ray816•2mo ago

Spent $400 on a set of micro-adjustable shelf pin jigs and they're a game changer

I got the Kreg set with the 5mm and 1/4 inch bits after messing up a few sets of holes on some maple ply. The little locking collar and the guide block make lining everything up so much faster. Has anyone found a better way to do this for built-in cabinets?

3 comments

3 Comments

elliot_thompson2mo ago

Is dropping four bills on a jig really the only way? I just used a piece of scrap wood with a couple dowels as a guide for years. Drilled a hole in it, stuck a pin in, and used that to space the next hole. Worked fine for my bookcases. Feels like we're buying solutions for problems that a scrap of plywood already fixed.

luna752mo ago

That's the sound of your wallet crying, but also your future shelves lining up perfectly. My first attempt looked like a woodpecker on espresso went to town on some birch. The Kreg jig is basically training wheels for cabinet making, and sometimes you just need the training wheels.

dianagreen1mo ago

Training wheels is right, lol. But some of us need them bad. My first pocket holes were so crooked the screws came out the side. Elliot_thompson's dowel trick is smart if you already know what you're doing, but that's the catch. For people like me who can't draw a straight line, the jig is worth it just to stop the swearing. It's not about the tool, it's about how shaky your hands are.