Better Than Kreg Pocket Hole Jig

[Sean Nagle]

I own and have used a Kreg pocket hole jig and associated accessories to build face frames for some time.

Recently I ran across the UJK branded pocket hole system sold to the European market. I was immediately struck by the all-metal construction in stark contrast to the Kreg system. It's a shame that Kreg relies so heavily on plastic parts. This is what Kreg should be offering.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpUmMyIFsBE

What surprised me is that the cost of the UJK all-metal jig is comparable to the cost of the Kreg jig. I found a UK online source where this can be purchased. I don't do enough pocket holes that I would replace my current Kreg system, but it is very tempting.

https://www.axminster.co.uk/accessories/power-tool-accessories/drilling/pocket-hole-joinery-dowelling

[Matt Day]

For this application what’s the benefit of metal over plastic?

[Cary Falk]

Nice looking jig. Price is reasonable given Kreg prices. Price will be higher with shipping and import fees. I don't necessarily like Kregs use of plastic but I'm not sure the use of metal would make a difference in the outcome of a pocket hole.

[Mike Kreinhop]

UJK is an Axminster Tools store brand. I saw the jig when I was in an Axminster store, but would never justify the expense over the comparable Kreg K4 kit.

Using the UK Amazon as a reference, the UJK jig sells for £99.96 (about $138.02) and the Kreg K4 kit sells for £71.23 (about $98.35). With the UJK jig, the driver bit and dust extractor port must be purchased separately. With the Kreg K4 kit, everything is included. To make a closer comparison, the UJK jig kit comparable to the Kreg K4 will cost £121.88 (about $168.31).

[Andrew Joiner]

The Harbor Freight pocket hole jig is all metal. It's well reviewed.

[Lee Schierer]

The original Kreg K-1 jigs were Aluminum with hardened steel drill bushings.
380825
I have the aluminum one and use it primarily, but I also have a plastic one that claps with a vise grip style pliers and is adjustable for use on thicker wood. Both seem to work equally well. I imagine that price drove them to the plastic versions. The face of the aluminum ones were machined flat.

[Larry Frank]

I have used the check out of my Kreg jig. I do not see anything wrong with the materials used.

[Art Mann]

I have had the same experience as Larry. The thing looks and feels kind of cheap but it just does the job over and over again.

[Dave Lehnert]

380859https://www.harborfreight.com/portable-pocket-hole-jig-kit-96264.html

I have a metal pocket hole jig I purchased from Penn State Ind many years ago. It may be made of metal but the bottom flexes when you apply clamp pressure.
Has anyone had a problem with the plastic on a Kreg ?

[johnny means]

For this application what’s the benefit of metal over plastic?
Agreed. Besides some feel good magic, there is no quantifiable advantage to a metal jig.

[Ken Kortge]

Not trying to hijack this thread, but seeing that the UJK jig has metric measurements made me wonder if folks in outside the U.S. get frustrated that the Kreg jig only provides measurements in inches? Or does Kreg make a metric version of their jigs?

[glenn bradley]

I've been using plastic jigs for over a decade and have never had any issue with any of the plastic parts. Just sayin' :). If you can damage that glass reinforced nylon, you can damage metal.

[Sean Nagle]

Good points about the Kreg jig being "good enough". The only issue I've had with mine deals with the clamp not holding securely enough and that would be true with the metal versions as well.

I did not know that Harbor Freight sold an all-metal version.

[Bill White]

My K-2 is all metal.
Bill

[Carlos Alvarez]

Funny that we still hold these anti-plastic prejudices from the 60s and 70s when many plastics were not very good. Yet others were, and over time, have become superior to metals for many applications.

I'll take FRP over aluminum for most uses.

[Bob Falk]

+1 the plastic jig works just fine....why metal?

[Ole Anderson]

One feature I like in the K4 over it's metal counterparts is the vacuum hose attachment. When drilling a ton of pocket holes I team my corded drill with an iSocket vac switch.

[Osvaldo Cristo]

Not trying to hijack this thread, but seeing that the UJK jig has metric measurements made me wonder if folks in outside the U.S. get frustrated that the Kreg jig only provides measurements in inches? Or does Kreg make a metric version of their jigs?

BTW, my Kreg K5 is metric...

[Mike Heidrick]

Change the rear destaco clamps to a bimba air cylinder and foot pad. Kreg used to sell that conversion for the k2.

[Jim Becker]

I have the exact same Kreg jig as Lee shows in his post...I honestly don't believe that metal vs plastic matters much for these tools, especially since both have the same hard metal bushings as wear surfaces for the step drill.

[joseph f merz]

find the plastic to be a good thing .though i set up 3 different bits there are times i goof and drill into the tool .the metal one would mean a damaged bit .next the tool shown in the video has the clamp on the backside .the newest kreg has the handle for clamping on same side i drill the holes .so much more convient . so much faster .
pretty tough to beat the kreg jig .except getting a foremen .

[Tony Latham]

The Harbor Freight pocket hole jig is all metal. It's well reviewed.

I've got one. Well made. Horribly designed. Gross tear out.

I use a Kregg. My HF collects dust.

[Carlos Alvarez]

My HF collects dust.

So another recommendation for the Harbor Freight dust collector?