We're on our second Kreg Foreman (and lots of bits) at the furniture bank and are looking for a more commercial replacement.  We will go thru about 80,000 screws this year.  About half of them are pocket holes and the rest are just holding parts together. Will let you know what we happen  to get.

Edited October 30, 20241 yr by kmealy

Maybe Festool will make one for under $20,000  

James Hamilton (Stumpy Nubs) has used one of these:

Castle 110

 

Castle does offer one just under $60k too.

 

CastleUSA Pocket Hole Equipment

 

Surely @kmealy all the good you and your team does at the furniture bank any one of those companies should be proud to donate the tool & supplies to you.

Bob makes a good point, I would think that some would donate or discount those kind of things. That aside, Kreg does resharpen those bits, inexpensive and they (I've been told) do a nice job.....I realize you probably know that but might be worth mentioning anyway.

1 hour ago, Fred W. Hargis Jr said:

Bob makes a good point, I would think that some would donate or discount those kind of things. That aside, Kreg does resharpen those bits, inexpensive and they (I've been told) do a nice job.....I realize you probably know that but might be worth mentioning anyway.

The problem we often have is the narrow diameter tip gets broken off.  Since we have volunteers that are new, my theory is they move the wood before the bit is fully retracted.

 

We have been buying stuff from a local machinery dealer, one that I've used for 40 years.

We got a couple of corporate donations (and 10% off from the vendor) and have one of these on order by the end of the year.  Our hobbyist version just wasn't cutting it (no pun intended).

 

Yippee!

 

https://www.kregtool.com/shop/pocket-hole-joinery/commercial-machines/single-spindle-electric-pocket-hole-machine/DK1100FE.html

 

Edited November 27, 20241 yr by kmealy

I would never of guessed that it demanded such a price.  I'm, sure your going to like it.   Danl

2 hours ago, Danl said:

I would never of guessed that it demanded such a price.  I'm, sure your going to like it.   Danl

Yes, I was a little surprised at the price, too.  $5K

An I thought tablesaws were high.

Good for you & your team Keith.

22 hours ago, kmealy said:

We got a couple of corporate donations (and 10% off from the vendor) and have one of these on order by the end of the year.

 

There not cheap. Production pocket hole cutters used go for $2-$3k

We got the new pocket hole machine up and running and I worked with the volunteer on it.  We were having so many problems with the Foreman.  Upgraded to this $5k model.  Worked great.  At that price, it should.  I uses a large dust collection system -- the floor.  There's a square chute out back that we just put a box under.

 

I’m not familiar with the Kreg pocket hole machines, but it should work great.