[fge]

I am in your same position. I really could use a pocket hole machine, but don't really have the extra money for it at this time. I do appreciate being able to build some of my own machines if I am able to and this sounds like something that can be built easily. I have always thought about using some kind of vise on a drill press that held my material. We build around 15 or so kitchens per year. We use a face frame pnuematic table but drill holes with kreg jig.

I have been told the smaller kreg bench top machines are not worth the money and that they are under powered.

I don't have a lot to offer with advice but I do know if I were choosing between electric and pnuematic drill action, I would certainly go towards the pnuematic because electric motors will have more wear and tear issues in the long run.

So I will be anxious to see what you do, please keep us posted and let us know what design you end up doing. Maybe I can learn from you and make my own machine.

 

[fge]

Peter, I agree that the drill press idea would be difficult to work with on case work. But I only pocket hole face frames. I dado my case work and run screws through the sides. All of my visible sides on case work is dressed with finished panels on my jobs so no screw heads are ever seen. So using the drill press would work with face frames but I am not sure if that is the solution or not, but drill presses are often so inexpensive and typically readily available on CL a lot. Just tonight a fella has a 3/4 HP floor model drill press for sale for 100.00. The drill press is 16 speeds. Something like that set up permanently for face frames for the cost of 100.00 plus a 50.00 vise might work well for what I want it for. Just thinking out loud.

But for case work, I think you will need to continue thinking of a way to work with your peice laying down horizontally. Hope it goes well for you. It will be neat to see what you come up with. You will have to message me when you get it together, I would be interested in seeing what you come up with.

 

[fge]

Thanks Peter, just send me a message. I will look forward to your message.