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Rockler 3/8'' Beadlock® Basic Starter Kit Zoom

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BeadLOCK
Assemble Projects with BeadLock Loose Tenons

Rockler 3/8'' Beadlock® Basic Starter Kit

Item #: 34802
Easily create rock-solid mortise and tenon joints.
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$29.99
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Overview

Create rock-solid mortise and tenon joints with just your hand drill and this Beadlock® Kit. Ribbed tenon design prevents racking and increases the amount of precious face-grain glue surface. The result is an extremely strong, totally concealed joint. Included shim set allows you to mortise a variety of stock thicknesses, as well as to offset your mortises.


Features:
  • Patented system overlaps drill bit holes precisely to accept a special Beadlock® loose tenon
  • Mortises in curved and tapered parts are simple
  • For narrow material, rip the tenon stock down to fewer "beads"
  • It's also ideal for reinforcing glass panel cabinet doors
  • Includes four .060" shims, two .030" shims, 3/8" HSS Drill Bit and a molded plastic case with added space for the optional accessory kits
  • All Accessory Kits include corresponding guide block, HSS drill bit and shim set

What's included

(1) Anodized Drill Plate
(1) 3/8" HSS Drill Bit
(1) 3/8" Drill Block
(4) 0.060" Shims
(2) 0.030" Shims

Technical Details

  • Beveled cutout in the drill plate allows you to precisely align the jig with your reference marks
  • Handles stock thicknesses of 3/4" and up
  • Includes all necessary hardware for cutting 3/8" joints (Tenon stock sold separately)
  • Storage case is molded with additional spacing for optional 1/4" and 1/2" drill block sizes (#38088 and #34985, sold separately)
  • Brand: Beadlock
  • Weight (lbs): 1.7000

Product Warnings

WARNING This product can expose you to chemicals which are known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov/product

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Questions and Answers

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Browse 6 questions Browse 6 questions and 51 answers
Why did you choose this?
Rockler Store
gift
kelly L on Jun 17, 2017
I like the simplicty and sturdiness.
vinnie g on Mar 28, 2017
gift
kelly L on Jun 17, 2017
Making a dresser with some loose tenon joinery.
Scott W on Apr 6, 2017
I like the simplicty and sturdiness.
vinnie g on Mar 28, 2017
Looks like it makes things a lot easier.
Ronald B on Mar 9, 2017
for dowel joinery
RAFAEL R on Feb 27, 2017
It was new, and highly recommended. Worked great.
Tedd F on Feb 23, 2017
Project I am working on
Frederick J on Feb 12, 2017
easy to use
Ivan D on Jan 14, 2017
Awesome tool. A great easy and inexpensive way to make a corner joint that is strong and square.
JOHN S on Dec 26, 2016
to make easy tenons
kelly L on Nov 30, 2016
past success with Rockler Products
Blair A on Oct 1, 2016
to make tight joints
charles g on Sep 29, 2016
Looks like an easier process for mortise and tenon joinery.
Matt E on Sep 26, 2016
Basic setup for joinery
Jerry M on Sep 12, 2016
wanted to try and compare to mortise and tendon. Wow so much faster and easier . This and pocket holes wonder what you will come up with next
David D on Aug 25, 2016
So simple but so true.
We watched it being used on Youtube and what this kit can do is exactly what we need.
Sharon C on Aug 23, 2016
Joinery, try something new
DICK O on Jul 24, 2016
To make a door
John P on Jul 16, 2016
only option
Jay A on Jun 29, 2016
Likewise big mistake!
Richard H on May 23, 2016
one won't work well without the other.
Thomas D on Apr 17, 2016
I think the 3/8 size will be sufficient for most projects. I also like the idea of a quick and effective tenon. Looking forward to using it.
Gary G on Feb 8, 2016
lost my other one while moving across country
William C on Jan 30, 2016
Try something new.
Charles C on Jan 13, 2016
Seemed like a lower cost alternative to the "pro" kit. Think I can do all I need to with this one.
John W on Jan 2, 2016
Hoping that these will help our Scouts and students with their chess board projects. Instead of focusing on pocket holes - our projects can also add the option of mortise and tenon joinery.
John H on Jan 1, 2016
Building a table with aprons almost 8 feet long.
Would be difficult to make a tenon.
Gary Manney G on Dec 25, 2015
I used a borrowed beadlock system to build bed frames form my kids. I am now working on new projects, and decided I need to own my own. The joints were easy to make, clean, and very strong.
Russell M on Dec 6, 2015
easy way to do joints
ts B on Nov 1, 2015
I'm expanding my repertoire of joining techniques that don't require better tools than I have (or can afford) nor years of experience and consummate skill, which I don't have, either. This Beadlock system looks to be about my speed. I want to check it out.
John A on Oct 15, 2015
looks easy to make tenons
william k on Sep 5, 2015
future project
Tom N on Aug 7, 2015
SHUTTER BUILD
JANA H on Jul 29, 2015
liked the 1st one i bought so i am getting this one for a gift.
richard m on Jul 29, 2015
need it too.
Doyle E on Jul 3, 2015
I have small shop with limited tools for making good mortise & tenon joints. A friend recommended this as an economic solution.
Frank O on Jun 11, 2015
Looks fairly easy this way.......I'm hoping!
Butch S on May 19, 2015
Want to try on a new project that calls for loose tenons.
Just an Old Guy on May 12, 2015
special joinery for a wood product of mine.
Lynwood W on May 12, 2015
Ease of use and price
Shane M on May 9, 2015
I use these for end/coffee tables. Easy to use and works.
Sean N on Apr 18, 2015
I am building a dresses and have no other way to make the mortises it requires.
John P on Apr 10, 2015
Making a dresser with some loose tenon joinery.
Scott W on Apr 6, 2017
Looks like it makes things a lot easier.
Ronald B on Mar 9, 2017
How do you make a beadlock mortise on the face of a wide board? For example you wish to cut a mortise 2 inches in on a 10 inch board.
Lawrence K on Feb 8, 2017
Does it come in a case like it is shows in the video?
Derrick T on May 16, 2017
BEST ANSWER: Yes the black plastic case holds one size of this jig. The parts snap tightly into place. The jig is easy to use and the tenons provide more strength than wooden biscuits.
What about through mortises how's it look after?
Butch S on May 19, 2015
BEST ANSWER: You could do through tenons, but I don't think it would look good. The tenon material has a ribbed shape.
i'm making interior closet doors from 5/4 " x 3" wide clear ponderosa pine . for 36" wide doors . ideally ,what length should my tenons extend into each mortise , looking to confirm that the 3/8" thick tenons are adequate .or suggest otherwise ? the doors will have rather light weight panels also . any carpenters here built interior doors using the 3/8" beadlock system ? i've got 30 years experience. thank you .
w g on Dec 11, 2016
BEST ANSWER: Beadlock system is terrific. Strong and fast. Tenons should be at least an inch long.
Has anyone cut the tab off that prevents you from using drill bit collars? issues?
Bob D on May 13, 2017

Reviews

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3.9 / 5.0
51 Reviews
5 Stars
4 Stars
3 Stars
2 Stars
1 Stars
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Basic Registration Problem
Great idea for a product, but a basic flaw in execution. The way the jig is aligned, you approach your centerline from the top on one piece, and the bottom of your centerline on the other. (I used to own a company that built registration systems for the printing industry.) If the jig isn't perfectly accurate, you will double your error because you are effectively flipping the error over. If you aren't aligned exactly in to the center of your line on both pieces, you double your error. If you don't view the alignment exactly perpendicular to the surface, you get parallax error, again doubling the misalignment because you are coming at the registration from opposite sides of the line. This explains why so many reviewers get more accurate results when working horizontally (then they can look straight down) versus vertically, where they are probably viewing the alignment mark from an angle. I'm still practicing, so hopefully I'll get the touch. The idea one reviewer had to cut a small "V" in the register edge (accompanied with a magnifying glass or lamp) to accurately assess whether your mark is bisected is probably the best option.
February 5, 2016
Woodworking Experience:
Intermediate
I bought this to make 4...
I bought this to make 4 chairs and absolutely love it. I promptly cut off the tab so I could use a depth collar. I used 30 joints per chair. So 120 joints later-240 mortises,1,920 drilled holes, everything is dandy with no issues or mistakes. I plan on getting the pro model sometime as I can see using both jigs for unlimited joinery. The joints are rock solid and easy to align after practicing on scrap. I'm just mad I didn't think of this simple jig first.
October 14, 2011
Simple! Would be nice if there...
Simple! Would be nice if there was enough room to use a drill collar for depth control, instead of marking the bit. Although this kit on sale is the same price at retail stores, the ones sold at retail stores are without the case, and the case included from Rockler will help with storage when you expand with 1/4" and 1/2" dies and drills.
July 21, 2009
I purchased the jig along with...
I purchased the jig along with the 1/4 block which I used almost exclusively for my first project. I had no problems with the 1/4 lining up or drilling correctly. Two high chairs with no screws in them whatsoever later, it worked excellent. The only down side is that I put drill stop collars on my bit to get fast, consistent holes. The stop curved top piece of the jig does not have clearance for drill stops for the last holes. I removed a portion of the block to accommodate this. It takes a little more attention especially since I ripped all the stock to five beads instead of seven for this project. Very pleased.
December 21, 2010
This is a very simple and...
This is a very simple and effective tool. I received mine today and went right out to the shop to try it out. It worked great right out of the box, making a nice, tight mortise & tenon with 3/8" bead stock. The only thing I added was a flat washer under each of the tightening knobs. This will be a great time-saver.
May 7, 2008
I bought this to build a...
I bought this to build a Walnut coffee table and a sofa table. About 16 joints in total. All came out perfectly using the 3/8 jig. Alignment was NOT a problem because I used an incra gauge to set up perfect registration. I used two ratchet clamps to hold the jig securely in place and facilitate quick release. Actually, this simple starter unit may be better than the pro in terms of secure clamping versus the small plastic knobs. Just bought the 1/4" add-on jig and quickly built two craftsman style 16x20 picture frames from quarter sawn oak. Another perfect alignment and secure joint without all of the hassle of mortise and tenon joints. Great product!
January 24, 2012
I have made 4 of the...
I have made 4 of the same bed for my grandchildren, and was about to start on the 5th. It has 72 mortise & tenon joints, so I hoped that this product would speed things up. It was easy to set up, easy to use, but the results are less than perfect, especially when drilling into the end grain of the 3/4" maple slats on the headboard and footboard. Maybe my clamping was to blame, but several of the mortises were skewed, and not centered across the width of the slat. Also, you can't use a drill bit collar to set the depth because of the "ear" sticking up at the side of the jig, so I had to use duct tape on the bit. The ear is redundant - yes, it stops you from drilling a 6th hole, but if you do that you probably shouldn't be using this jig in the first place... Bottom line: OK for a few joints, but if I make a 6th bed, I won't be using it. It's just as easy to cut the tenons on the table saw and drilling the mortises takes the same time as drilling the holes for the beadlock. Maybe the Pro kit is better, but I didn't want to spend over $100 to try it.
December 2, 2008
I found the jig works better...
I found the jig works better after I made a couple of modifications. I initially had problems with alignment. The alignment hole in the jig wasn't straight, so I straightened it up with some sandpaper wrapped around a piece of metal that fit the hole. I also cut a slot into the straight part of the alignment hole so that I could see where on my pencil line the alignment hole actually sits; right on the edge of the line or in the middle, for example. I draw the lines differently than the instructions suggest. I use my combo square to draw a line for each piece separately and measure from the side of each piece to be joined.
December 10, 2009
If I had a way to...
If I had a way to do mortise and tenon, these would grade lower. Once I got the hang of marking with an Exacto knife, then lining up the template using my Optivisor, things got good. Two of eight joints on table aprons were 1/16+ high, but hand planed right out. A VERY excellent drill bit is included!The two issues I had: 1) You cannot really get a smooth bottom in the mortise, so you need to go "long." The template will not allow the use of a stop collar; I just used a Sharpie to mark around the bit. 2) Some fit extremely tight; some a little loose. Looser than I wanted to trust wood glue so I used gun bedding epoxy (10-hour setup). Strong as a rock now.Would be really nice if they sold accessory lock knobs with studs an inch longer than stock. I couldn't get the 3/4" apron very deeply set on a 4x4 leg.
July 6, 2008
Beadlock test run
I am building a couple of bedside tables out of Pecan/HIckory and with 40 joints to go I decided to give Beadlock a try. The 40 joints are finished and here is my assessment:
Pros:
Setback depth accuracy was dead on for all 40 joints.
Ease of use is excellent
The jig is well constructed with metal parts and should last a long time.
I won't use it on every project, but for the price it is a keeper.
Con's
The small locking knobs are hard on the hands!
The lateral adjustment system is not the greatest. There is enough play in the jig that to get the alignment window perpendicular to the drill collars I had to visually line things up and then lock one of the knobs. Doable but a bit of a pain.
The joints are a little inconsistent; one will be very tight and the next one loose - not unusable but looser than I like. Couldn't figure out why the variance.
The mortises were difficult to cut clean - even following their suggestions about double drilling the A position. It is possible that is a result of the Pecan/Hickory which is very fibrous. Perhaps they would be cleaner with different wood?
While the concept is ingenious, the drill bit leaves a scalloped mortise - which is great if everything is perfectly lined up but provides VERY little leeway if you need to shift the workpiece from side to side at all.
The tenon stock is not cheap. My 40 joints will rack up $30 in tenon stock. I asked the sales manager if it was feasible to make my own (with the beadlock router bit) and his response was "I wouldn't even try it".
Conclusion: The salesman at Rockler had no idea how to use the jig so I told him I would give it a try but that I would return it if I didn't like it. Frankly, it exceeded my expectations and, while not perfect, will find a permanent home on my workbench.
July 19, 2016
Woodworking Experience:
Advanced

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