Drill Guide PIn and Dust Collector Attachment

[Andrew Morris]

I am just beginning to use the Kreg Jig (K4, I believe).

 

When I install the dust collector attachment I find it almost impossible to get hold of the drill guide pin.

 

Am I doing something wrong? Do I have a defective jig? Is this a poor design?

 

Looking for a reality check.

 

[Lorrie]

Hi Andrew,

I see that nobody has answered yet.  I am just a beginner myself and I think I had the same problem.  I have the K4 Jig and I think that you are saying that when you have the dust collector on and you want to change the setting on the drill guide, it is hard to unscrew it and make the change.  Is that correct?  That is the problem that I had with it.  The dust collector attachment comes off easily and when I needed to change the size, I just took it off, made the adjustment and then reattached it.  I hope this helps you.  Please let me know if I didn't answer your question correctly.  I hope you are enjoying your Kreg Jig.  I know that I love mine and the dust collector really does a good job of keeping the pocketholes cleaned out.  What are you making?  If you need help with anything else, this community is great and someone will get an answer for you.  Have a great day! :)

[Andrew Morris]

I found that running my index finger along the top of the drill guide pin allows me to adjust (as opposed to trying to use two fingers to hold the drill guide pin and adjust it). I think it's a lousy design - I'd rather the drill guide pin was a slotted or Phillips screw head that could be turned with a screwdriver.

 

I think if you remove and insert the dust collector attachment with the drill guide pin in place you risk breaking the ridges/guides on the dust collector attachment and/or jig which would make it difficult to securely install the dust collector attachment.

 

Thanks for your reply -- I'm making a doll bed for my friends daughter. Made my first pocket holes tonight - the only problem I had was the stop collar on the drill bit becoming loose and moving. My solution was to use more elbow grease when tightening the stop collar with the allen wrench.

 

All in all pocket holes were successful and jig was easy to setup and use. I also thought dust collection worked well.

[Ken Darga]

The knurled screw only needs to be finger tight---

it's intended to keep the guide in position vertically.

(No need to wrench it tight).

Knurled head screws are common in industry---intended for easy removal of fasteners,

without the use of additional tools, such as a plier tool, wrench, or the like.

(Take a look at your automobile, see how many different places a knurled screw is used).

If desired, a slot can be added to the knurled screw head, across the flat.

Slot width can be made to accommodate a penny coin.

A slot can be added, using a hacksaw blade blade, a thin cut-off wheel in a rotary tool, or the like.

Make the slot 1/16'' deep.  

To date, I haven't experienced any problems with excessive wear or fracturing of the guides.

Alternate:

Install a thumb screw with a nut.

The thumb screw head located beyond the housing, for easier access,

 and the nut positioned to permit a snug fit.

The dust collector housing can easily be removed and reattached.

[Ken Darga]

Tightening of the set-screw on the stop collar: 

position the screw point tip on the ''top surface" of the flute on the drill bit.

Set screws on drill bits are INTENDED to make contact with the drill flute outside surface---

NOT inside the flute.

When the screw tip is allowed to get into the grooved area of the drill bit, it will result in a loose-fit---

NOT tight.

The screw will damage the flutes---

the stop collar will slip---

the screw thread will not make complete contact with the theads in the collar for an effective gripping force.