1/2" Plywood for drawers

[Chad]

I am planning on buying a K4 Master System with a couple of clamps to begin with. Also getting the Kreg Rip-Cut. I am fairly new to building things with wood. First things I will be doing is sliding drawers under the sinks and in a couple of hallway closets. I will be using 1/2" inch plywood for these. Can I do this with K4 system. I see they also make a Micro jig that can be used with the K4 specifically for 1/2" stock. But if I can do this with the K4, I would rather not spend another $45 on the micro right now. At some point I also plan on building some wall cabinets for my home office.

Thanks,

Chad

[Ken Darga]

Chad,

Being new to woodworking, peruse the Kreg jig's instructions and videos and few times, to become familiar with it and its features, before proceeding with making the drawers.

The K4, is primarily for 3/4'' stock.

For 1/2'' stock, I'd recommend Kreg's Micro jig, for satisfactory results.

[John Schaben]

Even with the micro jig, the plywood needs to be 1/2". Even the birch flavor I get at my Home Depot is more like 7/16", consequently, the screw comes out at the edge of the stock instead of the middle. You can get there by clamping the guide block on the stock but the first few are trial and error (mostly error), until you zero in on the correct placement.

[Ken Darga]

John,

I follow Elmer Fudds approach---

''BACK-OFF"

[John Schaben]

??

You need to put the guide block closer to the edge as the screw comes out the far side. Backing it up (raising it) just aggravates the issue.

Here's the kicker though, from the owners guide

Working with ½" Material

When drilling Micro Pocket

™ Holes in ½" material the standard setting will leave your screw close

to the wood’s surface and without the ability to plug the Pocket-Hole. In order to create a ‘pluggable’

Micro Pocket™ hole in ½" material, you’ll need to follow these simple steps to compensate:

• Set your Drill Guide for ½" material, as normal

• Set your Stop Collar for 5/8" material

• Replace standard 1" screws with the shorter ¾" version (SPS-F075)

 

Coarse threads are recommended for use with plywood and none are available in 3/4".

Ken Darga said:

John,

I follow Elmer Fudds approach---

''BACK-OFF"

[Fred Daniels]

Hey Ken, it was Yosemite Sam, not Elmer Fudd who said "Back Off."  But thanks for the advice...

Ken Darga said:

John,

I follow Elmer Fudds approach---

''BACK-OFF"

[Ken Fitzpatrick]

Just made a few drawers from real half inch baltic birch I got from a specialty lumber yard. They came out well.  I bought the mico because the K4 really didn't work well.

[Ken Darga]

The K4 works very well, as intended, and 

as described in the instructions---it's for 3/4'' stock.

Ken Fitzpatrick said:

Just made a few drawers from real half inch baltic birch I got from a specialty lumber yard. They came out well.  I bought the mico because the K4 really didn't work well.

[Ken Fitzpatrick]

I meant for half in material. I use the k-4 all the time with no problem.

[Chad]

Thanks Ken. I understood what you meant by the K4 not working very well for the 1/2" material. I just wanted to verify with people because the K4 does have a setting for 1/2" material.

Thanks,

Chad

Ken Fitzpatrick said:

I meant for half in material. I use the k-4 all the time with no problem.

[Ken Darga]

Fred,

Yep---

U R right---

I didn't recall Yosemite Sam, when I made the post.

I haven't watch tv cartoons, since the kids grew up---it's been quite awhile.

...don't have time---

...too busy making sawdust,

and other tasks.

Fred Daniels said:

Hey Ken, it was Yosemite Sam, not Elmer Fudd who said "Back Off."  But thanks for the advice...

Ken Darga said:

John,

I follow Elmer Fudds approach---

''BACK-OFF"