Pro tip: That $40 shelf pin jig from Amazon saved my hide on a big job last week

I had to drill 60 sets of holes for adjustable shelves on a custom built-in I'm doing in a house near Richmond. Usually I just measure and mark each one with a speed square and a pencil, but I was running behind and figured I'd try one of those cheap plastic jigs with the metal bushing. Cost me $40 on a whim and honestly it was the best money I spent all month. Every single hole lined up perfect, no wobble, no having to redo anything. I finished the whole thing in about 2 hours instead of the 6 it normally takes me. Only catch is the cheap one I got didn't have a depth stop so I had to be careful not to blow through the plywood. Has anyone else found a solid jig that has a depth stop built in? I don't want to spend $100 on the fancy name brand ones.

2 comments

2 Comments

wesleyc752d ago

Man, you almost had it perfect with that $40 jig and then it goes and pulls a fast one on you by not having a depth stop... figures. I swear it's like these companies know exactly what to leave off just to make you upgrade to the $100 version. At least you didn't blow through the plywood and have to start over though, count your blessings on that one. For real though, paying forty bucks to save four hours of work is still a steal, even if you have to eyeball the depth like a caveman with a drill.

verap522d ago

Put a piece of blue tape on your drill bit as a makeshift depth stop, works like a charm.