When it comes to woodworking, you will always want to look out for the most practical and aesthetically pleasing design.
No matter which skill level you are, this will always be important yet still easily achievable, but how would you exactly do it?
Apart from looking at various examples of the structure or furniture you’re planning to make, it is also important to know how to conceal those pesky screws.
When making joints you will most of the time need to add screws for extra stability, and having them exposed to the exterior of the structure will make your finished job look like it’s made by an amateur.
In order to prevent that from happening, you will need to look at different styles of joints which don’t leave the screws exposed.
Upon reading various comments from professional woodworkers, we have noticed that the most desirable joint is made with the best pocket hole jig.
This pocket hole joint can be of course made manually but there are negatives when it comes to that.
The finished result will mainly depend on how experienced you are with making it, and if it’s your first time we recommend you to get a pocket hole jig so that you can make that joint easily.
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The Best Pocket Hole Jig for You in 2021
Even as for something like a pocket hole jig, it was still hard and time-consuming when it came down to researching the market.
Different reviews had different opinions and the same went for woodworkers who have worked for years with pocket hole joints, and not to mention how much the market is over flooded with different models.
But it still wasn’t regretful for us to spend hours on finding the best pocket hole jig which won’t make you waste your money on a bad product.
We have carefully reviewed the benefits of making pocket hole joints as well as the jigs that make them, while still taking into account the opinions of people who had experience using these jigs.
And below are the 8 best gems we found.
Kreg’s K5 Pocket Hole Jig is one of the most recommended products when it comes to making this type of joint, it’s convenience makes it usable for both professionals and beginners alike.
This is also their newest version of pocket hole jigs which adds a few new features which will make your experience easier.
One of its most important characteristics is that they have added an easy clamp mechanism, this is extremely helpful when it comes to making the joints.
When you use a regular jig, you will notice that it is hard sometimes to move the handle to the front of the jig because of panels which restrict your movement.
But with this pocket hole jig, you will have a front mounted handle which has an easy clamp ratcheting system which makes the whole process a bit easier.
You won’t have the need to adjust it anymore with the help of nuts or tools, all you need to do is slide it against the stock.
And, lift the handle till the moment you hear a couple of clicks in your stock, at that point just adjust the thickness.
The structure of this jig is made out of glass-filled nylon, which makes it a lot sturdier than traditional jigs.
You’re also getting accessories such as two support wings that can be attached in order to provide better stability for the stock. These storage wings also provide you a built-in storage for screws, bits and other parts.
What we don’t like about this pocket hole jig is that it clearly has a higher price compared to other models which may hurt your woodworking budget. We also noticed that it is harder to adjust thickness on this jig for different materials.
This is yet another good pocket hole jig from Kreg which caught our attention.
Although it isn’t that new on the market it still leaves behind years of use by a handful of different woodworkers.
It is also worth to mention that this jig isn’t anything fancy, it is simplistic in design and doesn’t offer a lot of features.
One of its strongest points is that it is incredibly easy to use, if you are someone who is just starting out with pocket hole joints, we recommend you to save money and pick this jig instead.
This is a two-hole kind of pocket jig which offers accessories such as a driver bit, carrying case and drill bit.
When it comes to making joints, all you have to do is to get the drilling bit and slide it inside, then adjust it according to the thickness of the material.
After you have finished that part, you’re only left with squeezing two plastic tabs on the sides of the jig until all the arrows are lined up.
It is also a bit smaller than other jigs which make it a lot more compact, this makes it easier to use the jig on even larger pieces of wood.
The downside to this aspect is that when you position the jig, you will need to drill towards yourself.
Another cheap alternative is the General Tools Pocket hole jig kit which is versatile and offers a sturdy construction made out of metal, with enough features to make you consider it a good choice.
This product is also an improved version of a similar product which was also budget friendly.
At an affordable price point, most pocket hole jigs will only offer you a plastic design which can be easy to break if you use more force than usual.
But the 850 Heavy Duty features a construction made entirely out of metal as well as high-quality aluminum extrusion.
With a construction quality like this one, you won’t have to worry about durability anymore.
It also comes in a durable and appealing clamshell carrying case which gives you the option to organize everything inside it like screws and drill bits.
There is also a handle on it which makes it portable.
The Kreg K4 pocket hole jig is an older brother of the K5 which, although it has lesser features, it is still as efficient as the new generation and at a better price as well.
It offers you a casing which has different accessories like a removable drill guide block, fastening clamps with a stepped drill bit and an adjustable collar as well, which is useful for adjusting drill depth.
There is also a DVD guide included which explains to you how to use the jig and what ways as well.
Setting it up and using it is also easy as well since you’re only taking care of two adjustments most of the time.
All you have to do is adjust the collar according to the thickness of the stock and the drill block.
It also has pre-set drill holes which make it less time consuming to use.
The face frames will end up being perfect and the overall results will be precise and pleasing for beginners and intermediate users as well.
Naturally, a quality pocket hole jig system needs to be made from high-quality materials in order to endure the constant stress and debris that constantly flies over. Therefore, we give you this premium-grade MulWark Premium Pocket Hole Jig Kit.
MulWark industries excel at manufacturing incredible high-quality hand and power tools, and this jig only serves as a clear example of that.
The core of the jig is made from resulfurized steel, the body is made from fiberglass, and it even comes with a magnetic spot that easily lets you adjust the jig into every position.
This set is quite complete since it contains everything you'll need and more.
Aside from the quality two-hole jig, you'll also receive 50 driver screws, a ⅛-inch Allen wrench, and three different bits - a 6-inch driver bit, 3-inch driver bit, and a ⅜-inch stepped drill bit - all packed in a compact portable box.
Another important feature of a quality pocket hole jig system is the adjustment and the number of depths you can set it to.
In this case, the MulWark jig offers you nine different positions in terms of thickness and seven settings for depth adjustment.
Also, the angle of the guide is set to 15 degrees, which affects the size of the hole significantly.
Also, did we mention that this product comes with a lifetime warranty from MulWark? They also have an excellent customer service system, and you can even return the jig with the receipt if you don't like it.
Aside from getting a clamp, you'll also have to read the instructions to understand how to use it since it is a bit unconventional. Other than that, it's a product you must try!
- Full set
- Excellent build
- 15-degree angle guide
- Nine thickness adjustments
- Not easy to use
Moving on, we have another quality pocket hole jig set that will surely prove to be useful in the workshop.
Also, it is the best product for this price range we could find, so brace yourself for the WORKPRO Pocket Hole Jig Kit review.
Firstly, let's talk about the adjustments.
Like most good pocket hole jigs, this one also features a position slider that lets you choose any thickness and depth by simply moving the slider up and down.
It has nine different thickness adjustments settings, ranging from ½-inch to 1-½-inches.
Another cool thing is that you won't have to use Google to figure out the correct measurements if you're from Europe. The slider features both metric and imperial scales, so you'll always know the correct measurements.
Moreover, this jig comes with a clamping magnet, so there's no need to worry about the stability of your project. It's a magnet for a C-clamp that holds it together and doesn't let the stock budge an inch.
The jig measures 11.31 x 8 x 1.93 inches, and it weighs 2.06 lbs. As far as the accessories go, you'll receive the following - the standard ⅜-inch drill bit, a hex wrench, a 6-inch square drive bit, 20 wood plugs, and even 120 square screws, all ranging between 1 inch and 2-½-inches.
The jig itself has pockets that minimize the amount of debris that will fly around and become impossible to clean afterward. The sawdust sticks around in the pockets, and you can empty it when you're done.
Overall, the only flaw we can tell is that it lacks a ¼-inch hex head, which is very common in these kits, aside from the ⅜-inch one.
- Full kit
- A clamping magnet
- 120 square screws
- Sawdust pockets
- No ¼-inch hex head
Even though pocket hole jigs come with a lot of accessories and you generally don't need to purchase anything other than the kit, a solid clamp to hold the stock together always seems to be missing.
So, here's one kit with a clamp included, the Workmates Spliceable Pocket Hole Jig.
The first thing that we really dig about this jig is the fact that it's a two-hole model that can be separated if you lack space, and you'll get two one-hole jigs that operate independently.
It's made from quality materials - reinforced fiberglass and hardened-steel guides.
Moreover, the bit is made from 4241 steel, a budget steel alloy that has good endurance, toughness, and thermal plasticity.
It has all the equipment that you're used to seeing by now, such as the ⅛-inch Allen wrench, driver bits, wooden plugs, and square screws, ten of them in this case. It has its own portable case for all the bits and pieces, so you can carry it on the field.
Furthermore, aside from the 9-inch clamp, this pocket hole jig set also comes with a lifetime warranty from Workmates and a safe-return policy.
Overall, it's a high-end product that is used by many expert manufacturers.
However, we don't like the fact that the set is so low in the number of pieces. It only features ten square screws and ten wooden plugs, and we've seen products that have a lot more things in the package. Still, this product is very cheap, so it's no wonder.
Overall, we would recommend it since you can always purchase more accessories, but you won't always be able to find such a quality pocket hole jig.
- 4241 steel bits
- Excellent endurance
- It comes with a 9-inch clamp
- Lifetime warranty
- Not a full set
One of the most requisite things you should value in a jig is how easy it is to use. Drilling and connecting boards is a fast process, and you don't want to waste time with complex jigs that take a while to finish the job.
So, here's our last product, the Massca Aluminum Pocket Hole Jig System.
Aside from the classic sliders, you can also use knobs for depth adjustments, which is the case here. They enable you to quickly set the depth in correspondence with the thickness of the stock and carry on with the drilling.
The jig itself is made from an aluminum alloy that is regarded quite nicely in terms of durability and for its anti-corrosive properties.
Some also argue that aluminum surfaces are easier to clean than steel ones, which is very important since there will be a lot of sawdust during woodworking.
It comes with all the equipment you'll need, including the establishing bars for longboards and a stop collar.
Also, this jig has a dust spout connector and a T-track slot that ensures any particles and debris from sawdust won't spread around and get in your eyes.
There's not that much more to say about it since it's so straightforward and easy to use. Set the adjustments, level the board, and start drilling.
It is a bit expensive, which is why it's in eighth place, but you have to invest money to get good quality in return.
- Quality build
- Great aluminum body
- Easy to use
- Adjustment knob
- Expensive
Why Should You Get a Pocket Hole Jig?
Before buying the best pocket hole jig you can find, it is essential that you first see a showcase of features and commodities that you get when it comes to choosing to buy a pocket hole jig or deciding to make a joint of that type.
For us and many people alike, pocket hole joints and jigs seem to be the best option when it comes to making a stable and easy to make joint.
With the right equipment, you can do this from the comfort of your own home, and if you decide to get a jig you can save a lot of time by not making these joints manually.
Here are some of the important reasons why you should get a pocket hole jig.
1. Far Better Efficiency
If you’re just starting out with woodworking you will encounter a world of different flavors when it comes to making joints.
There are a variety of different joints and each one of them has their own positive and negative sides.
The list is quite long, but some of the most popular ones are dovetails, pocket holes, dowels, and biscuits.
But out of all these types, most people seem to agree that the pocket hole type joints are the most efficient ones, but why?
Well, one of the reasons why is that other types take far longer to make and may need a bit more skill or experience to make, and if you’re in a home environment why would you want to bother with that?
Nevertheless, don’t be confused by these statements, professionals still tend to use pocket hole jigs, but there is a far wider learning curve when it comes to making other joint types.
Another important point is that, apart from the difficulty and the time it takes to make them, other joint types may also require more specialized equipment which comes at a higher price.
If you’re looking for something easy that can be done in the comfort of your own home, pick this jig type.
2. Increased Flexibility
Upon buying a pocket hole jig, you will notice that it is far more flexible compared to other jig types. Some projects will be easier and less time consuming to make, you may even have a chance to try out something new that couldn’t be done on other jig types.
If you want to do picture framing or projects like edge joining and cabinet face framing, it can be done on this type of jig, even without the help of glue.
The best thing about this is that you can then easily disassemble screw joints if you need to repair your construction or if you want to use parts of it for another project.
Another good benefit of using pocket hole jigs is that most of them are quite easy to use, the learning curve isn’t steep and most of the times you will be able to make joints with just a tiny bit of instruction-reading.
You could say that you’re able to use these jigs as soon as they’re out of the box, and you may notice that some of them have features that make it easier for you to work with them.
Since the screws do most of the job for you when it comes to holding down the pieces of wood together, you won’t have to be dependent on a huge number of different clamps anymore. This also makes it very cost-efficient.
3. Stronger Joints and Better Aesthetics
For the end, the last beneficial aspect of this joint type over other types is that they are far stronger and sturdier, as well as better looking.
The combination of glue and screws makes this type of joint very robust which is important for woodworking projects like building furniture.
It is also aesthetically pleasing since the screws won’t be even seen on the exterior of the structure, which makes it look like it was done by a real professional.
This is all due to the specific angle that the screws are inserted in.
How We Chose and Tested?
There really are a lot of different jigs, some of them performed poorly while others really surprised us with how efficient they were.
In both cases, each jig had their own positive aspects in which it triumphed and negative aspects in which it lacked.
Due to the internet and the availability of a wide range of information, it was easier for us to not only determine which product was worth the review but also it helped us see personal opinions on various woodworking forums.
Most of these forums were filled with both beginners and professionals who placed their input on various pocket hole jig models, as well as some examples of their work.
What to Look for When Buying the Best Pocket Hole Jig?
We have also seen videos which showed us the true efficiency of some of the more popular jigs.
There are quite a few things that you can look forward to when switching from a different joint type to a pocket hole joint.
The same goes if you’re tired of making these joints manually, making them with the best pocket hole jig will be far less painful and tiring.
Here are some of the features that you can look forward to
1. Precise Results
When using a pocket hole jig for the first time, you will immediately notice that the results of making a joint are far better when compared to making it manually.
The jig itself will help you set up the exact measures and you will be able to precisely determine the thickness of the stock and other parts with the jig.
2. Easier to Work With
A lot of jig models are specifically designed to give you features that help you when making joints.
Maybe the model is compact which makes it easier to move, perhaps it is heavier which makes it a lot more stable. You will even encounter models which are made just for beginners.
3. Proper Adjusting
If you have ever made a wooden joint manually, you may sometimes end up being a little off with the measurements.
But if you decide to use a jig you will be a lot more comfortable with the whole process since most models have pre-set measurements for adjusting the stock or for drilling the screws.
FAQs
Is a pocket hole jig worth it?
Absolutely YES.
It is one of the classic methods of joining boards together using screws, and the result is always stable and more secure than with some other joints that require wood glue or additional work.
Also, it's quite easy to use and affordable.
When should you not use pocket holes?
We'd say that there are two main scenarios - when the holes are too visible and if the wood itself is not that rough and might deteriorate with the passage of time.
In that case, maybe you could consider using other methods of making joints.
Do you have to use pocket hole screws with a pocket hole jig?
Pocket hole screws are undoubtedly the best option due to their size and durability.
Using other types of screws might cause them to split and wreck the joint, but there are some jigs that can support them.
However, it's best to stick with pocket hole screws.
What's the best Kreg pocket hole jig?
It is undoubtedly the Kreg K5 Pocket-Hole Jig. It's great, stable, user-friendly, and does the job in an efficient manner.
How to use a pocket hole jig?
It is quite simple.
You clamp it down to the workpiece, set the adjustments via the job or the slider, and drill the holes through the jig to connect the boards - it's that simple.
Conclusion
Finally, after all the careful research and investigation, we have the obvious winner, Kreg K5 Pocket-Hole Jig.
It is easy to use, durable, reliable and suitable for both working with professional wood and DIYers. No matter what level you are working on, you will certainly benefit from its great features.
In case you have limited budget, the alternative you can go is General Tools 850 Heavy Duty.
It works well for the money you spend and generally meets the most basic needs that a reasonable pocket hole jig will offer.
And it, it's all here. Thank you for reading the article. Please let me hear any comments from you.