Introducing the all-new Kreg Jig® K5

[KregRep]

Kreg Jig^® K5--The most advanced Kreg Jig^® yet!

 

The Kreg Jig^® K5 makes it easier than ever before to build it yourself and build it better.

 

$139.99

The all-new Kreg Jig^® K5 incorporates the best features of every Kreg Jig^® that came before with it with a batch of new upgrades that you’ve never seen before.

Those features start with an all-new clamping mechanism that has a front-mounted handle and adjusts to different workpiece thicknesses without tools or adjusting nuts. Adjusting for different thicknesses is accomplished, instead, by simply sliding the clamping mechanism into position, lifting the front-mounted handle, and then pushing it back down. This quickly and easily sets the spring-loaded clamp to hold tight without working loose over time. Resetting for a different thickness only requires repeating the same simple steps. Rubber padding on the clamp face prevents workpiece marring.

Adjusting the K5 is simplified further thanks to a quick-release Drill Guide Block, as well as a new setting block for the drill bit stop collar. In addition to the included standard 3-hole Drill Guide Block, the Kreg Jig^® K5 is also fully compatible with the Kreg Micro Pocket™ Drill Guide and Kreg Jig^® HD.

The K5 supports long or wide workpieces easily thanks to a pair of removable extension wings that double as storage compartments for drill and driver bits, Kreg screws and plugs, and other K5 accessories. Add in an adjustable workpiece stop, a swiveling dust-collection port, and hex-shank drill and driver bits, and it’s easy to see that the Kreg Jig^® K5 truly is the most advanced Kreg Jig® yet.

When you purchase a Kreg Jig^® K5 you also get access to SkillBuilder™ videos that teach you how to get the most out of the jig, and you’ll receive exclusive free downloadable project plans so you can start building with the K5 right away.

 

Kreg Jig^® K5 Features at a glance:

• Ratcheting tool-free clamping mechanism
• Front-mounted handle
• Quick-release Drill Guide Block
• Extension wings with built-in storage
• Swiveling dust-collection port
• Adjustable workpiece stop
• Accepts workpieces from 1/2" to 1-1/2" thick
• Screw selection chart keeps this essential information close at hand
• Drill bit setting block makes stop-collar setup simple
• Compatible with Kreg Micro Pocket™ Drill Guide and Kreg Jig^® HD
• Includes sample pack of screws and plugs
• SkillBuilder™ videos show how to set up and use
• Includes exclusive FREE downloadable project plans

 

Check out the Kreg Jig^® K5 HERE

Available September 1, 2013

$139.99

[Noah Cantrel]

screw it to a pice of plywood and clamp that…

[phil vouers]

If I remember right it is about an old lady and an old man --  something about him holding a nickel on a string between them and somthing about hit the nickel, hit the nickel ?? :-)

Mick Keller said:

What's the nickel trick?

KregRep said:

Thanks for your nice comments Jason. You can still use the nickel trick!

[Miriam Kearney]

Wow - all that for $139.99! Can I place an advance order?

Seriously, I have an old K2 - made from aluminium that I bought at a woodshow about 14 years ago. It has served me well. I cannot tell you how many times 'kregging' as we call it has save a project. I am just finishing a very long renovation of an 1850's triple brick house. If you have ever renovated you know that nothing is straight or plum and sometimes you have to bridge uneven surfaces. Recently I had to join a 3/4" piece of pine to a 1 1/2" piece to create trim to bridge uneven brick work. Once it is stained you won't even notice the join! Super.

I'm a fairly competent amateur carpenter and cabinet maker (emphasis on the carpenter). Yet I have built kitchen cabinets, a diningroom table, benches and side tables by kregging key pieces together (even the tabletop).

I can't say enough about the value of the Kreg Jig. My original one is still going strong although the klamp seems to be on it's last legs. I've been admiring the fancy blue jigs for a while but couldn't justify buying one just to get the wings. (I built mine into a frame that gave it wings and it has a permanent place of honor in my workshop). But the K5 has some new features especially the dial a thickness and the ratcheting clamp that I simply cannot pass up.

I'll be waiting impatiently.

[CLIFTON WADDELL]

Yeah, I thought about that, but you would also have to screw down the extentions on both sides as well, and like I said, I have a SMALL workroom. It's ok. I will just keep my K4 and be happy. :)

Noah Cantrel said:

screw it to a pice of plywood and clamp that…

[Noah Cantrel]

It looks like the extensions lock into the base… might not be necessary?

[Andrew]

Two concerns/observations.  First, like Scott mentioned, I wish there were a way to quickly clamp down as even in the demo video, the unit was moving around when the user was drilling.  Also, there's a quite a bit of movement when clamping down the work piece,  It looks like it lifts about a 32nd of an inch, maybe more when clamped.  Seems like it should be more secure, especially for thinner pieces of wood as this will change the exit point for the screws.  Overall, I like the new features, but I think it still needs some work.  I'll keep my old jigs for now...

[Matt Przybylski]

Exactly what I was about to point out as well.  Throughout the video, EVERY part where the clamping happens, the workpiece moves.  That's not good.

Andrew said:

Two concerns/observations.  First, like Scott mentioned, I wish there were a way to quickly clamp down as even in the demo video, the unit was moving around when the user was drilling.  Also, there's a quite a bit of movement when clamping down the work piece,  It looks like it lifts about a 32nd of an inch, maybe more when clamped.  Seems like it should be more secure, especially for thinner pieces of wood as this will change the exit point for the screws.  Overall, I like the new features, but I think it still needs some work.  I'll keep my old jigs for now...

[Andrew]

That works unless you have limited storage and prefer to keep the tools in their case when not in use.  This is my issue, so screwing it to a 30" wide piece of plywood is not practical.

Noah Cantrel said:

screw it to a pice of plywood and clamp that…

[KregRep]

Thanks for your comments and questions. I'll try to keep up:

The nickel trick is one that some people use for setting the K3 and K4 (or now the K5) for 3/4" stock. Set a nickel on the jig base, drop the drill bit into place so the tip rests on the face of the nickel, and then tighten the stop collar. Works great, but is correct just for 3/4" stock. At other thicknesses it will stop the bit, but not center the pocket correctly on the board thickness.

We didn't put a clamping recess on the K5. The K3 was the same way--the front-mounted handle makes it tough without the base getting huge. We did add recessed holes in the K5 base so that you can screw it down. Like my old K2000 jig, I'll screw mine to a piece of 1/2" plywood, and then clamp that down to my bench. (By the way, when I first did that years ago--long before I worked for Kreg--I thought "oh it will be hard to tear down and store" but I soon found that I used my Kreg Jig all the time and never tore it down!)

The clamping mechanism could work like Automaxx to adjust to different thicknesses, but we'd lose the spring-loaded capability that holds the clamp pad tight against the workpiece as our new ratcheting mechanism does. The spring-loaded clamp holds tight without crushing or marring the workpiece, and it even allows for some variation in workpiece thickness without having to readjust the K5 clamp. Bottom line, though, is that adjusting the K5 clamp is so easy and fast, you'll love it. Even on a prototype, I've been able to switch between thicknesses in literally just a few seconds--and you never have to think about the clamping pressure, it's always right.

KregRep

[Miriam Kearney]

I have my jig screwed down into a frame that creates wings. I used to clamp it to the workbench but I found I never took it away so I just screwed it down.

Andrew said:

That works unless you have limited storage and prefer to keep the tools in their case when not in use.  This is my issue, so screwing it to a 30" wide piece of plywood is not practical.

Noah Cantrel said:

screw it to a pice of plywood and clamp that…

[KregRep]

When filming we didn't attach the jig to the bench because we wanted to be able to move it around for different shots. I kept light pressure on the jig as I clamped, which did allow it to move around a little bit, but this was the fault of the operator (me), not the jig. Securing the K5 will prevent that. As I said in my last post, we eliminated the clamping recess to keep the base from getting too big, but we added recessed holes so you can screw the K5 to a bench or board.

As far as the bit of board movement goes, we were working with pre-production test parts that we hand assembled to create the jig, so the tolerances weren't as tight as the production versions. We've addressed that issue completely, and board movement isn't a factor in the production models of the K5. 

KregRep

[Matt]

What is going to be on the DVD?