Kreg KHI-SLIDE Jig
Verstaile For All Drawer Slide Types
TOP PICK: KREG KHI-SLIDE
IN THIS GUIDE:
› CABINET JIG BUNDLE: KREG JIG SET
› BEST SIDE MOUNTS: ROCKLER MAGNETIC
› BEST FRAMELESS: ROCKLER JIG-IT
› FACE CLAMP: KREG KHC-MICRO
Any serious cabinet or furniture maker has made or purchased a drawer slide jig. Because drawers require a perfect in six dimensions (up, down, back, forward, left and right), a jig is a must to simplify and hold the drawer slide during installation.
But not all drawer slide jigs are made the same. And, if it’s your first time investing in woodworking jigs, there are value-priced bundles that will add hinge jigs, shelf jigs, and more to your collection of jigs.
Here’s what to look for in a drawer jig:
- Most jigs come in pairs to let you install two slides at a time
- Look for a large clamping surface
- Jigs must be compatible with face frame and frameless cabinets
- Speciality jigs for ball bearing (side mount) slides
After building and installing thousands of drawers, I prefer a simple jig like the Kreg that doesn’t clutter my access to screw holes.
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Best Drawer Slide Jigs
Unfortunately (or fortunately), there aren’t many options in drawer slide jigs.
And Kreg, the industry leader in woodworking jigs, dominates the market for drawer slide jigs.
So what should you choose?
Well, a simple “L” design will work just fine for most types of drawers and drawer slide lengths. And for the best possible alignment, purchase two jigs and two clamps to allow fine-tuning slide position with both slides loose.
This makes the Kreg combo kits (including their popular face clamps) a great buy.
1. Kreg Drawer Slide Jig
See on Amazon: Kreg Drawer Slide Jig
Overview
Most woodworkers know the famous blue-colored Kreg brand from their pocket-hole jig line-up.
But they also specialize in drawer jigs and have arguably the most popular option on the market. While other jigs add fancy magnets, the Kreg is a simple, blocky jig that is easy to clamp and works for all drawer slides.
Key Features
This jig includes:
- Supports frameless and face frame cabinets
- Installation of ball bearing, epoxy, undermount, and center mount drawers.
- Easy to clamp
- Reversible for left and right-hand slide installation
- Simple design for ease of use
Pros/Cons
Pros
- Ease of use
- Top reviews
- Large clamping slots
- Simple design
Cons
- Lacks magnets for side mounts
2. Rockler Multi-Function Drawer Slide Jig
Overview
- Brand: Rockler
- Product: Universal Drawer Jig
- Includes: Drawer jig
The Rockler jig features a unique side mount wedge holding the slide.
- Use on side-mount, under mount, epoxy bottom mount and center mount drawer slides.
- Automatic setback
- Can be clamped
- Adjustable rod for referenced setbacks
- Drill cutouts for access to drawer slide screws
- Supports drawer slides up to 1-3/4″
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Holds side mount, epoxy and center mount slides
- Large holes for access to screws
- Indexing rod
Cons
- Doesn't come as a bundle or with clamps
3. Rockler Magnetic Drawer Slide Jig
Overview
- Brand: Rockler
- Product: Magnetic Drawer Jig
- Includes: Drawer jig
The old-style epoxy slides are almost extinct, with most drawer slides now soft closing.
But for anyone who’s installed a side mount ball-bearing drawer slide, you’ll know that these tall slides do their best to tip over.
This is why Rockler offers these slides:
- Strong magnets to hold tall slides vertical
- Easy to clamp
- Large access holes to access screws
- Index rod for drawer repeatability on face frame cabinets
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Faster drawer slide installation
- Easy to access screw holes
- Indexing rod
Cons
- Doesn't work well with undercount or epoxy slides
5 Tips for Choosing a Drawer Slide Jig
Tip #1 - Buy a Combination Set if You Build Cabinets or Furniture
Installing drawers is the first of four standard cabinet jig uses:
- Drawer slide jigs
- Shelf pin jigs
- Cabinet hardware jigs
- Concealed hinge drilling jigs
That’s a lot of jigs, right?
Without them, it’s tough to build cabinets accurately and quickly.
So, look for a combination kit with these four jigs and face clamps.
Tip #2 - Don't forget the Clamps
I like to clamp and install both slides at the same time. So while most jig kits will come with two jigs, you’ll also want to grab two face clamps.
Tip #3: use Rear Brackets on Face Frame Cabinets
No matter how great your drawer slide jig is, if you try to install any drawer slide in a face frame cabinet without rear mounting brackets, you are headed for a disaster.
So, don’t make suspending the slide easy, and then try to custom-mount a wood side block on face frame cabinets.
It just doesn’t work.
Tip #4: Avoid Jigs Made Only for Frameless Cabinets
Unless your cabinet and furniture making is 100% using frameless designs, try to avoid a frameless-only jig.
With most jigs capable of supporting frameless and face frame cabinets, there’s little reason to limit your installation options.
Tip #5: Maximum Clamping Power is Best
If you’re contemplating using standard “big box store” trigger clamps, I recommend not.
Instead, use the Kreg face clamps you’ll find in their kits or another style of high-pressure clamp. I’ve also had great luck with the Milwaukee-style clamps pictured above.
Making a DIY Drawer JIg
You may think you’d like to tackle just making your jig.
Well, after doing that and using the resulting product, it’s not something I’d recommend.
Here’s the challenge with a DIY drawer jig:
- Making it perfectly 90 degrees is a hard
- Customizing the layout to fit face clamps or squeeze clamps is difficult
- You’ll need to make two of them to match the $25 or so a pair of jigs will cost
What do you think you should build instead? Invest that time and energy into learning how to make better drawers like with a dovetail jig.
Frequently Asked Questions on Drawer Slide Jigs
How do you use a drawer slide jig?
To use a drawer slide jig for side mount, bottom mount, or undermount drawers, place the jig inside the cabinet and clamp it to the cabinet side. Then place the slide on top, ensure it is parallel to the side of the cabinet, and insert screws into the cabinet side or back of the cabinet (using a mounting bracket).
How do you install Kreg Jig drawer slides?
Kreg jigs are first positioned inside the cabinet on either side of the drawer opening. Then, please ensure they are flush with the cabinet face frame or set to the correct height on frameless cabinets. Last, rest the drawer slide on the jig and secure the fall to the back or side of the cabinet.
Are there drawer slide jigs for undermount slides?
Drawer slide jigs are built for under-mount slides, such as the Blum Tandem drawer slide. This jig style also can include a template to drill the needed holes for the rear bracket hole and the front trigger release.
How much clearance do you need for drawer slides?
Most drawer slides require 1/2″ of clearance on both sides. However, this clearance requirement has exceptions, especially for heavy-duty and under-mount drawer slides. Due to extra weight demands, a heavy-duty slide may take up to and over 3/4″ of each per slide. An under mount slide can get by with as little as 3/8″ of an inch. For this reason, you should decide on your drawer slides before building the drawer.
Summary
While the best drawer slide jig will not be a lasting part of your cabinet, it will leave its mark. Since installing cabinet drawer slides without a jig is asking for trouble, it’s a low-cost solution to make the job easier.
- About the Author
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Eric has been a professional woodworker for over thirty years and has worked in small cabinet shops making everything from kitchen cabinets to hand-made furniture. Now working from a home woodworking shop Eric is sharing his passion for woodworking, tool advice and how-to knowledge from his Minnesota-based woodshop.
