kreg k3 a sad tale

Hey Verne, I have had some similiar issues with alignment. Every once in a while, driving the screw seems to separate the pieces. Here’s the solution I came up with and it’s worked for me so far.

After I get the pocket hole drilled I switch bits and enlarge the narrow section of the pocket hole just enough so that the screw I’m using slides all the way through without biting into the pocket hole. If you set the collar just a hair deeper than the set up jig calls for the tip of the bit will punch through just enough so you can do this coming in from the back side. With the screw spinning freely inside the pocket hole it actually acts like a clamp and draws the two pieces together.

I’ve also found that if I’m going for super perfect it helps to clamp the pieces together dry, start each screw a thread or two just to mark the location, then take it all apart and drill shallow pilot holes to get the screw started in the second piece. You have to make an educated guess at the angle when you’re doing this but it doesnt’ have to be perfect.

When you do this you have to pay extra close attention to the length of screw that you choose because the tip of the screw usually ends up a little closer to the surface of the piece that you’re screwing to. I typically pick a screw length shorter than what the charts recommends. This keeps the tip far enough away from the surface that I’m not worried about sanding through and so far it hasn’t seemed to affect the strenght of the joint.

It’s some extra effort but it has solved the alignment issue for me every time. I think the issue would go away if Kreg were to make the tips of their bits just a tad bit longer and wider but unitl they do, this is how I deal with it.

-- I've cut that board three times and it's still too short!

Trim,
I have an identical tool, it’s a Carb-a-Tec model (a well known company down under), probably Chinese or Taiwan made. I have used it a lot and find it to be a good tool. There are some minor issues with alignment & the drill guides are not as rigid as they could be but overall I find it effective for some joinery tasks.

-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python

hey shaun ,
you got some good ideas there thx . the one thing you overlooked is this , I am what some folks refer to as a
hardheaded , or stubborn irishman !! lol i prefer the word “determined ” lol the name shaun thats italian right ?? lol hopefully the new parts will fix it .

hey grumpy that jig does look a lot like my old one . i described it to the tech from kreg and he says it may well be one of thiers so i guess they made an aluminum one before the plastic ones

I have not seen any plastic ones Trim. Not my idea of a long lasting tool.

-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python

hey grumpy , the word plastic may be misleading . they may be pvc or something , there quite stout and that aspect dosent scare me much . im just a bit old school about metal vs. pvc . lol my new drill block was delivered last night ! hope i can get to the shop sometime today to try it out .

Take the plunge one and all. Order the Kreg Foreman and you will never look back to your plastic drill fixtures again. What a pleasure this is to operate. I actually believe I can drill a dozen holes in the foreman in the time it takes to clamp, drill and unclamp with the kreg fixture. This thing represents money well spent.

Ed

-- Come on in, the beer is cold and the wood is dry. www.crookedlittletree.com

Shaun:
Take a look at this and see if it wouldn’t be a better solution for making the holes.

http://www.woodworker.com [listsupport@woodworker.com]

-- Roger1

herg , can you be a little more specific , i hit your link and got a page of products none of which i related to pocket holes . thx

ed , i was considering a forman several months ago and posted an inquiry on here and the few people that had used them liked them . about the time i was ready to lay down the cash business was starting to go in the toilet so i held off . its still not only in the toilet but i think has now reached the treatment facility ! lol . so laying down 800.00 at this point isnt an option . however the tread isnt about how long it takes to drill its about the angle it drills on and alignment of the finished joints , so my question back to you is what your useing for clamping the joints and are you having any alignment discrepancies ?

No alignment problems. I generally ue the Kreg LFC (Large Face Clamp) for face frame assemblies. Hand pressure or Quick Clamps for face frame to carcass assembly.

Ed

-- Come on in, the beer is cold and the wood is dry. www.crookedlittletree.com

thx ed , im still hopefull . i got my new part the other day but havent had time to see if it fixes the problem yet

LAMO Verne, Irish and Scot so not only am I stubborn I’m cheap on top of it. Oops…. I meant to say determined and frugal lol. Hope the new parts work out for ya.

-- I've cut that board three times and it's still too short!

lol good one shaun ! consider yourself quite fortunate , im irish and indian . now thats a combo born right in the embers of hell ! lol