Porter-Cable 560 Quick Jig Review

Because of the quantity of projects I build, I’m always looking for tools that help me work faster and more efficiently and I have purchased quite a few different pocket hole jigs.  I use different ones for different jobs depending on how many holes I need to drill, how much time I want to spend setting up a “pocket hole drilling station”, where I will be working and what I’m working on.  I have a small Kreg R3 pocket hole jig that is great for attaching faceframes to large built-ins that are already installed.  The R3 works for any pocket holes that need to be drilled but it only has two holes that are spaced perfectly for a 1×2 faceframe so if you’re drilling anything wider than 2″, you have move the jig to drill more than one hole.  I decided it would be beneficial for me to invest in a larger jig to use in addition to my R3.  I first purchased the Kreg K5 (see that review here) and used that for a few months before looking for something better.  I read a lot of reviews and ended up buying the Porter-Cable 560 Quick Jig.

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Porter-Cable 560 Quick Jig review

My Porter-Cable 560 only weighs about 3 lbs more than the Kreg K5 but for me, those 3 lbs make all of the difference. Some of the problems I discussed in the K5, the Porter-Cable solves perfectly for my needs.  It’s $40 more than the Kreg K5 but that difference is well worth the benefit of the better jig IMO.

The Porter-Cable 560 is constructed mostly out of metal and is solid so it stays on the table without having to use the clamps.

Dust Collection

The Porter-Cable 560 has a dust collection system located on the backside of the jig so it’s not in the way when you’re drilling.  It consists of a small dust collection tray that slides in, under the drilling location.  Connect your shop vac to the dust port and it removes most of the sawdust as you drill your pocket holes.  The Porter-Cable dust collection feature is not as effective as the K5 but it does get most of the sawdust.

 

Drill into material of any length and width

When you need to drill pocket holes in larger pieces of material, remove the dust collection tray and flip the Porter-Cable on its back.  The jig back is made to the same thickness as a standard 2×4 so you can support material of any length by simply using a scrap 2×4 to support the long end.

Adjustable hole spacing

Porter-Cable 560 Quick Jig has variable spaced bushings that allows you to adjust the hole location for different material widths.  Adjustment is easy: simply turn the knob to

You just twist this knob an space your pocket holes to where they need to be, but that is not all, there is no need to adjust the stop collar on your drill bit with this jig, it does it automatically to the depth of your wood just lock the wood into place and you are good to go.

Material Thickness Adjustment

One of the cool features of the Porter-Cable 560 Quick Jig is how easy it is to adjust for material thickness.

Set the “quick release” clamp, put your wood in place then turn a handle that allows you to close close the jig onto the wood that is in place.  Then open the quick release to remove the wood and put in another piece.

Drill Bit

There is no need to ever adjust the stop collar on the drill bit.  The drill depth changes with the material thickness change and the included drill bit drills to the correct depth every time.

Screw Length Indicator

There is an indicator on the side of the jig that shows you the correct length of screw to use based on the material thickness you are using.

Bit Storage

The Porter-Cable pocket hole jig has handy bit storage right on the jig.  It comes with and stores two driver bits and one drill bit. Stop Block

When you are running a batch of material of same width (like faceframes), this built in stop block saves you time.  Just put the wood in the jig so the right side is butted up against the stop block and you’re ready to go.  You can easily adjust the location of the stop or just flip it up out of the way if you’re using extra wide material.

 

Sum it Up

I find the Porter-Cable 560 Quick Jig to be a pretty sweet tool!  It’s heavy enough to use without clamping it to the table but light enough to mover around easily.  I can drill holes into material of any width and length by simply flipping the jig on it’s back.  Changing for material thickness is a quick one-step with no need to change the stop collar on the drill bit and the holes are clean.  The dust collection isn’t note-worthy but that’s a small price to pay for all the other benefits — in my opinion.  This is my current go-to pocket hole jig for stationary use.  I still use my Kreg R3 for remote pocket holes and find having both tools in my “tool arsenal” a real convenience.