I got the K4 system because it seemed like it would work and I already had a similar hold-down clamp. Saved $40 for what I needed. I ended up screwing the unit to a wooden work bench, rather than using the clamp anyway and that is a good way to do it, probably the best.
The dust collection was hooked up to my Fein vac that turns on when the drill is on. Not even a scrap of dust. Totally clean. See my Fein vac review.
Set-up is very easy per the nice simple little instruction pamphlet and the very professional DVD that is included.
You obviously have to use this tool correctly to get the great results. This means getting the right screws for the job. There are all sorts of different screw options from Kreg. I got the course ones for soft wood and suffered no splits or other problems. The screws seem to be of the highest quality, good for other projects as well.
I was kind of worried that I would have to come up with some kind of a jig to hold my wood at a right angle. I found this is not necessary. What you have to do is make sure the ends are exactly 90 degrees because that end will be drawn very tight to the other board. If it is off a degree, the screws will set it one degree off, if they are perfect, then it will be perfectly perpendicular. So, just take the time to make sure your crosscuts are perfectly accurate. This joinery system is very hard to fudge, it is very unforgiving of errors.
The bit has that hard feel to it, sharp and probably not meant to take much in the way of sharp impacts. I drilled down at a modest rate so as to not break anything and nothing did break. There is a collar that you adjust for the depth of wood. Unlike a set of collars I bought for general use, the Kreg one sets securely and doesn't slide on you. Again, I took care not to bear down on the drill too hard because if the collar slips, you would have problems.
You do have to hold down the two pieces of wood, right at the joint with a clamp. This always keeps the pieces flush with each other. Don't skip this step, even if you have to buy that long clamp, expensive but useful for a lot of projects. Push the pieces close together before you set the screws. The wood pulls tightly together, but don't get too lazy. It creates a little misalignment if you get too sloppy.
Frankly, the screws seem so tight that glue seems unnecessary. Doesn't hurt, but I wouldn't bother except perhaps on a table top.
The Kreg K4 is touted as the universal joining method and it can work that way. As somewhat of a traditionalist, I would still glue up a table top and I will still use mortise and tenons on many tables projects simply because that kind of work is expected. One of the recommend uses is to screw down a table top to its frame. I do not like that idea and recommend sliding blocks and such to let the top expand and contract independently from the frame.
Even so, there are still thousands of interesting projects that the Kreg system does just perfectly and you will be able to use it forever, really. I see nothing about this that might be obsoleted, but if I was using it commercially where time was money I would buy a spare bit just in case. Note that after hundreds of holes my bit seems perfect and the hard metal inserts in the jig are as good as new. If I was alternating drilling and screwing with one drill, I would get that quick-change bit system Kreg offers. In my case I practiced on one piece and was so secure with the process that I went into mass production mode and didn't switch back and forth.
I made some utility cabinet drawer frames that were essentially knock-downs. Just marked the parts, unscrewed things and was able to carry it all in my truck. Sometimes this is a very handy way to do things. You don't lose any strength, can carry the flat knocked-down sections up into building by yourself...all sorts of advantages.
Kreg doesn't give anything away! It is all quite Euro-spendy, but I cannot fault the design or materials at all. This is a tool system you will use for a very long time and it will save you a lot of time and provide superior results on many projects and repairs. A high quality product, well-designed and thought out. Happy to hand out five full stars.
| Manufacturer | Kreg |
|---|---|
| Part Number | K4 |
| Item Weight | 1.3 pounds |
| Item model number | K4 |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Size | () |
| Color | Black and Blue |
| Style | Pocket Hole System |
| Material | Metal, Plastic |
| Pattern | System |
| Power Source | Corded Electric |
| Item Package Quantity | 1 |
| Mounting Type | Plate Mount |
| Special Features | Brake |
| Included Components | Kreg Jig K4 Pocket Hole System |
| Batteries Included? | No |
| Batteries Required? | No |
| Warranty Description | As Labeled |
