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Tips
9
Nominal Size vs. Actual Size
At a lumberyard or home center you’ll see labels on
lumber such as “1x6” and “2x4.” These “nominal”
sizes once described the dimensions of rough-cut
lumber before it was milled to finished or actual size.
Actual size is always smaller than nominal size.
The board-thickness marks on your Kreg Jig
®
refer
the actual thickness of the board. For example, a
1x4 is actually ¾" thick, so you’ll set your jig to the
¾" mark.
Common Board Sizes
Nominal Size
Actual Size
1x2
3
⁄
4
" x 1
1
⁄
2
"
1x3
3
⁄
4
" x 2
1
⁄
2
"
1x4
3
⁄
4
" x 3
1
⁄
2
"
1x6
3
⁄
4
" x 5
1
⁄
2
"
1x8
3
⁄
4
" x 7
1
⁄
4
"
2x2
1
1
⁄
2
" x 1
1
⁄
2
"
2x4
1
1
⁄
2
" x 3
1
⁄
2
"
2x6
1
1
⁄
2
" x 5
1
⁄
2
"
2x8
1
1
⁄
2
" x 7
1
⁄
4
"
4x4
3
1
⁄
2
" x 3
1
⁄
2
"
6x6
5
1
⁄
2
" x 5
1
⁄
2
"
3½˝
1½˝
4˝
2˝
Nominal
(2˝ x 4˝)
Actual
(1½˝ x 3½˝)
Length
Width
Thickness
Thickness
Length
Width
Grain Direction
6 Tips to Reduce Wood Splitting
Test Pieces
Test the joint with scrap pieces cut from the same stock as your final workpiece.
Make sure you’re using Kreg Screws
Kreg screws feature sharp, self-tapping tips that slice through the wood fibers.
Use the Right Screw Type
Use fine-thread screws in hardwood. These #7 screws displace less wood than the #8 coarse-
thread screws that are used for softwood, plywood, MDF, and particleboard.
Drive Progressively
Drive the screw half-way in, back it out to clear excess wood fibers from the hole, and then drive
the screw all the way in.
Reduce Friction
Apply bee’s wax or other lubricant to the screw to reduce the friction as the screw enters the
workpiece.
Clamp Correctly
Center the clamp pad on the joint line to apply equal pressure to both workpieces and keep them from
shifting. Firm clamping pressure forces the screw to slice through the wood instead of splitting it apart.
1
2
3
4
5
6
When using the optional Micro-Pocket
TM
Drill Guide and
drill bit with ½" (13mm)-thick stock, set the drill guide at
the ½" mark. Position the drill-bit stop collar for
5
⁄
8
"-thick
material. Join the parts with Kreg SPS-F075 screws. The
small-diameter head of these ¾" (19mm) panhead screws
seats below the workpiece surface to allow plugging with a
Micro pocket-hole plug. The
5
⁄
8
" stop-collar setting provides
maximum screw engagement in the mating workpiece.
Joining ½"
(13mm)
-thick stock
