Just bought a new Do-Dad.

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

I've always loved woodworking and generally my work was done the primitive way... ...with what ever I had.

I sure wish I had the talent some of you guys have but spend most of my time on the sawmill.

I just bought a toy from LOWE'S and I know it will help me a lot.
I watched the VIDEO and it talked about the screws I need for different types of wood.

Do I really need to order KREG screws or does LOWE'S stock the kind of screws I need for pocket hole applications?
I just hate  >:( ordering screws when I can use a screw I can just buy in a store while I'm already there.

Thanks Ya'll!



 

[Buck]

There are wood worker websites that offer deals on those types of screws. I will have to go back and look to answer the next question ;)  nice tools though!

[Texas Ranger]

Lowes (down here) have them, if not, builders supply houses also have them.   (clarification:  good builders supply houses)

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

I hate ordering ANYTHING!!!!   :D

In my case, I usually don't get what I need or what I THOUGHT I needed and then there is the WAITING on the mail factor!

No what I mean? 

[isawlogs]

 I buy my screws at the hardware store here. Just bring the screw with you and ask them for that type of screw, I have 1¼", 1½", 1¾" and 2" zinc coated wood screws. Works for me.

Nice way to put things together, in certain places that you can't get a clamp on when gluing , you can get away with a pocket screw, put the glue on and then put a pocket screw in as a clamp.

[zopi]

From what I have seen pocket hole screws are pretty much the same..

But yeah, lowes carries the basics...I bought my pocket jig from them.

[Larry]

I've had that jig for a long time and went through a lot of screws.  If you use it much you will need 1", 1-1/4" and 1-1/2" screws.  And you need em in both coarse and fine thread so 6 different screws.  The different threads are for hardwood/softwood.  There's more choices but that covers most used.  I use more of the 1-1/4" fine thread than the rest combined.  I doubt if you will find them all at Lowes and the quality is a unknown.  Just as easy to order from McFeelys and have on hand what ya need.

If you just need a few screws I suppose Lowes would be the choice.

[Clam77]

If you have any actual old-style lumber yards around I would think they'd have them... those places are becoming far and few between anymore though.   :-\

[WDH]

Like Larry, I mainly use the 1 1/4" fine thread pan head pocket hole screws.  They are a lot cheaper to order in bulk.  It is amazing how fast you can go through a box of screws.

[Red Pill]

I've used the ones from McFeeleys, and the Kreg screws. I seem to remember that I found some 500 count Kreg screws at a good price from one of the mail order houses, but that was a long time ago. You'll love the jig. Very, very useful. And fast.

[Bill Gaiche]

POSTONLT40HD, you will like the pocket screw system. I have had one for over five years now and it really work great. As Larry said different screws for different woods and thickness. When using glue watch out for the wood will slide on you as you tighten the screws up. Clamp or hold in some way to achieve a straight line of the two pieces being mated together. McFeeleys, Lowes and Woodcraft handle these screws. I have bought from all of them and they all have been good. Check them out at there web sites. Buying in large boxes of a hundred or five hundred is the cheepest way to go. Good luck, bg

[inspectorwoody]

Lowes near me has some screws in stock and a few Kreg tools but I've found Menards has a better supply of Kreg screws and other Kreg items.

McFeeleys is a very good place to order screws from.

You'll like your new toy. 

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

Thanks for all the advice. I saw this pocket screw tool on a woodworking show. MADE MY MOUTH WATER!

I can only plane planks 12" wide. I figured this tool would really come in handy glueing and screwing these planks together to make a table top etc.

Some of the really nice Red Oak I have been milling and selling has made me want to keep some for myself and construct something to to give my son. I agree with ya'll....this tool might be worth it's weight in gold. 

[PC-Urban-Sawyer]

Thanks for all the advice. I saw this pocket screw tool on a woodworking show. MADE MY MOUTH WATER!

I can only plane planks 12" wide. I figured this tool would really come in handy glueing and screwing these planks together to make a table top etc.

Some of the really nice Red Oak I have been milling and selling has made me want to keep some for myself and construct something to to give my son. I agree with ya'll....this tool might be worth it's weight in gold. 

Pocket screws are useful in the right application(s) but I don't think joining boards to make a panel for a tabletop is really a good application. Most long grain glue joints don't need the reinforcement since the glue joint is typically stronger than the wood being joined. The screws would tend to be very close to the surface of the panel and if you had to plane or sand too much you could hit the screws...

No matter what your design, good luck with it and let us see some pictures...

Herb

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

Herb. I wanting my table top made out of 1 1/2" thick Red Oak. Now. I'm new to this, so using a plank this thick, will a screw still want to show on the opposite side?

One thing I plan on doing is to practice, practice, practice on scrap boards so I want be surprised somewhere down the line. 

[Burlkraft]

I agree with PC that pocket screws are great in the right application, and jointing boards for a table top is not one of them.
Most of the panels I glue up are jointed and glued. Sometimes with figured wood I use buscuits as  it likes to move around a lot.

The Kreg Jig is an excellent tool. I've had mine for a long time and it does come in handy.

I get my screws from McFeeley's in bulk. You'd be surprised at how fast you use them sometimes.

[SwampDonkey]

I order all my screws from Lee Valley. Way cheaper to begin with. The stuff you buy around here will just snap off in the hole. PITA! You can't get, pocket,  SPAX, Robertson, slotted, or self drilling around here and I could go on.  :

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

OK Guys.....did a bunch of reading. Yep, just as ya'll said......use biscuits on a table top.

Will do!

[PC-Urban-Sawyer]

Actually, biscuits are not necessary either. They may help in aligning the edges of the boards being joined but research has shown that they add little, if any, strength to a joint...

Good luck with your project.

Remember, no pictures, it didn't happen...

Herb

[beenthere]

Just necessary for alignment.....which is very important when joining edges and joints.

[D Hagens]

So is everyone absolutely happy with the Kreg tool? It looks like it could save time, is it dead accurate?

[Larry]

I've had my Kreg jig for maybe 10 or more years and think it's a great tool.  I use it for all of my cabinet face frames and a few other miscellaneous spots in a cabinet.  I'm talking kitchen type cabinets.

I've only had one problem when I was new to the jig.  Sometimes when the screw breaks through the first board there will be a little nub of wood or possibly the point of the screw pushes the second board back just a little.  I solved that little obstacle with two different solutions.  The first was to glue a disc of sandpaper to the face of the vice grip clamp thing.  The second was to just clamp the face frame when driving home the screw.  Clamps are the positive fix.  Just recently found another fix.  Something from Rockler call the "Pock-it" jig.  Just another clamp thingy, but it looks really quick to use.  Ordered a pair last week, so I should be getting it in the next couple of days.

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

Is this the clamp Larry? I looked it up and read about it. Looks like something I may order. Let us know how your work.





 

[Burlkraft]

I have some aluminum face frame clamps that have come in handy for things other than their intended purpose.

I have a couple of the 90* and a pair of the straight ones.

They have many uses, but work great on cabinet face frames too!  :D :D

[SwampDonkey]

What does this Kreg tool do? Drill and screw or something? I've got a new drill press and set of screw drivers for that. Just kidding, just wanted to know what it was. ;)

Obscure photos of stuff I can't see to read begs a question, or two. ;D :D

[Larry]

Is this the clamp Larry? I looked it up and read about it. Looks like something I may order. Let us know how your work.

Yeap, that's it.  Free shipping code is V9117 but don't know when it expires.

SD, I'll have to take some pictures for ya next time I use it.

[WDH]

Just necessary for alignment.....which is very important when joining edges and joints.

Unless you like to sand interminably 

SD,  The jig cuts a pocket in one piece (like a faceframe member) that is used to screw that piece to another piece, usually at 90 degrees to each other like a face frame on a cabinet.  The jig is a wonderful tool.  I use mine all the time on almost every project in some way.

[tomsteve]

What does this Kreg tool do? Drill and screw or something? I've got a new drill press and set of screw drivers for that. Just kidding, just wanted to know what it was. ;)


it makes pocket holes.


i've tried quite a few different screws from here and there when i first got mine a few years ago. i found that some of them snapped really easy. i stick with the mcfeelys house brand and am happy with them.

[SwampDonkey]

I see Lee valley sells the Kreg K4 Master System for $139.  ;D

[Dodgy Loner]

The difference between the quality of screws that most hardware stores carry and those that you can mail-order is pretty crazy. The brands of screws that I trust are: Spax, McFeely's, and Kreg. In no particular order. They are the only manufacturers that I am aware of that that properly heat-treat their screws. And if you buy them in bulk, they are much cheaper than what you can get at most hardware stores.

Of those three brands, Home Depot is the only store I know of that carries even one. I am able to buy Spax screws there, so that's usually what I do.

[SwampDonkey]

Robertson is a trusted brand to, especially by cabinet and furniture shops. They are now made off-shore, but I have never yet broke one off in wood and I have put a lot of torque on them. They are even hard to strip the head out. Some are self drilling and some are lubricated. All made for oak, cherry and hard maple use. The self drilling are designed for any hardwood. This according to Lee Valley.

[WDH]

SD,

Order it.

[SwampDonkey]

I won't be needing it this winter with all the work I have ahead, but it's possible for next winter.  I've already spend a bunch on this hobby this winter. ;D

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

I think I'll just order screws from KREG. I have the website right here with the pocket tool.

And you're right Swamp Donkey, it don't take long to "spend out" when buying stuff like this. I got my WM Mill last Feb. and have been milling since then. Now the weather has got bad, I decided to work in the shop on some projects. I didn't realize all the stock I needed to replace just to build a simple birdhouse! $$$$$$$$

When building, stuff adds up fast and gets gone fast!  :D

[isawlogs]

 SD,
  I have this    http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?p=49946&cat=1,180,42311,46275,49946  its only 20$, it's all I use, a clamp or vise grip or hand held.

[SwampDonkey]

Yeah Marcel. I would have to research it a bit to see what my real needs are. The master kit comes with the whole shoot'n match and not really that expensive, considering. I really don't built this stile of cabinet, mine are dovetailed and mortised. But, I'm willing to explore it a bit. Because one thing that is coming to mind is a set of cupboards in the loom room.  ;)

[Bogue Chitto]

I have one of these.  I built a heavy table with it and it held up very well.

[WDH]

You have a loon room?  Loons are cool.  How many loons use it  ???.

[clearcut]

I've had a Kreg jig for several years and use it whenever I can hide the pocket hole. I've built cabinets, shelves, and woodworking jigs. Pocket holes work great to attach a solid wood strip to the front of plywood shelves to hide the raw plywood edge.

A couple of thoughts, clamping is the key to a tight pocket hole joint. When the screw first enters the piece being attached to the pocket hole piece, the wood will push away slightly. The glue will act as a lubricant and without proper clamping, the pieces will get misaligned.

If you are seeing the screw tip, the pocket hole depth is set too deep for the thickness of the material, or the screw is too long. The jig is designed to drive the screw to just the right depth. When you are doing a lot of pocket holes, the collar on the drill bit can slip, causing the pockets to be drilled too deep. Tighten up the collar and check the depth occasionally.

I also have the Pock-it Hole clamp from Rockler. Consider it a specialty clamp that does one thing well, clamping flush pieces at a 90° angle. It uses a pin inserted in the second or extra pocket hole as a bearing surface. If you are doing a lot of face frames, it can be a real time saver. It camps the glue surfaces well, while aligning them flush to each other. Useful but not necessary - you can use bar or pipe clamps to do the same thing and they will have additional uses.

Rockler shows it clamping an outside corner, but I cannot recall ever using it in that manner. You mostly want the holes on an inside corner.

[metalspinner]

I love my Kreg jig.  It's got to be the handiest joinery tool made.

The set I have came with three drilling jigs - one has three drill guides and is the heavy worker. The second has two drill guides and can be clamped just about anywhere.  The other is a small single drill guide that you can clamp in tight places where you forgot to put a pocket before assembly.
:
Our Lowes has a nice selection of Kreg brand screws.  They also have another more expensive brand.  Woodcraft carries the full compliment of screws through stainless steel. 

Has anyone tried the smaller Kreg jig?  That looks like it can be handy for very narrow and thinner projects.

[SwampDonkey]

Sounds like the master system, did it come with the face frame clamp?

I see they also have a Kreg deck jig.
There is also a separate right angle clamp. Looks like it goes in a  pocket hole.

[metalspinner]

The clamp in my set is a locking pair of plyers with a large round bearing face on each jaw.  It does a good job of keeping the faces aligned.

The clamp shown earlier looks really nice.  I'll haveto look into that one.

[WDH]

Chris,

I, too, have had very good luck with the locking clamp that comes with the jig.  I have never had a reason for getting another type clamp for face frames.

[Larry]

Rockler Pock-It jig review.

Got a chance to try it out last night.  The jig has a white nylon dowel which goes in the pocket hole.  First try and it wouldn't bottom out in the hole.  Kept the black jig part above the wood which caused it to rock a bit.  Tried drilling my hole a little deeper but the dowel still wouldn't bottom out.  Cut about 1/8" off the dowel and it worked as intended.

The clamp knob is quite small so it was hard to apply much pressure.  I use glue (yea, I know end grain) and like to see a bit of squeeze out.   I like to clamp all four corners, especially on bigger face frames with intermediate stiles so that I can check square by measuring diagonals.  Would need another two Pock-It jigs to do that, plus they would be right in the way of measuring on the corners.

While the jig worked as advertized, plain clamps are faster, easier, and more precise.  I suspect my Pock-It jig may end up in a dark corner of the shop never to see the light of day.







In case anybody is wondering the frame's are to support the edge of a corner bathtub.  They will be overlaid with a PVC face frame with a ceramic tile panel to match the floor.  Wonder how the Kreg jig will work with PVC?  Guess I'll find out.

[WDH]

I never liked the idea of using a pocket hole as a clamping point, so I refrained from getting this clamp.  Seemed awkward from looking at the pictures of the clamp.  After your review, I know now that I will not get it.  I have never had any issues with getting nice tight joints with the requisite squeeze out (yes, I too glue the end grain  ) using the clamp supplied with the pocket hole jig.

[isawlogs]

I never thought much of the clamp for the pocket hole. I figure I could put a screw in there and it would tighten the joint up. When final assembly comes around I take it apart and use glue on the end grain put the screws back in.

[WDH]

It never hurts to put some glue on the end grain.  Kinda like belt and suspenders  ;D.