For what looks to be a limited time, Kreg is offering a premium pocket hole jig bundle that includes a a number of smaller accessory kits, a pocket hole screw kit and 22″ cantilever tool box. They also put together a fastener kit with the same 15-bin organizer and 800+ pocket hole screw kit for those that already own a Kreg or other brand’s pocket hole jig.

Kreg Pocket Hole Jig Kit Plus Screws and Toolboxx via Amazon
Kreg 800+ Screw and Toolboxx Organizer Kit via Amazon

The larger KTC5000 jig bundle includes the Kreg K4MS Jig Master System, a Kreg Jig Mini, a Kreg Jig Micro Drill Guide, and a right angle clamp. It also includes everything from the KTC22 pocket hole screw assortment - 835 screws of various sizes and styles, and a Toolboxx.

The Toolboxx is not sold separately, but it looks to be a rebranded Keter 22-inch cantilever organizer. You can find these organizer toolboxes at almost every major home improvement retailer under various house brands. They also make a smaller 18-inch organizer.

So my parents bought an outdoor storage shed a few months ago, and a team of Amish builders (seriously!) hauled in the pre-made walls and roof and assembled the small structure in the backyard. There aren’t really any valuables in the shed, nothing anyone would want to steal, anyways.

A few days ago, my father found a few of the door hinge square recess/Robertson screws on the floor. After looking it over myself, I agree with his conclusion that it is impossible for the screws to have fallen out themselves. In other words, someone hopped the yard fence and tried to get into the shed.

So… we’re trying to think of ways to prevent someone from casually removing these screws again. I’m thinking small 1/8″ steel ball bearings secured in the screws’ recesses with a bit of wax or putty. If the screws need to be accessed in the future, we can pull the balls out with a strong magnet.

Please share any suggestions you may have. For reference, shotgun and protective dog methods are out of the question.

Pocket Holes Joinery is an incredibly versatile and simple means by which to join two pieces of wood together. Most often you will see pocket holes used to connect two pieces of wood at right angles to each other, but the technique is not limited to 90° joints.

Pocket holes can be used to assemble face frames, picture friends, laminated panels, cabinets, bookshselves, just to give you an idea. A pocket hole joint does not draw its strength from glue, but from angled screws.

Tools

• Pocket hole jig (such as these jigs via Amazon)
• stepped drill bit (or a piloted spot facing/counterbore or forstner bit)
• wide pad clamp
• pocket hole screws (or wood screws with wide flat heads)

Pocket Hole Jig Basics

While you don’t absolutely need a special pocket hole jig, they make drilling pocket holes a cinch. These days jigs are available at many pricepoints. starting at ~$20, so there’s really not much of a compelling reason to drill these holes by hand. In addition to making things easier, Pocket hole jigs offer high repeatability.

Porter Cable Quik Jig - an Advanced Pocket Hole Jig

A pocket hole jig, in its simplest form, is plastic or metal block with a drill bushing guide angled into it. A stepped drill bit is then used, through the drill bushing, to drill into the workpiece. A stop-collar is used to control drilling depth, and is adjusted according to the thickness of the workpieces.

Once the pocket hole is drilled, the two pieces of wood are clamped and then fastened together with a pocket hole screw. Often pocket holes will be positioned so that they are not externally visible in a completed project, but you can use special wood plugs to help conceal them.

Pocket Hole Bored Hole Position

Pocket Hole Assembly Example

X-Ray View of Pocket Hole Joint Prior to Screwing

One thing to remember is that pocket holes are typically strongest when the hole passes through the midpoint of the workpiece thicknesses. Most pocket hole screws cut their own threads, so pilot holes are not often required.

In addition to adjusting the drilling depth stop collar, the proper length screws must be used as well. Fine threaded screws are used in hardwoods, and coarse threaded ones in softer wood.

Tools:

• Safety Goggles (seriously)
• Nail Puller (We recommend the Vaughan Bear Claw, Shark, and the Dead on Exhumer)
• Dead Blow Mallet or Hammer

Step 1 – Exhaust All Other Options & Clamp it Down

In this photo, a 16d nail is embedded about half-way into a scrap 2×4, and would not budge. The first step was to firmly clamp down the wood. If the wood is otherwise anchored, you can skip this, but it’s always safer to double-check.

Step 2: Set the Nail Puller and Give it a Whack

Set the nail puller’s claw as close to the wood as possible for maximum leverage and range of motion. Using a dead blow hammer or mallet, or a softer-faced hammer (e.g. ball pein), strike the flat face of the nail puller to drive it deeper onto the nail. This allows the nail puller to cut into the nail for some bite.

Step 3: Roll the Nail Puller Back

Roll the nail puller back a bit using its rounded head as a fulcrum. If the nail is still partially embedded in the wood and cannot be easily removed or the nail puller slips, repeat step 2.

Here is where having a few sizes of nail pullers can come in handy. As you can imagine, it is easier to remove larger nails with larger nail pullers.

Step 4: Rejoice

Success!

Cats Paw nail pullers (via Amazon) can also be used in a similar manner, but many prefer the flatter and larger striking surface of the above type of nail puller.

After finding nothing but easily-sheared way-overpriced fasteners at home improvement stores, I started buying my wood screws online a while back. One of my favorite screws has been Spax, since they (usually) requite no pilot-hole and hold up quite well.

If you haven’t tried ‘em out yet, you should definitely consider it. And since they’re now available at Home Depot at online-prices, I’m a pretty happy camper.

Spax screws, at least all the ones I found, are Made in the USA or Germany.

Spax Screws via Amazon
Also Available via McFeelys

Paslode is now offering a bunch of tool skins for their line of cordless framing nailers, including one that promotes breast cancer awareness. The Let’s Nail The Cure decal is just $7.99, with 25% of proceeds going to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure organization. A few additional skin designs, shown in the following gallery, are also available.

These tool graffiti skins fit Paslode’s fuel powered cordless framing nailer IMCT, model 900420. Other skin designs include “Build Tough,” flames, and “Freedom Eagle”.

Pick up your tool skins at  Paslode Outlet or their Parts Center.

AS Machinery & Materials Co. (ASMC) has received an influx of new inventory of thousands of pounds and millions of fasteners. Alex’s prices are fairly competetive, and he has developed a rock-solid reputation amongst his customers.

You can check out a list of ASMC’s inventory here, and be sure to check out Alex’s announcement on the GarageJournal forum for ordering details, information about specially priced assortments, and answers to various questions.

After posting about Lee Valley’s new thread ID tool, we started thinking about other thread-identification tools that we’re familiar with. Identifying a thread is usually done in one of two ways – by matching an unknown thread to a fastener of known thread, or by measuring and comparing the diamater and thread pitch of a fastener. 

Following are a few types of thread identification tools:

Pictured here is the (made in USA) Thread Checker by S&W Manufacturing. Loosely threaded about a wire, these beaded fasteners can be used to identify tapped holes, nuts, and bolts. This type of thread ID tool offers similar flexibility to Lee Valley’s ID tool, but eliminates the risk of losing a stud. S&W Manufacturing also offers a wall mounted Thread Checker.

You can purchase S&W’s Thread Checker via McMaster Carr, and an import version is available from MSC.

Nearly identical to the Thread Checker, Rockler’s Thread Detective Screw Gauge is as versatile, but a bit more economical. SAE and metric gauges are sold separately.

Then of course, you have bolt and machine identification gauges where you match fasteners to holes of known size. For these gauges to be used most effectively, you may want to have a screw pitch gauge handy to measure a fastener’s thread count. Of course, you could always hold the fastener up to a scale or calipers and count the thread density yourself.

Most hardware and tool stores will typically carry screw ID tools of this kind, and they’re quite affordable at $10-15, although you may be able to find a cheaper one. These types of gauges are available from several brands in a very similar layout (suggesting a common OEM).

Two examples of this syle of thread ID tool are the Empire screw ID tool (via Amazon), and the Screw CHEK’R (via Enco).

Some time ago we noticed a similarly styled ID tool by Woodcraft that can be used for sizing anchors and wood screws – Anchor & Screw Gauge (via Woodcraft).

Finally, a screw thread pitch gauge is used to measure the TPI, or threads per inch, of SAE fasteners. Metric thread gauges work in a slightly different manner and instead measure the separation between threads. Screw pitch gauges can be found at larger home improvement stores, and many well stocked online retailers.

Here are several gauges available via Amazon.

If you know of any great thread identification tool styles that we might have missed, please let us know via a comment!

We’re not quite sure what’s going on, but Small Parts appears to be cleaning out their stock of hex bolts. We’re seeing grade 5 and grade 8 fastener packs selling for ridiculously low amounts – in some instances as much as 50% lower than other retailers’ bulk prices.

To get started, here’s a search for grade 5 fasteners. From there, you can try different search terms until you find what you want, but also keep in mind that certain sizes may already be sold out.

Grade 5 Hex Bolts Pack of 25 (Amazon)

If you find great prices on any other types of fasteners, order what you need and then share the deal details with the rest of us!