Kreg K4 vs K5 Jig Comparison

Kreg K4 vs K5 which jig kit is the one to buy ?

Pocket hole jigs can help make a quality, square and more importantly repeatable join time and time again. They are used by cabinet makers and woodworkers of all skill levels.

A pocket hole jig can be used as a substitute for biscuit joins or mortise and tenon joints. They are quick and simple to use and even a beginner can produce some high quality joins especially in more awkward spots.

Furthermore, Kreg has a long history as a maker of pocket hole jigs. It's current range the R3, K4 and K5 all have subtle differences. You can see how the K4 fairs against the smaller model R3 here Kreg R3 vs K4. 

Lets take a brief look at the K4 and K5 with a quick review of each and then a comparison of both Kreg pocket hole jigs at the end.

Kreg K4 Review

The Kreg K4 bundle includes the K4 pocket hole jig, face clamp and 500 1-1/4 inch pocket hole screws.

The K4 is the classic design from Kreg that is quick and easy to use by just about anyone.

It comes with a removable 3 hole drill guide and stepped drill bit meaning you can get started right out of the box. 

The KHC face clamp that is supplied in the kit is specially designed with a large face helping to keep your pieces perfectly flush and tightly secured.

Also, The 1-1/4 inch screws are designed specifically designed for pocket hole joinery. They have self tapping auger tips which eliminate the need for pre-drilling of stock pieces. The screws are best suited to joining 3/4 stock so if you are using anything else you may need to find the right sized screws to suit your needs.

Like all the drill guides in the Kreg range the guides have a lifetime warranty so they should stand up to years of usage.

Kreg K5 Review

The Kreg K5 bundle includes the K5 pocket hole jig plus the SK03 pocket hole screw kit.

The K5 is Kreg's latest model in its range of pocket hole jigs. With each new model there are small but well thought out improvements made and the K5 is no exception.

With the K5 there has been a few changes over the K4.

The K5 now has additional side tables. The side tables or "support wings" as some people call them help to keep your work piece stable. The side tables can also be used for storage when not in use which is a nice little touch.

For those who may end up using the K5 a lot the addition of a dust port will help keep the work surface clean and help reduce dust about the wood shop or garage. The dust port should connect to any standard shop vacuum. 

Further, one gripe about the dust port is its positioning on the jig. It can be a bit of a pain as it is between the quick release clamp lever and the general position of were you drill from.

The K5 also has an adjustable work piece stop that allows you to position each work piece in exactly the same position as the previous one, perfect for making repeated drill holes on lots of boards.  

Kreg K4 vs K5

Kreg K4 vs K5 which is best ?

The difference between kreg k4 and k5 is not that great in terms of functionality. The addition of the side wings for stability onto the K5 is certainly a nice feature if you are joining larger pieces and they also double as a storage solution for your screws. As too is the adjustable stop.

Given that there is not a huge difference in price then I would choose the K5 over the K4 every time.