At first glance the “Mini Kreg Jig kit” seems like a sad excuse for a Kreg.
I first saw it hanging there on the shelf at Lowes for $19.99 with the drill bit and stop collar. Well, I was soon to realize Kreg has NO sad excuses. No, you are right; this is no K3 or 4, it’s simply not meant for production like those models are.
But for portability and odd jobs I have found that this model is the way to go! It is small enough to keep in your pouch if you’re on the job (however, make sure you have a clamp handy because I found it impossible to hold in place on its own) or if you are in the shop you could keep it nicely in your apron. It’s extremely light-weight as you would expect from a unit this size.
I found the clamping a bit tedious. I found myself using an Irwin quick grip most of the time because it fit much better than the Kreg clamps. But this whole clamping thing should (not?) be a problem because, if you are trying to cut pocket holes at a production rate, you are going to want to upgrade to the K3 or K4 systems.
The best application I have found for this jig is if you need to drill odd angle pocket holes in weird and or tight places. I have found myself frequently drilling one last extra pocket hole, for one reason or another, INSIDE of a cabinet. In those areas where you CANT clamp it, I made a small and easy jig to hold it in place at any angle or position. If you are on a tight, tight budget and need to drill yourself some pocket holes at only 20 dollars, Kreg has put out an amazing little jig yet again! I would recommend this to anyone!
So in summary, I would recommend this as a backup for tight spaces and odd applications but if you need one and you’re in a pinch money-wise, this little guy is definitely the way to go!
Nice job once again, Kreg!
If anyone would like plans for the non-clamping jig I made, feel free to email me.
Thatwoodworkingguy@gmail.com
