Save MONEY! DIY Pocket Hole Jig Base!

Plans: etsy.me/3ErapQa
I’ve wanted to get a fancy Kreg K4 or Kreg K5 pocket hole jig for a while now but just didn’t want to spend the money. So, since I had the Kreg R3 system already, I decided to build a custom DIY kreg jig base for it!
➤Check out my Woodworker's Notebook on Amazon: amzn.to/3zvojfr (affiliate link)
Here are the parts needed for this project: (paid links)
Kreg R3 Jig: amzn.to/3mRswTE
Baltic Birch Plywood: amzn.to/2JMt6Um
Black Formica Sheet: amzn.to/2VNslgv
Toggle Clamp: amzn.to/2IoyYTk
5/16” knob: amzn.to/3otR6ud
This diy pocket hole jig is like turbo charging your Kreg jig! No more trying to clamp the pocket hole jig onto the board over and over again. Now, just set the board onto the Kreg R3 jig and flip over the toggle clamp and drill the pocket hole! DONE! Faster than ever!
Or, I guess you could just buy the fancy jig….
Kreg K4: amzn.to/3mUKB3i (paid link)
Kreg K5: amzn.to/2JT23Xs (paid link)
Bored? Check out this cool mystery thing! amzn.to/3qwwpj7 (paid link)
-- Social Media --
Be sure to check out my Instagram: imakejake
and of course, my website, www.imakejake.com/ where you can find more awesome plans and projects!
Make with Jake is a channel dedicated to providing you with practical shop tips, guides, and plans so that you can spend more time BUILDING and less time messing around doing dumb stuff....like changing planer blades. • Learn to Replace DeWal...
I wrote a book!!
Grab your very own copy of the Woodworker's Notebook on Amazon: amzn.to/2Uy4h0F
Don't forget to LIKE and SUBSCRIBE!
imakejake.com and Jake Drews is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
#pocketholejigsystem #bestdiytools #makewithjake
00:00 DIY Pocket Hole Jig Station
00:30 How the Pocket Hole Base works
00:48 Save Money!
01:04 DIY Pocket Hole Jig Plans
01:19 Layout of the Base
01:55 Clever Table Saw Trick
02:11 Spindle Sanding using a Drill Press
02:37 Gluing Formica to Plywood
02:55 Trimming the Formica Laminate
03:22 Making the Kreg R3 Bracket Block
04:12 Check the Fit of the Pocket Hole Jig
04:58 Drilling the Hole for the Pocket Hole Clamp
05:34 Quick Tip!
06:16 Dust Collection Port
06:34 Final Assembly
07:03 Toggle Clamp Installation
then stopped to saw and made the remaining cuts.
To finish cutting, i used the bandsaw.
Finally, to blend the saw cuts into the radius, I used spindle sanders on drill press. Super handy. Links in description below.
Formica. Trying to up the quality and look of my shop equipment, so i decided to glue some black formica onto the base of this jig. This is not required, but definitely gives a premo looks. TIP: formica is $50 for a 4x8 sheet. This is way cheaper than buying black melamine from the wood store.
Once the glue dried, i used a flush trim bit to trim the formica, and then went back and used a chamfering bit to eash over the edge.
Block
The mounted block could be made out of a large piece of wood, but I watned to use the scrap from my 12x12 sheet of baltic birch.
Glueing small blocks together like this is a challenge, so I used extra clamps and scrap wood to keep the edges perfectly aligned.
Kreg cutout: cutting out the pocket for the R3 kreg jig is critical. It is really important that you make sure that the depth of the pocket allows the jig to become flush with the front of the block, and the width should be a snug but easily assembled fit. Trust me, this makes clamping later on much easier.
This design uses a stepped pocket, where the wider pocket actually clamps the jig, and the narrower, but deeper pocket, is simply for clearance.
I highly suggest checking the fit as you go. You definitely dont want to mess this part up.
Drill the crosshole throught the block. Make sure to set the drill back far enough taht it does not pass through the pocket created for the jig. YOu dont want the bolt to hit the jig.
It turns out that my holes did not drill very straight, so I had to go bsack with a twist bit to open the holes up a little bit so that the bolt could fit though.
Grab the base and mark the locations for the screws and then predill and countersink them through the base.
To amke sure everything stays aligned, i clamped the block to the base, and then predrilled and ran some screws into it. Quick tip: wax screws
I took the screws right back out so that I could then slit the block and cut the dust collection hole.
Looking back, I should have cut the dust collection hole before slitting the block, but oh well. I got it figured out. #mistakesweremade

[@mikerobelotto419]

Great idea! One question though. how do you adjust the jig to accommodate different thicknesses of material? I often use materials from 1/2" up to 1-1/2".

[@MakewithJake]

In order to adjust for different materials, you simply have to unclamp the jig using the knob, and slide it upwards or downwards and then reclamp the jig. For 1/2" material, you might have to pocket out the base in order to allow the Kreg jig to go lower, depending on your model. For the toggle clamp, you just need to adjust the clamping bolt in or out until it applies just the right amount of pressure. Hope this helps!

[@pavellelyukh5272]

finally something that is actually economically effective, making the tiny jig yourself is a waste of time and materials making the clamping jig actually saves time and money

[@MakewithJake]

Absolutely! That's why I usually buy tools instead of make them. In this case, I had the tool, I just needed a clamp. And it only took me a short amount of time to build the jig.

[@johnforrest2654]

Thanks for sharing was looking for something just like this.

[@MakewithJake]

Glad it was helpful!

[@HowIDoThingsDIY]

Great intro editing and great upgrade for your pocket hole jig!

[@MakewithJake]

Haha thanks! Definitely worth building if you already have the bigger model.

[@inspiringbuilds]

I like it, great innovative idea for us woodworkers. You get the functionality without the price tag of a K4 jig!

[@MakewithJake]

Absolutely! Especially if you already have the R3 jig, its pretty much a no brainer. :-)

[@primacustomworks]

thanks to this video :) I'm now a subcriber.

[@MakewithJake]

Welcome aboard!

[@MarriedManWoodworking]

Love it. I am working on converting my kreg 320 and making a video. I really like what you did here. Subscribed.

[@MakewithJake]

Awesome! Thank you! I will keep an eye out for the video, feel free to post it below once you upload!

[@MarriedManWoodworking]

@@MakewithJake Thank you.

[@mackenziemill]

interesting, thinking about making this thanks xoxo Sandy

[@MakewithJake]

It's super handy! I highly recommend it if you don't have the larger Kreg already

[@MakerBeach]

That was awesome! This is a great idea because I think a lot of people have that same pocket hole jig and wish they had the larger model. Keep up the great work!

[@MakewithJake]

Absolutely! Plus, if you get into a situation where you need the jig to be more mobile...just pop it out and use it the way Kreg intended!

[@EbikeReviews]

Awesome build!

[@MakewithJake]

Thanks! I use it all the time!

[@GraffWoodshop]

You just blew my mind! This is going on my list of shop upgrades. Now if I can just find the time to work on shop upgrades.....

[@MakewithJake]

🤯 that's the goal!

[@ShepherdsWorkbench]

This was a great idea! I’m gonna have to try to make one myself

[@MakewithJake]

Do it!

[@user-gh6fb1pl7p]

great economical idea! I will try, Thanks~

[@MakewithJake]

Have fun!

[@artem053]

Круто! Отличный видос чувак, хоть я и не понимаю что ты говоришь, но я понял что ты делаешь!👍👍👍 С меня лайк и подписка!

[@MakewithJake]

Спасибо! (Google says that is Thank You in Russian)

[@thomascastiglione4123]

Such a great build brother! I just finished mine, except I used the Kreg 320. Still tweaking the calibration, it works amazingly with the vacuum. Thanks again

[@MakewithJake]

Awesome! Glad to hear that still works with the 320, I was a bit worried because it looks like that system is meant to replace the R3 that I have.

[@RLLWoodworks]

Nice job man! I made one of these too but yours looks nicer and I like the dust collection. Well done!

[@MakewithJake]

The dust collection is nice! I made it nice because...youtube. Last year, I would have nailed it to a block of wood and called it a day. hehe.

[@LonghornWorkshop]

Yeah save some cash money mate, great idea and execution.

[@MakewithJake]

Thanks 👍

[@macmund]

Thanks I have 2 of those kreg models. Question Can I just put it fixed there and not split the wood holder for the kreg?

[@MakewithJake]

Nice! Maybe? Splitting the wood block helps the block clamp against the Kreg jig. If you dont split it, it might not clamp very well. You can always try it...if it doesnt work, split it! :-) Thanks for watching!

[@weanddiy4712]

Good 🙂👍👍👍👍

[@MakewithJake]

Thank you 👍

[@Craftswright]

That intro was slick brotha! Naturally, so was the build ;)

[@MakewithJake]

Thanks dude! I appreciate it!

[@justmethenetherlands2218]

interesting video, it would be an even better jig if the handle was on the front so you don't have to reach over the workpiece

[@MakewithJake]

Good tip! Definitely would be nice if it were set up that way. Maybe version 2.0.

[@Ackbarfangirl]

Craig jig

[@64maxpower]

Love it. Great work. How would you adjust the jig for a 5/4 or 2x ? Is it possible? I have the small Kreg jig you used. I was just researching for a bigger one and 100 dollars seems over priced. I don't mind paying for a tool that's worth it however yours seems sturdier. Yours is worth 100 in my opinion

[@64maxpower]

Never mind. I bothered to read the comments and get my answer. Thanks

[@MakewithJake]

Thank you! To adjust, you just have to loosen the clamp knob, and slide the jig upwards for thicker material. For 1/2", you may need to cut a pocket in the base so that the jig has room to slide downwards.

[@64maxpower]

I don't think at this point is have the need for 1/2" material pocket holes. That's pretty thin

[@MakewithJake]

Same here! 3/4" for everything. Also, if you check out the plans, (link in the description) I have a cool little template for marking where the jig needs to be for each thickness of material.

[@TheDublin47]

I don't think I be making that I have seen easier ones than that on KZbin

[@HonestTakesAll]

Hahahaha. I’m Craig.

[@MakewithJake]

We have a lot of real characters over here at Make with Jake studios.

[@64maxpower]

Make with Ryan Villopoto

[@MakewithJake]

👍

[@64maxpower]

@@MakewithJake if you didn't know it was a compliment

[@MakewithJake]

Right on, thanks! I'll take it!

[@MoAnwar]

Came to save a $100. Spend $500 to get the tools needed to build it. Lol....great video though.

[@MakewithJake]

ha, glad you liked it! This project was really meant for someone who already has this particular Kreg jig. If you already have it (and spent the $50) it only takes a few more dollars to convert it into a $100+ tool. Of course, if you dont have any of these parts, then....maybe go ahead and buy the big kreg jig. :-) Thanks for watching!