Hey everybody, it’s that time of year again – it’s the Anarchist’s Gift Guide. We’ve been doing this for more than a decade now, people seem to like it, so I guess we’ll keep it up. Why? Unlike some other gift guides, ours isn’t sponsored. (In fact, if somebody asked us to write about their tool for the gift guide, our standard retort would be: “Why don’t you poop up your own butt?”) This is stuff we use and love. We have 11 offerings this year, and will publish one a day until we’re done. – Chris & Fitz
Kreg Pocket-Hole Jig K4
A pocket-hole joint is a time-honored tradition – and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. I have several antique pieces that employ this joint to attach the back and/or top, and the joints have lasted 150+ years. Sure, they were cut with a gouge instead of a Kreg jig, but they’re still holes inside a pocket, with a screw in them.
Which is to say that a Kreg K4 pocket hole jig is not only nothing to be ashamed of, but to be celebrated. It’s a fast way to join pieces of wood together for the long haul (kitchen cabinets, for example), or for the short term (Chris uses pocket hole screws as clamps when gluing up armbows for chairs, then removes the screws once the glue dries).
Kreg makes a number of pocket hole jig bundles, but we like the K4 kit because it’s easy to use without a lot of fuss. It’s less than $100 new, and can sometimes be found on eBay for less than $50. There are cheaper kits, but they require more fuss when clamping. Go for the K4. – Fitz