Screw holes too big

[Debra Johnson]

I just bought the K3 system and have been having great fun with one - with one exception. My screw holes are coming out too big!! You know how after you drill the joint you have a nice little screw hole??? Well half of the time, my screw holes are large, so large that the screw head can actually fit through the hole.

 

What am I doing wrong???? I have been having difficulty with keeping the piece that I am drilling from moving/kicking out. Is the large hole a symptom of this shifting of the piece???

[Debra Johnson]

I think my clamp was not tight enough (reason I was having so much kick out). The depth collar is set correctly.

[Vaughn Langless]

Four things to check:
1. Proper tightness on the clamp (whether being used in the clamping jig or portable) and clamped tight to the material
2. Correct setting on the depth collar and make sure it's tightened
3. Proper distance from the edge to be joined. The jig has to be positioned at the correct set back from the edge to be joined to ensure the proper depth of the pocket hole.
4. Ensure the material is square to the pocket hole jig