Kregs jig or bisquit joiner or both?

If I had to choose one, I’d go with the pocket hole jig.

-- http://www.north40custom.com -- http://north40studios.etsy.com --

It really depends on what you want to do. Bisquits are mainly an alingment aid, where as pocket screws are for fastening. What is youor intended use?

map

-- measure once, cut once, swear, start over

I’d go for the pocket hole first if you keep an eye out you might find a used biscuit joiner for $15 at an auction like I did. I’ve never seen a Kreg jig on an auction sale.

-- Only the Shadow knows....................

I intend on making fine furniture one piece at a time, just for my family.

-- I'm inspired to build a Bombe one day!

I would go for the Kreg jig if it were me. I have both but my Kreg jig gets far more use then does my biscuit joiner.

-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.

I have , and use, both. Since I build a lot of tables, I find that there are needs for alignment as well as structural strength.
Bill

Both but I have to admit…....the kreg jig will probably get more use albeit I dont own one and do the “kreg” joinery by hand.

-- http://www.furnituremann.ca/

Penn State Industries has a heck of a deal on a Pocket Hole Jig Master System 3 right now. I just recieved one on Monday. I just couldn’t bring myself to pay $140 for the plastic jig that Kreg sells, seems over priced to me. I also have a DeWalt biscuit jointer that I have used alot. I think eventually you’ll want both a pocket hole jig and a biscuit jointer, they both have their place in woodworking.

I’d vote for the Kreg jig. If you do decide to get a biscuit joiner, I would steer clear of the Freud and go straight for the Porter-Cable. This is an instance where you truly do get what you pay for. The Freud makes a terrible racket as the blade spins down. Fence locks are cheap and the rotating lever can lift off the screw head that holds it in place. The fence is not as adjustable as the PC.

I would be apprised that as long as you are making the fine furniture just for your family, the Kreg will do fast and sturdy joins. Cabinet shops, trim carpenters and other specialty wood workers use them everyday with great results. There will, however, be some snobs that believe that “pocket hole joinery” and “fine furniture” can not co-exist in a sentence. Seeing what Todd Clippinger and Dennis Zongker have achieved with PH joinery has cured me of that notion, but I’m just saying…

-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.

Go with the Kreg pocket jig….I have the biscuit jointer that I thought I’d use a lot but have since found out that I hardly use it at all…again, like everyone is saying…..depends on what you’re doing…......better still BUY BOTH!!!

-- George..." I love the smell of a workshop in the morning!"

I’m in the same situation as George, and I concur with his opinion.

Another inexpensive item I’d consider for joinery is a doweling jig. I use mine a lot.

-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"

I have a Kreg jig and am very impressed with the speed you can put things together. Instead of a biscuit joiner I am going to get the Freud Doweling Joiner #FDW710K. It does the same thing as a biscuit joiner but I feel I could use it for more appilcations. The price is a lot more than a biscuit joiner but still a better way to go.

God Bless
tom

-- Mc Bridge Cabinets, Iowa

There is a four-wing slot-cutting router bit available that is sized for making biscuit slots. Obviously it won’t work for putting a slot in the face of something, but it does work for edge jointing and such.

-- http://www.north40custom.com -- http://north40studios.etsy.com --

I bought the PC Biscuit Joiner last summer. I bought it for a specific project with the idea that I would have purchased one at some time. Now after some time, I could be easily persuaded that a Kreg pocket jig may have more application and should have been on my purchase list ahead of the biscuit joiner.

Dalec

I am another guy that has both and find that I use each one. In fact most of my projects end up with a little of each. I bought the Kreg first and if I only was going to own one that would be my choice. I bought the PC joiner for a big project. I put hardwood floors throughout the house. I purchased the T&G oak flooring directly from the sawmill. The ends were not grooved so I thought adding biscuit would add to the stability. Probably overkill.

Like I said I use both and like each one for what it can do but if I had only one it would be the Kreg.

-- Ron, Kutztown, PA "The reward is in the journey."

Your choice of materials can also dictate which tool to use. For example, screws do not hold well in MDF and some types of plywood.

-- "Heaven is North of the Bridge"

Fine furniture was being built long before the Kreg Jig and I personally don’t see a place for that shortcut joint in “fine” furniture. It is great for cabinetry and plywood work! It is easy and fast! I am using it to assemble the table you can see in my tips for installing inlay blog. I struggled with the $15 version you have to clamp in place for a while, which would leave you plenty of money to spend on a bisquit – if you think you have to have that option. If you are building wide solid-wood panels for your “fine” furniture, you need the bisquit joiner. You can’t use a Kreg Jig for that. It is a lot more than an alignment tool in holding boards together because the bisquits add a lot of glue surface area.

So I think you can have your cake and eat it too. Maybe have a little left for coffe to wash it down. Just buy a lesser Kreg Jig for now.

I have a cheap Freud bisquit joiner and (Douglas) sometimes I think of tossing it in the can! Instead, I take the time to clamp it in place before I use it and it works fine – no great! I have a lot of “cheap” tools cause that is the only way I can have a lot of them. It is all in the way you figure out how to compensate for their shortfalls. Some people have the most expensive tolls out there but its not the toools that make you a great craftsman.

Check out some of my work – none of it done with anything better than Porter-Cable and a most of it done with – well I not going to admit. I can’t wait for a miricle to happen so I can go out and buy the real stuff!

-- Cuz

Here is an article that talks about the different brands and types of biscuit joinery and pocket hole technology. Kind of interesting….

-- Don, Utah, www.toolsandmachinery.com