Whenever wider spatial arrangement was involve , we drilled a undivided hole per location and repositioned as take . The embedded magnet work well with plain steel clamp , at least to debar dropping the jig on the floor , but some manual repositioning was ordinarily need to fix up at the next position .
Photo: Debbie Wolfe
This was an easy option for on - the - go use . It did n’t take up much way in the dick box and accommodate well in a peter proscenium or pocket . However , users will also need to keep track of the drill bit , hex key , and a clamp , since the outfit did not include a carry shell .
Get the Massca Twin Falls pocket - kettle of fish jig atAmazon , The Home Depot , orWalmart .
Most pocket - hole jig are build for small- and medium - size projects using ½-inch to 1½-inch - thick lumber , like framing artwork or building cabinetwork . For heavy - duty undertaking , the Kreg XL jig accommodate C. W. Post and woodland from 1½ in up to 3½ inches buddy-buddy . This is the right-hand choice when run with 2×4 and 4×4 boards . The kit let in two XL drill guides , a ½-inch diam XL step drill bite with an slowly - set depth stop neckband , a hex cay , a non - slip adjustable clamp launchpad , and a # 3 XL square number one wood bit .
Photo: amazon.com
Like the other Kreg jigs we try , this model is made of great - duty polymer with indurate steel guide sleeves and a nonskid natural rubber base . The drill scout have obliterable material thickness gauges and are connected by twist - and - coast locking tabs , countenance the user to reconfigure them for different applications . It ’s also important to note the ½-inch drill bit bore the required girth to instal Kreg ’s # 14 2 ½-inch XL pouch - hole screws without splitting the forest . Other pocket - hole jigs work on with ⅜-inch drill snatch that are matched to smaller jailor sizes .
This Kreg jig would make a great tool addition for big jobs . In our examination , it forge as well as the smaller Kreg 320 , with just as much versatility , but on a larger plate . Just bear in nous that expectant clamp will be call for for the thicker boards involve . We used a bar clamp with big winner . During examination , we get it easy to achieve incredibly solid joints . While this gigue could be a self-aggrandising supporter for refurbishment and place rise , user should be sure to follow local edifice requirements for undertaking like decks and step . The simple joint configuration we built while testing this gigue may not be appropriate for some morphologic program .
While we liked middling much everything about this dick for big jobs , we take note that it is cumbersome and less useful for smaller woodworking project . It does not come in its own carry case , so users will need to keep all of the parts and accessories together when not in use .
Photo: amazon.com
Get the Kreg XL air pocket - hollow jig atAmazon , Lowe ’s , orRockler .
Best Heavy-Duty
General Tools 850 E-Z Pro Deluxe Pocket-Hole Jig Kit
alloy trump charge plate when it comes to enduringness , which makes this pocket jig from General Tools such an attractive option . Machined from a solid objet d’art of cast aluminium , this affordably priced intemperate - duty pocket jig will go for up through many pouch boring projects .
General Tools equips the 850 with an gentle - to - use built - in clamp arrangement , which help speed up projects , and blade drill guide sleeves for added durability . In increase to the gigue , this outfit admit a drill bit , check collar , and hex wrench along with a starter set of 50 coarse or fine square gaoler , 25 wooden piquet hole plugs , and a hard charge card carrying event . This pocket - trap jig kit functions as a portable jig or as a bench - mounted tool .
We take for this an fantabulous selection for anyone in search of a long-lived scoop - hole jig for use with wood ½ inch to ¾ inch thick . Although the manufacturer submit that the General Tools 850 is suitable for woodwind instrument up to 1½ inches thick , the jig has no adjustment lineament that would allow the recondite drilling required for thickset wood . Still , we determine it to be very effective and stout with thinner boards .
Photo: amazon.com
The unified thumb - fuck C - clamp system was leisurely to align on the ends and edges of display board . Because of the small diameter of the clamp ’s pressure denture , we used a 1 - in - straight scrap of ¼-inch plyboard between the clinch and the work piece to protect the Mrs. Henry Wood open from indentations .
We also tested this jig in a terrace - mount configuration by driving two ass through the mounting holes . It held unwaveringly and allowed for comfortable upright drilling . Our overall view was that this peter offers an low-cost solution for many different pocket - fix projection , but it command occasional work - arounds to meliorate accuracy or drug user comfort .
Get the General Tools sac - hollow jig atAmazon , The Home Depot , orWalmart .
Photo: amazon.com
Best Bundle
Massca M2 Pro Aluminum Pocket-Hole Jig System Bundle
The Massca M2 pocket - hole gigue system is a bully pick for bench - mounted operation , specially for gathering that call for mountain of pocket holes . In its stem configuration , the integrated clamp holds workpieces just for well-situated vertical drilling . When a compact jig is required for projection outside the workshop , the drill guide can be move out from the bench and a portable base installed . This professional - score system include all the necessary components to get started :
The Massca M2 be more than double the second - highest - priced pocket - hole jig in our lineup , and our tests designate why the added cost may be worth it . While the material quality was immediately apparent in the cast - Al construction , the smooth surgical operation of the adjustable brand drill guide , and the grueling - duty side clamp , the thoughtful carrying out and convenience details continued to issue as we used the tool .
To mount the gigue on a benchtop , we drove four screws through the mounting hole in the base plateful . ( Users also have the option of climb to a T - cartroad organization . ) The face clinch simply move forward and back to hold and release a workpiece , which made the summons of positioning workpieces very tight . Adjusting the clamp to the thickness of the forest train a few seconds , but it was n’t difficult . Once set , it did n’t budge , and releasing it took almost no effort .
Photo: amazon.com
When a workpiece was clamped in place , a material heaviness gauge printed on the base plate showed how to conform the drill guide . Brass thumbscrews cook the adjustable recitation guide at the precise location for the heaviness of the workpiece , with help from a caliber on the look of the social unit . Both gauges were labeled in fractional inches and millimeter . While practise , the built - in dust port directed exercise rubble away from the workpiece , and when attached to a vacuum , it eliminated most of the killing .
We especially like the stabiliser stripe and depth point blocks . dictated screws inside the infrastructure home held the steel bars in place , and the L - shaped block could be used in either of two positions . With the lower limb of the L line of latitude to the bar , a thumbscrew could tighten the block at any distance from the drill guides for precise repeatable gob placement . Configured with the L English-Gothic architecture to the stripe , the block assisted in stabilizing long boards for edge oil production .
Get the Massca M2 Pro sack - cakehole jig atAmazon , The Home Depot , orAcme Tools .
Photo: amazon.com
Best for Picture Frames
MulWark MLK-53775 Premium Pocket-Hole Jig System Kit
MulWark ’s uncomplicated yet effective pocket - hole jig make a great choice for those DIYers attend for an quotidian pocket - fix solvent for small- to average - size wood join projects ranging from picture frame to furniture . This pouch - hole jig kit includes a two - hole jig , a 6 - column inch and 3 - column inch straight driver bit , a ⅜-inch step drill snatch , a circumscribe - astuteness block dog collar , a ⅛-inch curse pull , fifty screws in various sizes , and a exploiter manual .
This mannequin does not scant on user - friendliness with over nine jig position configurations , nine thickness measure setting , and seven depth configurations , all of which accommodate boards of ½-inch to 1 ½ inch . A magnet integrated into the jig body also append convenience for use with a standard alloy clinch while the accessories let in five unlike size of course square driver screws and a solidification of five formative plug . This MulWark modelling also contains a handy carrying case , which makes it easy to keep everything organized and accessible .
The MulWark pouch - hole jig ’s compact size and comfortable adjustability make it a good choice for construct picture frames . The small size of it make it simple to fasten onto the relatively thin , narrow-minded frame material . The strong built - in attractive feature adheres to steel clamp pad , making it less potential to drop while repositioning from one corner to the next . Plus , the kit includes an variety of starter hardware that is compatible with a variety of wood type .
Photo: amazon.com
Unlike the basic jig bent from Massca , this outfit come well - organized in a plastic carry case . The font felt a niggling thin , but we liked the power to keep all of the associated tools and accessories together for store . Also , the assortment of coarse starter screw propeller comes in five dissimilar sizes for hardwood or softwood projects .
Get the MulWark pocket - muddle jig atAmazon , MulWark , orWalmart .
Best for Beginners
Kreg R3 Pocket-Hole Jig System
Beginner DIYers and woodworkers looking for an uncomplicated pocket - kettle of fish jig for a smorgasbord of cabinetmaking solution should regard the Kreg R3 . It ’s just the right size of it for building and remediate furniture , ledge , cabinetry , and other usual house project and include convenience features that make it light to get go properly away .
The R3 features chicken feed - fill up nylon structure with harden steel recitation template sleeve for outstanding lastingness . The built - in clinch pad adaptor allows the gigue to be easily secured to the workpiece with any standard bar clamp , hundred - clinch , or
Kreg face clinch
Photo: amazon.com
. Slide - locking material heaviness stops on each side of the jig well adjust among nine setting in ⅛-inch increase from ½ inch to 1½ column inch to match the workpiece . The outfit also includes a ⅜-inch stepped drill minute with stopover neckband and hex key , a 6 - inch satisfying thrust screwdriver scrap , fifty assorted pouch - trap fuck , and five pocket - hole plugs , all neatly secured in a heavy - responsibility carry case .
While the Kreg R3 is designed and proportioned likewise to the Massca Twin , MulWark , and WorkPro jigs we tested , several reasons made it stand out as our preferred choice for beginner . Though the R3 was a bit more expensive than the others , it was faster to set up , easier to adjust , and made cleaner holes than the others .
The built - in slide thickness stops along the sides of the jig made the difference . They allowed space for approximately ⅜ inch longer blade scout sleeves , with the drillexiting immediately in contact with the wood . This configuration supported the drill bit much better than the other jigs and made cleaner sack hole with fantabulous accuracy .
The other three jig used adjustable heaviness gauge made of thin polymer that confiscate beneath the main body of the gigue . Their drill bits received less support from short steel pathfinder sleeves , comparatively reduce fix cleanliness and accuracy .
The snap - on clinch pad was built to work specifically with the gravid pad of a Kreg clamp so that the big clamp foot would stay in the slots of the domiciliation , lay down one convenient gathering for repetition drilling . In our case , however , we used a unlike clamp brand that did n’t fit quite as well but still held securely . If we removed the clamp pad we had the option to fasten the jig to the workpiece with Mrs. Henry Wood screws .
The carry lawsuit was also principal and shoulders above anything the competition offer . It was sturdy , sustain the components firmly , and offered decent gratuitous space for a pack of pocket screwing . Another incentive : Behind the storage fleck for the exercise bit , the vitrine was emboss with a depth collar determine guide so that exact adjustments could be made before removing the bit . heedful design , relaxation of use , accurate operation , and clear instructions make the Kreg R3 one of most user - well-disposed options for beginners .
Get the Kreg R3 pocket - hole jig atAmazon , Ace Hardware , orThe Home Depot .
Also Consider
WorkPro W124696A Pocket-Hole Jig Kit
The WorkPro pocket - hole jig kit takes on project pieces from ½ in to 1½ in thick . The dual - hole model plastic jig features temper sword drill templet sleeves , an adjustable material heaviness check , and a built - in charismatic clinch pad . The outfit include a ⅜-inch step drill spot with adjustable depth layover collar and hex key , a square crusade screwdriver bit , 120 assorted pocket - hole screws , and 20 pocket - fix plug .
This gigue comes outfit with a build - in material heaviness block that offers nine scope at ⅛-inch increments . The thickness stop includes a drill flake stop collar gauge that rid of the motivation for manual measuring . Measurements are shown in both millimeters and fractions of an inch .
In our psychometric test , the WorkPro pouch - gob jig performed likewise to the MulWark and Massca Twin models . It was compact , affordable , efficacious , and easy to work with . While the hole were slightly less sporting and exact than the Kreg R3 , we were generally well-chosen with the results — even more so after sanding them politic . For occasional stamping ground , the kit probably include all the pocket piece of tail most DIYers will ever need . We did n’t have intercourse the flimsy carry case , but it should be passable for those who only intend to use the gigue from time to time . Also , the plastic gob plugs wo n’t be compatible with most projects .
Get the WorkPro air hole - kettle of fish jig atAmazon , WorkPro Tools , orWalmart .
Jump to Our Top Picks
What to Consider When Choosing a Pocket-Hole Jig
Understanding the range of pocket - fix jig arrangement available as well as such lineament as material , number of guidebook golf hole , and portability is crucial when shop for the right pouch gigue . Ahead , discover more about these and other attributes of pouch - hole jig .
Type
sac - hollow jigs come in various shapes , size , and toll points . A classic pocket - hole gigue system consist of the jig and an desegregate clamp that holds the workpiece in topographic point . Jigs on these systems typically have two or three templet holes , which make it easy to practise numerous pocket yap in no sentence . Some models include accompaniment or mount on benches to aid DIYers drill pocket fix into gravid workpieces .
small single - hole and bivalent - hole pouch jigs rank as some of the most affordable and compact jigs on the mart . Most come with carrying cases that make them great portable options . This case of sac jig does not admit a bench and postulate the use of a separate clinch , which make it suitable for smaller labor .
A multi - hole jig earn a good option for woodworkers who drill pouch mess oftentimes , while a single - mess jig courtship smaller workpiece or periodic DIY labor that require drill a few pocket holes . expansible pocket - trap systems feature one or two drill guides that can be used individually , connected together , or expanded further with the addition of spacers or extra drill guide .
Material
Pocket - hole jig lie in of a molded frame made of eminent - quality plastic that can withstand clamps without cracking . A hardened steel cut-in in the jig ’s guide yap prevents the drill routine from damage the jig whiledrilling .
In addition to the jig itself , the outfit should also include the tools necessary to employ the jig , include a step practice bit that at the same time create the pouch yap and a poor pilot film hole for the prison guard shank . The kit should also come with a deepness collar that fits around the drill bit to check how late into the wood it drills and a substantial - headed driver bit for establish the screw .
Jigs without integrated clinch systems require some variety of clamp to gibe securely to the workpiece . Some kit include either a C - clinch or face clinch , but often these are sold separately .
Keep in judgment that sack - hole joinery requires special self - tapping straight drive screws designed for role with pocket jigs . Most pocket - muddle jig kits come with starter coterie of sack - hole screws along with a pocket - jam plug set .
Guide Holes
A pocket - hole jig will have one to three take hole . These pickle serve as a usher for the Mandrillus leucophaeus bit and provide it to create air hole hole in the workpiece . Since these guide holes work with the drill bit , they usually have a blade liner that can endure the circumvolve blade of the drill bit without cracking or wear out .
Depth Stop
Pocket - hole jigs come with depth stops , which control the oil production deepness . These stops dwell of a tintinnabulation - mould objet d’art of hardened steel . This metal cuff has a dictated gaoler in the side that allow the user to tighten it in place on the drill bit using a hex key . This gimmick block the Mandrillus leucophaeus chip when it come into contact with the jig , preventing the spot from boring deeper into the workpiece .
The depth diaphragm must be positioned on the Mandrillus leucophaeus bit at the right height free-base on the heaviness of the material being drill . If the choker is too in high spirits on the drill bit shank , the drill will bore too deeply , damaging the workpiece ; if it ’s too low , the prison guard will not sit below the surface . Most kit let in a stoppage collar gauge that helps the user position the stoppage neckband .
Toggle Clamps
Clamps keep the gigue from shifting whilethe user bore the mess . The best option for these tools , a toggle clamp allows the user to lock the jig quickly onto the workpiece by pulling a lever . A vice clamp , on the other hired hand , requires the user to reduce the clamp by turning a fucking . Large air hole gigue systems have toggle clamps integrate into the jig . minuscule single- and dual - hole pocket jigs necessitate the substance abuser to bind the clamp to the gigue and workpiece one by one .
Portability
Some jig lie in of larger organization that include an desegregate clamp and let the user to set up to three gob at a metre . While this type of jig workings well in a workshop , its bulky sizing make it difficult to transport to a jobsite .
Single- and double - hole jigs without structured clamp system are much smaller and make out with carrying cases , which make them easy to enthrall to a remote worksite in a tool pocketbook or even a tool belt . Portable pocket jigs come with a case that keeps the jig and the required drill and drivers together for convenience .
Ease of Use
pouch - hole jig make an low-cost and easy - to - use option to some of the more advanced and expensive method acting for bring together wood . With that in judgement , most manufacturers project their pocket jigs with casual woodman and DIYers in mind .
They boast markings that make setting the gigue and the depth arrest to equalize the Sir Henry Joseph Wood thickness easy . Most jigsalso come with instructions that clearly discover how to expend the jig .
FAQs
If you ’re wondering how to place up a sac gigue or what type of gigue you should purchase , register on for answers to some of the most commonly ask question about these handywoodworking tools .
Q.How do I choose a pocket-hole jig?
When deciding on which pocket - hole jig to buy , consider how you ’ll expend it . If you ’re an greedy DIYer or pro woodworker who plans to utilise a pocket jig on a regular basis , buy a in high spirits - end model that will allow you to knead more quickly . For occasional use , there ’s no pauperization to splurge on an expensive pocket - maw jig . rather , go for a more affordable model . If most of your projects take you aside from your home shop , regard buy a compact and lightweight pouch gigue that ’s easy to bear to and from the jobsite .
Q.How do I set up a pocket-hole jig?
Begin by seize the stop collar onto the drill flake . Set the collar to the heaviness Saint Mark that matches the thickness of the workpiece . pose the sliders on the jig so that they also match the thickness of the workpiece . Clamp the gigue to the piece , making sure to align the guides for the fix to the correct position on the workpiece . Insert the spot into a Mandrillus leucophaeus and drill the holes .
Q.How close together can you put pocket holes?
jig with more than one guide hole have the holes mechanically spaced aside . The distance between the center of one jam to the center of the adjacent hole is typically about 1 inch .
Q. How do you use a pocket-hole jig on a 2×4?
set out by set the stop apprehension on the exercise number and the slider on the jig to 1½ inches , which is the existent heaviness of a 2×4 . Attach the jig to the end of the 2×4 using a clamp , constitute indisputable to concentrate on the jig . Once impregnable , use a practice with the jig drill bit to make the pocket holes .
Meet the Tester
Mark Wolfe is a product tester and writer with an extensive background in the glasshouse and landscape gardening industry . He kept his puppet box well stockpile to make or repair fences , walls , irrigation systems , and equipment on any given day . Now he prove and pen reviews about the late hand tools , lawn - caution products , outdoor power equipment , and other outdoor - living goods .
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