Drill speed

[Gene Chism]

What is the recommended drill speed to use for the pocket holes? I think that I saw or heard that it is 1700 rpm. While we are at it my battery power drill up and has gotten sick. What is a recommendation for a replacement in power drills.

[Hal Jones]

Good luck with it. I was using my Kreg Jig last night to join stair treads butt-to-butt to make a countertop and used my bosch drill. The amazing thing is how far cordless tools have come in the past few years. Battery technology continues to develop. In a few years we will begin to see more cordless devices charge from smart tables and such. I saw a demonstration of the technology earlier this year and soon we will be able to just place our cordless tools on our bench that has the charging mat fastened to it and all fo our tools will remain fully charged and the need for a myriad of chargers will be a thing of the past. The same technology will charge our lap tops, cell phones and etc. Eventually the technology will replace cords inside the house, but not enough current can flow through now to be used on high demand appliances.

[Richard Sands]

What is the latest word from Kreg about drill speed?  Does whether the wood is soft or hard have anything to do with the drilling speed?

I just bought the K4 Master System with an extra clamp and 1,000 Kreg screws, plus received the 1,000 free Kreg screw bonus that Woodcraft has going through Oct. 29.  So, I'm ready to drill and to install some pocket screws.  

I have a Ryobi 18-Volt Lithium Drill/Screwdriver with clutch that is rated at 1,600 RPM and a Makita Hammer Drill that is rated at 2,800 RPM, but its corded and heavier, which I would use in drill mode.  My first projects will be using 3/4 inch (actual) thick pine and poplar.  For this drilling, may I use the 1,600 RPM drill or do I need to use the 2,600 RPM drill?

[John Schaben]

Hi Richard - I have the Ryobi 18V and it will do the job fine. That said, if I am drilling them in the shop with the Master jig, I prefer the corded dewalt @2500 rpm. With the shop-vac attached they go much faster and cleaner. I use they Ryobi with the Junior (R3?) jig when working on site.

Richard Sands said:

What is the latest word from Kreg about drill speed?  Does whether the wood is soft or hard have anything to do with the drilling speed?

I just bought the K4 Master System with an extra clamp and 1,000 Kreg screws, plus received the 1,000 free Kreg screw bonus that Woodcraft has going through Oct. 29.  So, I'm ready to drill and to install some pocket screws.  

I have a Ryobi 18-Volt Lithium Drill/Screwdriver with clutch that is rated at 1,600 RPM and a Makita Hammer Drill that is rated at 2,800 RPM, but its corded and heavier, which I would use in drill mode.  My first projects will be using 3/4 inch (actual) thick pine and poplar.  For this drilling, may I use the 1,600 RPM drill or do I need to use the 2,600 RPM drill?

[Richard Sands]

Hi John - Thank you very much for the info.  Have you been using your Ryobi 18V Lithium for drilling in softwoods, hardwoods or both?

I'll use the yellow Ryobi 18V Lithium for drilling the holes and my older dark blue Ryobi 18V Ni-Cad (which is only 1,300 RPM) with clutch for installing the screws, so I don't have to keep switching the drill bit and the driver bit.  I'll also drill some holes in the pine and the poplar with the 2,800 RPM Makita to see if I notice any difference in the holes. 

Does whether the wood is soft or hard have anything to do with the drilling speed for the Kreg pocket holes?

[John Schaben]

I don't do to much with hardwood, budget thing and most of my projects that use pocket screws are softwood or plywood. I have done a little with Home Depots' version of Red Oak and can't say there was much difference. Not enough for it to stand out for me to remember anyway. Course, at my age, I tend to take mental notes in disappearing ink anymore. :(