Looking For Pocket Hole Jigs, Which one is better Kreg R3 or K4?
Kreg R3 Master System With Classic Clamp
VS.
Kreg K4 Pocket HoleJig System (K4 Jig)
Nearly 3 decades ago in 1986 Kreg invented its first pocket hole jig. The first pocket hole jig comes with a single drilling hole but over the time they have introduced multiple models of pocket hole jigs with a lot of advancements.
In this article we will discuss the comparisons between two Kreg jigs R3 & K4. Both these models come in the middle range in terms of features and price. If you are in a dilemma on choosing one of these jigs then you are at the right place. We will show you the features of each jig and comparisons which will help you to make a decision rather than spending hours on doing unnecessary research.
Kreg Jig R3
Are you new to woodworking or just want to learn the skill then Kreg jig R3 is a good tool for you. You get the complete kit with this jig including drill and drive bits, clamp pad adapter, 5 sizes of pocket hole screws, depth collar with hex key and the case.
Features
- It's easily join materials with an increment of ⅛” from thickness ½” to 1-½”
- 9 depth settings can be adjusted with position sliders for different materials thickness.
- It has dual woodchip holes to drill pocket holes.
- To make it firm while drilling holes you can use Kreg face clamp, bar clamp, or C-clamp.
- The hardened steel kreg drill core comes with a lifetime warranty.
- The best part of this jig is that it's portable. If you can’t bring the broken item to the work floor then it can be repaired by taking this jig to the broken item. So it's very easy to repair broken drawers, wobbly chairs, built-in bookcase, fractured frames etc.
- The blue body is made of heavy duty , glass reinforced nylon. It gives flexibility and resiliency to the woodworker.
- It comes with a wood chip relief hole to keep the drill bit clear of excess wood chips. By clearing the excess wood chip it increases the longevity of drill bits by minimizing drill torque.
Pros/Cons
Pros.
- Two drill holes
- Good fit for small scale tasks
- Affordable cost
Cons.
- Not suitable for professional and high level drilling tasks,
- Feels like a toy or insubstantial
Quick Recap of Kreg R3
- The Kreg Jig Jr(R3) is an amazing repair jig and an exceptionally handy addition to any tool collection
- Easy to use and install
- Whether you're crawling under a table to make a quick repair or taking Kreg Joinery on the road
- Pocket hole jig system for do-it-yourselfers
- Easy to adjust for materials 1/2-Inch to 1-1/2-Inch
Kreg Jig K4
The Kreg jig K4 is one of the most popular jigs compared to other Kreg pocket hole jig models. This model is for professionals or experienced woodworkers. This tool set includes Kreg Jig K4, 6” square driver, starter kreg screw set, stepped drill bit and pocket hole plug set.
Features
- It comes with a three hole drill guide.
- You can drill holes for materials with thickness from ½” to 1-½” with an increment of ⅛”.
- The hardened core steel drill guide comes with a lifetime warranty. This core supports the workpiece or the drill bit with a minimal bit deflection which gives a clean and pluggable pocket hole.
- The jig can be clamped on Kreg multipurpose face clamp, C-clamp or any common bar clamp.
- This jig has an inbuilt clamp which gives a stronger grip to workpieces while drilling pocket holes.
- Thanks to the woodchip relief hole that the drill bit clear of the excess wood chips and drills a perfect pocket hole.
Pros/Cons
Pros.
- Three drilling holes
- Feels very substantial
- Easily clampable
- Gives a good grip to the workpiece
- Suitable for professionals
Cons.
- It's expensive but quality of work is really appreciable
Quick Recap of Kreg K4
Kreg Jig R3 Vs K4
So we have looked at the features of each jig and found that there are some similarities and differences. Lets list out the comparisons between these two tools so it will help you in your purchasing decision.
- 3-Hole drill guide for pocket holes, for use with materials from 12 to 38mm thick
- Removable drill guide block doubles as a repair tool; Drill Guide Spacings: 9/16", 7/8", 17/16"
- Large clamping recess to secure your jig; Removable Drill Guide for benchtop and portable use
- Requires no glue, no complicated math, and no small army of clamps.Clamping Method:Toggle clamp on benchtop base
- Includes Kreg Jig K4, stepped drill bit, 6 inch square driver, starter Kreg Screw set, pocket-hole plug set
Size:
Both the jigs are small in size and portable but R3 can be fit into your palm. The best advantage of the R3 is that if the workpiece can’t bring to the workfloor (e.g. builtin bookcase, broken drawers) then the jig can be taken to these workpieces to fix them.
Drilling Holes:
The R3 has 2 drilling holes and K4 has 3 drilling holes. If you need to drill more pocket holes or want to work on a larger wood piece then K4 is preferable.
Clamping:
The K4 has two clamps one to clamp the jig on the work table and another one to clamp the workpiece on the jig to drill holes.
Like K4, the R3 doesn’t have an inbuilt clamp to clamp the workpieces while drilling holes, so it lacks the quality of grip we will get with K4.
Price:
The price of K4 is almost double of R3. On one hand K4 is for professionals and this jig is durable, on the other hand R3 is like a toy and suitable for beginners who are new to this profession.
Which one should you buy, R3 or K4?
Any model of Kreg pocket hole jigs are quite popular among the users because of its design, flexibility, easy and safe to use. Anyone even a child can master in drilling pocket holes by using Kreg jigs.
Basically the purpose of use, brings the key differences between these two jigs. If you have a small scale task or a beginner in pocket hole drilling then R3 will be perfect for you and cheaper in cost but on the other hand if you are dealing with larger workpieces or working as a professional then K4 is recommended to use because of its durability and some key features.
We have checked both Kreg R3 & K4 specifications, pros and cons, comparisons, so I believe it might have given you an idea which one you should buy. But, still we would recommend you to think clearly on the usage of the jig, your experience in pocket hole drilling and the budget you have before making any decision.
References: kregtool.com
