Kreg jig as a doweling jig

[Robert Melrose]

I was recently making a sofa table for my wife when I came across the dilemma of attaching the top to the aprons. The table was constructed using mortise and tenon joinery and I didn't want to use any metal fasteners. I love my kreg jig but I didn't want to use pocket screws in this piece. So what I did is set the depth collar to drill deeper. I clamped the pieces together and drilled the pocket holes into both pieces but not through th surface. I then spread glue on 3/8 ths dowel and drove them in with a mallet. After the glue dried I flush cut them off and sanded them. The kreg jig has an advantage over regular doweling jigs because of the angle. When the dowel goes in, the top can't come off because the dowels are splayed out and it gives it not only a glue bond but a mechanical advantage as well.

[John Schaben]

Interesting application Robert. Did you use a Brad point bit or the Kreg step bit?

[Robert Melrose]

I used the kreg bit. I have a few extras so I ground off the pilot tip so I could get the depth that I wanted without going through the surface. The brad point bit is a good idea though but the ones I have aren't long enough.