Thread: Bit of help for a novice.

Your most basic option would be a Kreg mini jig kit which is about AU$25, for the mini jig, drill bit and stop collar. This would give you pocket holes on the cheap, with the added complication that you become more involved in setting out the hole layout. The mni is setup for drilling individual holes and getting into tight spaces, where the larger jig is setup for multiple holes and rapid drilling of multiple holes.

With the mini, you detemine the jig setback from the end of the board (varies with material thickness to get the screw to emerge in the middle of the board end) and for multiple holes mark a line on the work as a baseline, then mark the position of holes accross the board width, line the mini jig up and clamp it into position, drill the hole and reset the minijig for the next hole.

With the full on jig, the actual jig has calibrated stops for popular (imperial) board thicknesses and screws into the body with a thumbscrew. This sets the entry/exit hole positions and saves some marking out. The board clamps into the jig, and for end holes, you really don't need to layout hole positions as you can get consistant layout by referencing the board to the edges of the jig. The jig body has three drill guides,with the centre one offset to one side to allow two screws to be fitted to narrow or medium width boards. If the boards exceed 100mm width, additional holes should be provided.

Pocket holes need dedicated pocket hole screws which have a flat (rather than countersunk or bugle) underside to the head, and come in fine and coarse pitch threads depending on material being fastened. They also have a square recess to drive them, as it is hard to visually align a driver and head in the pocket. Length is critical to avoid blowout. Don't use substitute screws, bugle and c/s heads tend to crack the pocket and split the timber as they are driven home.

Other alternatives would be biscuits (machines as dear as a pocket jig but biscuits instead of dedicated screws) or corner brackets etc

Thanks for the detailed reply!



I think I might use one of these joints first up, see if I enjoy it and possibly purchase a pocket hole jig. What would be the strongest joint in place of a pocket hole joint?

The bench may occasionally be used as a seat also.

Any tips on making it water tight too, as it will potentially store coal in it.