BIG HORN19695 1/4" Dowel Drilling Jig Kit

After reading the reviews, I was a little hesitant to purchase this jig. But I gave it a shot because it’s was cheaper than the Rockler brand and had free prime shipping. When I got it, I was expecting everything to be off and not square. It was a little off square but I was able to correct that just by adjusting the set screws. Now it’s in line and seems to be holding. It has a good amount of weight and the plexi glass with the sight lines is solid. The drill bit that came with it feels pretty solid. The collar the sets the depth feels like it won’t last long. You have to really tighten the set screw to keep it in place. I’ve drilled several dowel holes now and it’s held together. Overall i’m happy with this dowel jig. Let’s just see how long it lasts.

Works just like it’s supposed to, I’ve made over 30 dowel joints with this jig now and they’ve all come out great. The clear plastic piece became a little loose after the first few uses so I had to tighten mine down good with a little thread lock to keep it secure so my dowels don’t go in at an angle, but since it’s been fine. I’d recommend to anyone looking for an easy way to make dowel joints. I prefer this easy way of connecting two pieces together rather than using the biscuit technique considering I don’t need a special tool just to make a cut into the edge of a piece of wood I can just use my cordless drill.

Works pretty well and I’m happy with it for the price. This jig provides a simple solution for smaller projects, but it’s not intended to be used for every job. I really like how easy it is to use, but the drill bit has a tendency to pull, causing the jig to “jump” off the mark by up to 1/16” when drilling the first hole. This doesn’t happen every time, but it happened more than once, making it difficult to line things up when multiple sets of holes are used. It would be nice if the jig had a couple of small spikes to help grip to the side of the wood to prevent shifting. I’m sure that clamping the jig would help reduce the jumping, but part of what I was looking for was a speedy option. I will probably use this for face frames and other tasks that require a single set of matching holes, but I’ll stick to my biscuit joiner for table tops and other large glue ups since the biscuits are a bit more forgiving.

Machined holes in guide block are too large for 1/4” bit, as a result any holes bored with the jig are inconsistent with both square and spacing to the face of the workpiece. Guide block and alignment plate can, and need to, be adjusted for square. However any effort in that regard is negated by the poor tolerances in the guide block. A drill press, a good chunk of maple and a fresh 1/4” drill bit will make a better guide and you can just mount the plexi plate on that. The markings are bot etched on the plexi, simply printed, and do wear off easily.

I've used this a few dozen times now and it's held up very well. The jig is easy to use, and it has a solid, weighty feel which gives me confidence it will hold up well over time. I've used it for many projects, particularly for tabletops using boards with 0.75" thickness. You'll get the best results if you create dowels on both sides of the board before joining.

Simple to use and worked well on the cabinet doors where, because of the weird design I came up with, I couldn't use anything larger than 1/4". I like simple tools that just do what they do well, and the doors came out exactly how I had planned.

I recently purchased the BIG HORN 19695 1/4" Dowel Drilling Jig Kit, and it has been an absolute letdown in every aspect. Here's why I wouldn't recommend this product to anyone:Misalignment Issues (1/5):Upon opening the box, it became painfully clear that this dowel drilling jig was severely misaligned. The holes for drilling were not even close to being straight, which is the primary purpose of such a tool. Attempting to use it resulted in angled and off-center holes, rendering it utterly useless.Impossible to Tighten (1/5):To add to my frustration, the clamping mechanism on this kit was a nightmare to deal with. It was nearly impossible to tighten adequately, and even when I managed to get it somewhat secure, it couldn't hold its position. This made drilling accurate holes a frustrating and time-consuming ordeal.Lack of Clamping Surface (1/5):The design of this jig did not provide a reliable or secure clamping surface for the workpiece. It constantly slipped and shifted during use, making it impossible to achieve precise results. The lack of stability undermined the entire purpose of using a dowel drilling jig.Overall Disappointment (1/5):In my experience, the BIG HORN 19695 1/4" Dowel Drilling Jig Kit is a complete waste of time and money. Its misalignment issues, inability to secure properly, and lack of a stable clamping surface make it unfit for its intended purpose. I regret this purchase and would strongly advise anyone considering it to explore alternative options that actually deliver on their promises.