jigs/accessories?

[ShawnR]

Being the new woodworker.. I had a little slice of heaven going to the local wood show; can not wait for the IWF to get here(700+ vendors).

While there I saw many tools, jigs, and I assume products that just fall into the accessory market.  As a hobbyist, I am curious where do you guys put your money to get the most bang?  My first project will be a series of bookcases for the wifey(I convinced her to get rid of numerous old sullivan pressed wood bookcases that were just hideous. Saying I could do a much better job, I am now on the hook to get them made. 2 years later and books still in boxes and not shelves, I am seriously behind the 8 ball)

I plan to get the domino system before the end of the month, but it got me thinking.. how useful are most of these systems? And by useful, I am more thinking if I am going to spend $x for a system, would I really get my money out it or am I better of buying accessories or another tool?  One example that comes to mind is the Kreg pocket hole system.. It seems extremely helpful, but for 170 bucks, am I better off just buying more blades and plugs for the Domino?

Thanks,

Shawn

 

[peter halle]

Shawn,

The woodworking field has so many jigs, tools, and accessories.  My collection or things over the last 2 decades has resulted in many things that were a waste of money.  The Kreg pocket holes jigs do not fit into that category.  I have actually three sets.  The old master set, the new master set, and there is a small set for less than $50 dollars that I use the most.  You can used an existing clamp or buy an accessory clamp.  The expensive set has dust collection capabilities that I love if I am using it inside someone's home.  I personally find the Kreg system useful and in many ways an essential versus a might have.  I use mine more than I use the domino. 

Peter

 

[Wood_Junkie]

I fall in the hobbyist category... and also a hobbyist with two young kids, a non-trade job, and two other houses I help out on (my parents and sister both live close by).
What I really view that I'm buying with Festool in general, is efficiency.  I am paying for time.  And frankly, I value my time just as much as my employer does.

Anyway, long story short:
- There are multitude of ways to get accomplished what you're setting out to do.  A regular ol' router with a 2x guide and some sawhorses and you'd be good to go (e.g. shelf dadoes).  But if you want to effect a higher level of craftsmanship, without necessarily having the uber skills to do that in other ways, and you want efficient time in your workshop, then Festool is the way to go... IMHO.

Case in point (here's the long story), and I was glad my wife was nearby and a participant in this one:
I need to trim about 1/4" off the bottom of my daughters' bedroom door.  I didn't have my green tools back when I first trimmed and hung the door, and it hangs up on the threshold.  Enough that opening it can make enough noise to wake up the younger one...

Old way:
- Porter-Cable circular saw with clamped on generic guide rails.  Okay, 1/4" trimmed
Next steps:  Clean up the tear out; fill and sand the paint that got ripped by the tear out; paint the base of the door again; re-hang the door; vacuum up the mess.
Total time I estimate for that:  50 minutes, plus paint drying time (plus smell, inconvenience of setup, paint protection, etc... you get the idea).

New way:
- Drag CT midi, TS55 and one guide rail upstairs.  Two trips (vac, saw, etc as one stack... rail and ear protection 2nd trip).. about 7 minutes.
- Dismount door, lay door over bed, clamp rail, one single cut.  Re-hang door.
- Carry stuff back downstairs.
No dust, NO tearout, and perfect result.
Total time: About 20 minutes.  I don't think my wife was astounded, even though I did take the time to explain the alternate scenario above (old way) because the opportunity doesn't come up much to vocally justify the tools... hehe

That left me with about 30 minutes more to play with the girls on a Saturday.  We did puzzles. Priceless.

With regards to your overarching questions about jigs
- Wait to get 'em until you need them.  Most you could make yourself, and it's a good excercise and skill builder.  Some you want to purchase, whether to save time or have a more solid / commercial product.  Shop the sales on the web and sometimes you can pick them up very cheap, at a time when you don't necessarily need them.
- For bookcases, you shouldn't really need any.  A good set of measuring and layout devices will be your most important tools (tape measure, precision square, etc)

I have both the Domino and Kreg pocket hole system (K3 master system) and used it mostly for making drawers.  I plan to use the Domino now for making drawers.  It's just so easy and fast.
Ironically, pocket hole screws and Dominos can work together in a complementary fashion, especially where concerns of wood movement are present, in cabinet carcasses, etc.

If you don't have a vacuum / dust collector that you can use with the Domino, don't get it yet.  Chip collection is a *necessity* with the Domino (it says so in the manual, IIRC).

You don't state what other tools you have at your disposal, so that might influence things... Do you have a table saw?  Miter saw?
If not, consider the track saw and MFT combo... You might not ever need a tablesaw.  ;-)

 

[Michael Kellough]

Being the new woodworker.. I had a little slice of heaven going to the local wood show; can not wait for the IWF to get here(700+ vendors).

While there I saw many tools, jigs, and I assume products that just fall into the accessory market.  As a hobbyist, I am curious where do you guys put your money to get the most bang?  My first project will be a series of bookcases for the wifey(I convinced her to get rid of numerous old sullivan pressed wood bookcases that were just hideous. Saying I could do a much better job, I am now on the hook to get them made. 2 years later and books still in boxes and not shelves, I am seriously behind the 8 ball)

I plan to get the domino system before the end of the month, but it got me thinking.. how useful are most of these systems? And by useful, I am more thinking if I am going to spend $x for a system, would I really get my money out it or am I better of buying accessories or another tool?  One example that comes to mind is the Kreg pocket hole system.. It seems extremely helpful, but for 170 bucks, am I better off just buying more blades and plugs for the Domino?

Thanks,

Shawn

Just get this one,

It's only $40 here.

 

[peter halle]

Thanks Micheal.

I picked my up from Lowe's.  It was probably also less than 40 bucks.  I may have over estimated in my previous post so as not to instill unrealistic hope.  I just needed a new drill bit.  The little kit was only like 15 to 20 bucks more and gave me a smaller alternative.

Peter

 

[mwhafner]

I wouldn't bother with the bigger Kreg kits either.  The $40 kit is probably all you need.  I have the old version, and use it more than the Master kit. 

 

[Wood_Junkie]

I wouldn't bother with the bigger Kreg kits either.  The $40 kit is probably all you need.  I have the old version, and use it more than the Master kit. 

Agreed, get the small kit...  I got the Master Kit about 6  months before getting the Domino.  Since I had setup a sort of platform / jig for the Master system stuff, I kept it.  But, now I mostly use the little portable thing that is basically the same as the Rocket kit. 

 

[Jesse Cloud]

Rockler carries the $40 jig and you can get 20% off thru 2/7 with promotion code V0730.

 

[Michael Kellough]

Rockler carries the $40 jig and you can get 20% off thru 2/7 with promotion code V0730.

Good tip!

The little kit is all you really need to get the job done but the Master kit is nice.
Especially the dust collection aspect. That 20% discount might be a good reason
to go ahead and get it. The K3 Master kit is only $112 after the discount.

This kit has the dust collection fitting and is only $100 before the discount at Rockler.

Having the Kreg kit doesn't mean you're not going to want the Domino too though.

 

[mwhafner]

Having the Kreg kit doesn't mean you're not going to want the Domino too though.

You are absolutely right.  I use both for cabinet construction.  The Dominoes for strength and alignment, and the pocket screws are instant clamps. 

 

[morogue]

I saw some kreg-a-like in person at (gasp) Harbour Freight, it looked way beefy--all metal construction with all the same parts as a Master kit:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=96264

 

[harry_]

The kreg jig has more adjustability