Not a panacea

[JB]

As wonderful as the Kreg jig is, it is simply not a good substitute for fine joinery! Look up joinery tests in Fine Woodworking, would you rather build an heirloom piece of furniture with tried and true solid wood tenons or butt joints and screws?

[ken weideman]

i used old school   methods  on this   but i  like the  kreg  system  for   alot of  other things     it  sure  saves alot of time      both schools  are great....

[lynn johnson]

I am an inspired intermediate builder who loves my kreg jig.  I would love to use dovetail joinery to make some of my furniture, etc.  Would you please come to my house and teach me how to do that,,,and please bring your equipment.  Thanks

[justin waldron]

I had sort of a revelation today about this discussion.  I have posted previously that I have used Mortise and Tenon joints, pocket screws, biscuits etc, but I use a jig of some kind for all of the above.  I don't own a single chisel in my shop to make mortises, I have a mortising machine.  I don't cut tenons by hand, I use a tenoning jig.  I don't cut dovetails by hand, I use a jig for them and a router.  I guess what I am getting at is that in my opinion I'm not a craftsman because I can make these joints, I just spent money on the machines to do it.  Every piece of furniture that I have made so far has had one of the above types of jointery and depending on what you're building should determine the way it's joined.  Just my 2 cents worth...

[Ken Darga]

KenW,

WOW!

That's a master-piece!

[duane ribron]

Well I use many different forms of jonery depending on the task at hand. I love the Kreg and use here and there, but I also love M&T when time permits, and stress is an issue. I also use dole's, as well as bisquet's from time to time. Dove tails are still trying their b est to kill me from fustration alone. One day I'll get there.

 When it get's down too it, if I am building something I want to last the test of time... I would use M&T over screws any day.

[Tim Martin]

I was fortunate to have worked 20 of my 40 years experience in high end, solid wood furniture mfg. No plywood, particle board etc. And yes, with solid wood you must allow for expansion and contraction, floating and the natural tendencies of different species. Yes, mortise and tenons, tongue and groove, rabs and dados are the daily routine. However, these joints in a production environment can not be left in clamps for hours. So, angle boring thru a tenon or tongue was the best way to secure a joint until the glue dried. Not all wood parts could be glued, they must float. So an oversized angle bore with screw and washer allowed movement while maintaining a tight fit. THE KREG JIG is perfect for these joint locking applications. Unless your a purist, with all the time in the world for glue to dry, and no deadlines, stick to what works for speed and accruacy, the Kreg Jig.

[Ken Darga]

Tim,

Thanks for your inputs.

Good info.

 

[Thomas O Henrickson]

Many years ago I really got ito woodworking when I learned how to use the Kreg Pocket hole systen.  Much has been built with it.

Now I use the Festool Domino jointer with mortice and tenons a trememdous amount. Mlast 3 projects, one of them being very complicated were all build WITHOUT ANY METAL FASTENERS AT ALL EXCEPT FOR ATTACHING HARDWARE , KNOBS ,HINGES, DRAWER SLIDES. ETC.  It is amazing what you can do with their 4 mm tiny domino tenon.    Expensive tool for sure but it is truly a miracle machine.

 

Tom Henrickson

[Richard Hubert]

I cannot believe how some readers/ responders to this blog feel that they have have to dis and put down JB for making his innocent comment about woodworking joinery.  You would think he threatened to spread the black plague around the world or something.

 

Go back and read his initial comment.  He is not putting down Kreg jigs or pocket hole joinery.  What he is saying is that Kreg jigs are great - but they are not a substitute for some better woodworking joints out there - especially those seen in fine furniture.  And you know what - he is correct!  I have used thousands of Kreg screws in pocketholes for many years and know they work great for many projects.  My 3 Kreg jigs are some of my all time favorite tools and I would never want to be without them.  But they are not the best solution for all joints all the time.  Just 1 example - You want to sit in a chair held together only by pocketholes?  Not me.  Mortise and tenon joints are much stronger and the better solution for chairs. 

 

Please stop acting so superior that you have to put down others.  Read what JB is really saying and move on.

[John Schaben]

At last, a voice of reason

Richard Hubert said:

I cannot believe how some readers/ responders to this blog feel that they have have to dis and put down JB for making his innocent comment about woodworking joinery.  You would think he threatened to spread the black plague around the world or something.

 

Go back and read his initial comment.  He is not putting down Kreg jigs or pocket hole joinery.  What he is saying is that Kreg jigs are great - but they are not a substitute for some better woodworking joints out there - especially those seen in fine furniture.  And you know what - he is correct!  I have used thousands of Kreg screws in pocketholes for many years and know they work great for many projects.  My 3 Kreg jigs are some of my all time favorite tools and I would never want to be without them.  But they are not the best solution for all joints all the time.  Just 1 example - You want to sit in a chair held together only by pocketholes?  Not me.  Mortise and tenon joints are much stronger and the better solution for chairs. 

 

Please stop acting so superior that you have to put down others.  Read what JB is really saying and move on.

[Victor De Pauw]

There is a time and place for almost everything and you don't milk the cows in a tux. It is nice to be able to select from different methods for accomplishing a job. Vic

[duane ribron]

I do not get the violent reaction too using joinery methods other than Kreg. Don't get me wrong Kreg is great, I enjoy using them fairly often. Still never trying other methods simply limits your skills. Also though Kreg does work well, it is not the only, and best method for every application. In fact I acually enjoy making M&T joints, as well as other methods. But when in a pinch for time, Kreg cannot be beat. Would I want to use it on fine furnature? It depends, but doubtful I would want the strongest joint possible, while still inhancing the bueaty of the work. Thouse big honking hole do not do it for me. I reailize that they can be covered, still what a pain.