Rockler Pock-It Hole Clamp - Opinions?

[Scott Hildenbrand]

http://images.rockler.com/rockler/images/38518-04-500.jpg

http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=22178&TabSelect=Videos&utm_source=NL&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=V0735

I'd been frustrated with joint movement myself in trying to get pocket holes fastened. What are your thoughts on this clamp?

Anything else available on the market that helps keep joints tight, beyond a dedicated face frame table?

[Scott Hildenbrand]

BTW, I know about this one (http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41MhrnCZOqL._SL500_AA280_.jpg).. It can some times be unruly though.. That Rockler clamp looks like a nice method for face frames.

For that matter, be easy as pie to make several.

[Aaron Berk]

I saw that too...
I've put it on my gadget list. You know the list you have for when you buy something and your shipping is based on your total. Add 20 more bucks and your still in the same shipping bracket. That's when I look to my gadget list:D Not sure if it's the perfect tool, but any tool is a tool worth trying.:D

[Rob Wright]

here is another thread:
http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=130388

[Scott Hildenbrand]

Ah.. So it's not BRAND brand new.. Thanks for pointing that thread out.. Will read over it!

[Aaron Wingert]

Personally, I think the Kreg clamps are hard to beat. They have a big face that provides perfect alignment of the stiles and rails while they're being screwed together. My personal favorite is the kind that use a permanently installed plate in the work surface...No need for a dedicated table, as the clamps come out for storage when the table/base aren't in use. They're nicer when building a big frame that you don't want to lift off the table to screw together. But both types of Kreg clamps work equally well.
http://216.119.73.43/products/images/prd_108.jpg

http://216.119.73.43/products/images/prd_37.jpg
The Rockler clamp is an interesting idea but I don't care for the design. I am having a hard time understanding what keeps the two faces aligned on what is the front side of the door/faceframe as clamp pressure is applied. Having built hundreds of doors/faceframes with pocket screws I'm thinking that simply pushing down on the table and tightening the screw clamp could cause the occasional foul-up. It just seems that you'd have to check it constantly.

[Roger Jensen]

I used my Rockler clamp quite a bit this weekend and I had a good experience. I'm sure it is pilot error, but I tend to get the little shift in materials just and the pocket hole screw tightens up. I suspect my problem is that the pieces aren't tight against each other, so the angle of the screw pulls it out of alignment when it goes in at an angle.

I have always struggled with pocket screws so I am actually using the Rockler clamp in tandem with the Kreg clamp - the Rockler clamp keeps the pieces tight against each other and the Kreg clamp keeps them aligned.

Again, I'm a rookie pocket screw user so more experienced folks may not benefit from usign both clamps at the same time.

Roger

[Bruce Wrenn]

By having to screw the clamp in and out at each joint, this defeats the purpose of pocket screws - Quick and easy. You could use the right angle clamp, along with face clamp. But it has been my experience that slowing the speed of your driver, and the pressure applied there to, shift is greatly reduced. Rockler makes some neat "gadgets," but I don't think this is one of them.

[Clint Winterhalter]

I picked up the Rockler Clamp a couple of weeks ago at the same time I upgraded my jig to the K4 unit. Granted I have only used the rockler camp a handful of times but it worked well. My only complaint: The amount of time it took to tighten / un-tighten it... I suspect I will pick up a couple of the Kreg clamps at some point. I'm also considering a couple piece of the kreg clamp track. It would be nice to have a square clamping table when the need arises.

[glenn bradley]

I played with one at the store. The wind-unwind is a show stopper for me. Of course I have been using these (http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=37005) for years without a problem.

[Terry Sparks]

I played with one at the store. The wind-unwind is a show stopper for me. Of course I have been using these (http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=37005) for years without a problem.

I use the Harbor Frieght clamps too, as Glenn mentions above, but after getting them into the shop, I super glued large fender washers (large diameter,small center hole) to each clamp face to get a larger clamping area and also to keep from getting divots in soft woods.

[Brandon Weiss]

I use the Harbor Frieght clamps too, as Glenn mentions above, but after getting them into the shop, I super glued large metal washers to each clamp face to get a larger clamping area and also to keep from getting divots in soft woods.

Terry, it is exchanges of information like that I love the most from the Creek. I choked down the cost of a Kreg Clamp a while back to help with my pocket screws because of the big face. Hadn't even thought about gluing washers to a smaller faced clamp. Thank you for the idea, I will be headed to Harbor Freight TODAY for some new clamps!

[Bas Pluim]

Terry, it is exchanges of information like that I love the most from the Creek. I choked down the cost of a Kreg Clamp a while back to help with my pocket screws because of the big face. Hadn't even thought about gluing washers to a smaller faced clamp. Thank you for the idea, I will be headed to Harbor Freight TODAY for some new clamps!
The smaller rectangular pads (http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=91952) fit the 11" HF clamp (http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=39535). The clamp was on sale last weekend for $4.99 I think. Not quite as nice as the Kreg clamp, but at 1/3 of the cost...

[Roger Jensen]

I'll take a look at the HF clamps.

Since I'm not a production shop the extra 10 seconds or so to apply the clamp isn't a big deal. By the time I joint, plane, measure, cut and fit the face frame pieces the bit of extra time doesn't seem like much, especially if it allows me to get the pieces lined up exactly right. I'd rather go a little slower and get the pieces even. A quick release on the Rockler clamp would be great, but again the 5-10 seconds doesn't kill me.

Ask my wife, I'm taking my time on these cabinets... :-)

Thanks for your feedback.

Roger

[Bruce Wrenn]

[QUOTE=Brandon Weiss;1346183]Terry, it is exchanges of information like that I love the most from the Creek. I choked down the cost of a Kreg Clamp a while back to help with my pocket screws because of the big face. Hadn't even thought about gluing washers to a smaller faced clamp. Thank you for the idea, I will be headed to Harbor Freight TODAY for some new clamps![/QUOTE I have a MIG welder, so I just weld mine on. Several years ago from salvage yard, I picked up several 1/8" thick, X 1.5" diameter knock outs. They work great, but there is no reason to not use a washer.

[Bobby Thistle]

I was having the "movement" problem too. To solve the issue I started using a miter clamp. You can butt the joints up very tightly against each other and they do not/can not move when driving the screw. It works for me.

--Bobby