Replies

1. 
   rsaunders | Feb 10, 2008 11:49am | #1

   Castle.

1. 
   BilljustBill | Feb 10, 2008 08:03pm | #2

   Thanks, but what's a Castle?   Link?  Price?

     Bill

1. 
   rsaunders | Feb 10, 2008 08:16pm | #3

   I have the TSM-21. Around $2000.

   http://www.castleusa.com/pocket_joinery.html

2. 
   oldusty | Feb 10, 2008 08:35pm | #4

     Edit : Sorry about the reply going to fibreglass insted of Bill, operator error

          Bill ,

           How much do you or will you use it ? Daily , weekly a few times a year ?

             I ask because there are 3 or 4 different ways to go and then some .

               Castle and Ritter and maybe others have made what I have always called a "drill tub" the work piece gets clamped down and the drill or cutter comes up through the table . These are heavy duty and accurate industrial machines .

       I have never used the Kreg system but have seen pictures .

         If you have a drill press and compressed air here is an option posted below , you can build the jig for maybe $100 - 150 depending on the cost of some metal work .

                        good  luck          dusty

                 

   
   

   ---

   Edited 2/10/2008 12:39 pm ET by oldusty

   
3. 
   terrylee86 | Feb 11, 2008 03:11am | #5

   Bill,
   If you are going to use a pocket screw machine a lot, the Castle is the best machine I have ever used. I have used it for about 5 years and it is bulletproof. It does not drill the pocket, it has a router swing up automatically when the pneumatic clamp grabs the work piece and a drill motor then drills the pilot hole. Very quick, very slick. The angle of the screw is not as step as well. Good machine.

4. 
   mapleman | Feb 11, 2008 04:05am | #6

   Bill,

   The castle is a great machine, but priced for the professional. If you are looking for a cheaper alternative, the porter cable is based on the same principle as the castle, with the router swinging up and cutting the groove and a separate router cutting the through hole. About $750 compared to about $2500 for the castle.

   One thing to keep in mind, the castle and porter cable cut the slot at much less of an angle, so that there is less tendency for the 2 pieces to slide apart when driving the screw. My joints on the porter cable are just about perfect all of the time.

   After having used a kreg system, the castle or PC is definitely the way to go.

   Just my $.02

   Lee