Modify your Kreg Jig for easier use

Pocket hole screws are a super easy way of joining wood.  You simply need a pocket hole jig to drill the holes. Most pocket hole jigs accept materials from 1/2″ to 1 1/2″ thick.  Using a pocket hole jig is pretty easy, depending on the jig. I have several jigs from Kreg Tools and the depth settings are universally difficult to read.  Today’s guest post if from Ayisha from The Pursuit of Handyness.  She has a great tip to make it much easier to use a Kreg Jig.

Modify your Kreg Jig for easier use

I have the Kreg Jig K4 Master System. I love it to pieces and it’s really easy to use. With this model, you have to slide the drill guide up and down to set the thickness of your wood. You also have to adjust the depth collar on your drill bit.

It’s very difficult to see the tiny marked settings scribed into the jig.  Using the correct setting is very important in order to get the perfect pocket hole joint.  You have to have the right depth and placement of the pocket hole depending on the thickness of the material you are joining.

SO being able to see the settings is a must!

Make the settings easier to see

In real life, those marks are the equivalent of a 2 pt font and are really difficult to see. I’m a young woman with 20/15 vision but I have to get all up in my jigs business to see what they say.

One day, I was filling holes with spackle and accidentally rubbed a little on the jig. The spackle was pink but when it dried, it turned bright white. Instantly I noticed how easy it was to read the measurements.

I was so excited that I was ready to yell “EUREKA” and run down the street naked (name that Greek scientist). More than anything, I couldn’t believe that the folks at the Kreg Tool company had not thought of it first.

Now this little tip could have easily been summed up in one sentence but I like to be thorough so I’ve broken it down for you with lots of photos.

What you’ll need:

• white paint
• small paint brush
• damp cloth or paper towell

First remove the removable drill guide from the jig assembly.

Paint

I found that the spackle wore off too easy so I’m suggesting you use paint. Acrylic paint works well but latex paint works even better. Paint the white paint over the markings making sure to get paint in the grooves.

Quickly wipe the paint off with a slightly damp paper towel. Don’t scrub.  The point is to wipe the paint off the flat surface without wiping it out of the grooves.

Do the same thing with the markings on the main jig assembly.

If the paint starts to dry and does not come off easily, use a little bit of nail polish remover to get the excess off the surface. Don’t rub too hard or you will rub the paint out of the grooves.

Once it’s dry, you should have no problem reading the depth settings.

Adjusting your depth collar has never been more precise.

No more getting all up in your jigs business to read the settings. The white paint really stands out against the bright blue and makes it sooo much easier to read those tiny little numbers. It’s amazing what a difference a little paint makes!

Now go and push some paint into the crevices of your Kreg Jig.  Your eyesight will thank you ! 🙂

You might also like to read these reviews of the Kreg K5 jig, the Kreg R3 Junior jig and the Porter-Cable pocket hole jig.