The Kreg Jig K3 Master System Product Review

There are many pocket joinery tools available on the market.  But the favorite among woodworking enthusiasts is the Kreg Pocket hole jig.  For the past two decades the Kreg Tool Company has created inexpensive, top of the line jigs that have revolutionized the way pocket joints are made. The Kreg K3 Master System is the company's newest pocket hole joinery system.

Standard Kit

There are 2 versions to the Kreg K3 system, the Standard kit and the Master kit system.  This review will deal with the Kreg Jig K3 Master System. The Master System Kit is the best value. The contents of the Master kit contains all the accessories of the Standard Kit with additional bonuses, but the Standard Kit can be upgraded with the purchase of a special kit at a later date.  So let's check out what makes up the Kreg Jig K3 Master System Kit.

The K3 Master System includes everything needed to make pocket hole joints very quickly. The Master Kit comes in a specially molded carrying case that allows for the storing of all its components which includes a well-written instruction manual plus:

Master Kit

• The Benchtop Base
• The Portable Base
• The Dust Collection Shroud
• The Material Support Stop
• A Face clamp
• The 3/8" step drill
• A 6" and 3"-long, square-drive bits
• A sample bag of self-tapping screws

The Main Components:

The Benchtop Base

Benchtop Base

This is the main component of the Kreg Jig K3 Master System. The Benchtop Base should be secured to the workbench for proper stability. Kreg has molded useful scale markings along each side of the base which are the collar depth adjustment scales. These measurements help set the location of the drill for the thickness of the material being used. The other markings along the front section of the base  are for showing where the screw will exit from the pocket hole. By following the instruction manual, the scales will show the proper setup for materials from ½" to 1 ½" thick. It is worth noting that all of the blue material that makes up the base components is 40% glass-filled nylon hard plastic. This makes these parts extremely durable and the glass nylon component makes them very resistant to scratching and abrasion.

The Portable Base

The Portable Base in the Kreg Jig K3 Master System has almost the same functions as the Benchtop Base with the exception that there is no onboard clamp or mechanism to set the drill bit depth collar.  A face clamp must be used to secure the Portable Base to the material being drilled.  Just like the Benchtop base, adjustments can be made to the Drill Guide Block for material thickness.

The Drill Guide Block

Drill Guide Block

The Benchtop Base may be the main component but the drill guide block is the heart of the Kreg Jig K3 Master System. The Drill Guide Block contains the three oddly arranged angled drill guides to accommodate three different pocket hole spacing needs.  The Drill Guide Block is used in both the Benchtop and Portable bases as well as a stand alone unit.  It is secured to the bases with a brass pin which can be inserted into specific holes in the block to allow for the different thicknesses of material.  As with the Benchtop Base, the Drill Guide Block has molded markings on its side.  These markings allow for the accurate set up of the guide block for the thickness of material being drilled. The actual drill guide holes feature zinc-plated, case-hardened steel, and The visible guide insert on the face of the drill block is aluminum.

The Dust Collection Shroud

Dust Collection Shroud

The snap-on dust collection shroud, for use with the Benchtop Base only,is a new feature to the Kreg Jig K3 Master System.  Drilling pocket holes may not necessarily generate much waste but the removal of chips and dust from the hole makes drilling easier and a much cleaner operation.  The dust collection shroud is not compatible with previous versions of the Kreg pocket hole jigs.

The Material Support Stop

Also new in the Kreg Jig K3 Master System kit is the Material Support Stop.  It is mounted separately and features an adjustable screw so it can be positioned for the work or removed altogether. The screw also acts as a stop by providing a reference point to butt material up against it for repetitive drilling.

Final Words

The Kreg K3 Pocket Hole Jig Master System works and produces remarkably strong joints. The engineering and design of all kit components is of first rate quality and will have a long durable life span. At the present time, the average cost of the Kreg Jig K3 Master system is $149.99.  A few dollars may be saved by shopping around.  At any cost however, the Kreg Jig K3 Master System is an excceptional value saving time and producing strong quality pocket hole joints.