3/8'' Beadlock Basic Starter Kit

Create rock-solid mortise and tenon joints with just your hand drill and this Beadlock Kit. Patented system overlaps drill bit holes precisely to accept a special Beadlock loose tenon. 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. 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.

Kit Includes: Anodized Drill Plate 3/8" HSS Drill Bit 3/8" Drill Block (4) 0.060" Shims (2) 0.030" Shims 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 below).

BeadLock Joint Instructions

Customer Reviews and Photos for: 3/8'' Beadlock Basic Starter Kit Average Rating: (3.9) (21 customer reviews) Add your review...

1) Submitted by Beth, from Edmond, OK on 7/11/2009 Customer Rating: Easy to use right out of the box. I built a ship's wheel using the 3/8" starter kit. I reduced the width of the tenon stock on my bandsaw by two beads to fit the angles of my curve and then drilled only one hole in "A" and two in "B" to create the mortises. The jig worked well clamped into my bench vise and made the task go quickly.

2) Submitted by Dennis, from Duluth, GEORGIA on 7/28/2009 Customer Rating: Worked as promised but with two complaints; 1. Instructions were vague, not well written, 2. Two thumbscrews were impossible to use with bare hands. Needed pliers.

3) Submitted by Carl, from Gaffney, SC on 5/3/2009 Customer Rating: Works as advertised, quick and easy.

4) Submitted by Larry Cearlock, from Harristown, IL on 3/30/2009 Customer Rating: Purchased Beadlock and put it work immediately, worked like it was advertized then I purchased additional kits for it to round out my options to varying wood project. Thank you very good tool.

5) Submitted by Matt, from Madison, WI on 2/20/2009 Customer Rating: Works as advertised, cut two quick tests on some scrap in my shop is less than 15 minutes. Quite pleased.

6) Submitted by Scott, from Lacassine, LA on 1/30/2009 Customer Rating: Great tool for a beginner. Easy to use works well.

7) Submitted by Allan Kirson, from Glencoe, IL on 12/2/2008 Customer Rating: 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.

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