Differentiating the Kreg K4 VS K5 can be confusing, but picking the wrong jig will cost you time and energy. Both are pocket hole jigs made for pocket hole joinery and happen to be two of the most popular jigs from the brand. But which is worth your money? Our experts are here to answer your question.
Kreg K4 or K5?
Features of Kreg K4 and K5
When we look at the Kreg K5 VS K4, it’s more than just assessing what’s on the surface. Potential woodworkers need to look at a combination of capabilities to make sure the pocket hold jig they choose is suitable for woodworking projects and home improvement projects. This is where our experts come in.
Size and Weight
As you can see from just an eyeball test, the Kreg K4 is smaller and more compact than the K5. The K4 is a removable pocket drill for benchtop use and even though it’s small, it has a large clamp to hold tightly to the surface.
Because it is the smaller model, the K4 is also lighter in weight at only 3.61 pounds. The K4 model was designed for DIY woodworking fabricators, which also contributes to its smaller size and straightforward interface.
The K5 requires more space to accommodate the extra embellishments such as the vacuum hose, dust collection port, and storage wings. It is the heavier tool but not by much at only 5.69 pounds.
Kreg K4 and K5: Clamping System
It’s important for a pocket hole jig to have a strong clamping system. The Kreg K5 pocket hole jig has a front-mounted handle for easy adjustments during the job. The ratcheting clamp mechanism is a tool-free way for quick tweaks.
The Kreg Jig K4 also has a large clamping recess but it doesn’t feature the intricate ratcheting clamp for convenience. Even so, it’s easy to find a compatible clamp for the K4 jig as any c clamp, bar clamp, or face clamp can hold it in place.
A standard pocket jig requires two different clamps — one for holding wood pieces and a clamp system for securing the pocket jigs to the surface. Our experts feel the K5 saves you from having to purchase a separate one, but the K4 doesn’t come with a built-in clamping system for the bench.
Kreg K4 and K5 Capacity
In terms of capacity and versatility, the Kreg K5 also takes the cake. This drill guide can accommodate materials from ½-inch to 1-½-inch thick and can deliver pocket holes at 9/16-inches, ⅞-inches, and 1-7/16-inches. Our team says the K4 drill guides offer users much less flexibility. They can handle materials at the same wood thickness as the K5, but the pocket holes cannot be adjusted and are only made at ⅛-inch increments.
Material and Durability
Both the Kreg K5 VS K4 are sturdy models. The Kreg K4 features lithium metal batteries as does the K5. Both tools feature a hardened steel body along with durable nylon and some plastic in the construction.
Storage
For storage, there is no competition between the Kreg K4 VS K5 because there is only built-in storage space on the K5 pocket hole jigs. You can store extra drill bits, screws, and other accessories in the storage wings. The Kreg K4 pocket hole drill guide does not afford this luxury to users. Due to the absence of the storage wings, it has a smaller profile for tight spaces.
Our experts suggest the K5 because having easy access to parts during a project is very helpful.
Kreg K4 and K5: Portability
Both the K4 and K5 are relatively compact pocket jigs all under 10 pounds. Like we said before, the presence of the storage system on the K5 makes it larger and slightly heavier than the K4. While both jigs are excellent tools for DIY projects that require portability, the K4 is clearly the easier one to have for mobility.
Dust Collection
Our experts always stress the importance of a good dust port. Professional and beginner woodworkers alike can understand the hassle of having debris and dust accumulate in the tools and workspace. Fortunately, both jigs have a reliable dust collection system.
If you need stronger suction, you can even connect the jigs to your shop vac for faster and more powerful dust extraction for wood chips. It may seem like there is no clear winner in this section, but our experts say the K5 still comes out on top. This is because the K5 tool has a swivel port that can be positioned for your convenience. The K4 dust port is a fixed design and can only clear up wood dust in one locked position.
Kreg K4 and K5 Additional Features
As our team mentioned before, the K5 is a new and improved version of the K4, its predecessor. One of the handy features on the new K5 is support wings. The K4 couldn’t handle longer materials but the K5 now can.
Let’s take a quick look at what the Kreg K4 can do and what features it has. It is a 3-hole drill guide, a large clamping recess, a toggle clamp, allows for a deeper angle when drilling holes, and a wood chip relief.
The K5 has what the Kreg K4 has to offer but improves on certain features. For example, the K5 jig allows users to make quick and easy thickness adjustments. There is onboard storage for small components, the dust collector port swivels, and it has a front-mounted handle for easy clamping.
The K5 also has dual clamps for the material and the work surface, whereas you will need to purchase a separate one such as face clamps for the K4.
Pricing and Warranty
As an improved design, the K5 jig tool is understandably more expensive. Don’t be deterred just yet, because the price discrepancy is negligible at around 50 dollars. Our experts feel that with the extra money, you get more features in the new tools that address the shortcomings in the old K4 unit, and that is worth every cent.
As for the warranty, our dedicated readers know our experts advise you to never forgo the warranty when purchasing tools that should last for years. Luckily, the manufacturer offers a lifetime warranty [1] on their products including the two jigs.
FAQ
Which is better Kreg K4 or K5?
The K5 is better than the K4 because it is a new and improved model for your wood projects that improves on the features in the former K4 model. It also adds some additional capabilities such as a swivel dust port and onboard storage. If the size is a bigger concern for you, the Kreg K4 is the smaller and more compact jig.
What is the difference between K4 and K5?
The difference between the K4 and K5 are new and improved capabilities on the latter jig model. On the K5 you can find everything from the K4 plus a front-mounted handle, additional wings for support and storage, plus a swivel dust port. Keep in mind that these additional features contribute to the larger size of the K5.
Overall Winner: Kreg K5
The results are in! After the battle of the Kreg K5 VS K4, the winner is clear — the Kreg K5! It can drill holes with more spacing choices and it offers what the K4 lacks, which are wings fur storage and material support, a swivel dust collection port, a front-mounted handle for convenience, and easily adjustable thickness to suit your wood piece.
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