I usually skip the first three or four holes, but make sure you drill at least one! You'll need this hole for the set pin on the next batch. Drill through the jig's holes using the drill bit until it hits the depth stop collar. Use the set pin to keep the hole spacing consistent Use the pegboard's pre-existing holes as a guide to drill the shelf pin holes. Remember to keep the bit as straight as possible, and stop as soon as the flag brushes against the pegboard. Repeat for the other side Drilling holes of the same size which are evenly spaced is quite a difficult job, even for professionals. However, using a shelf pin jig allows you to finish the job perfectly. The standard hole size that you will be able to make using a jig is 1/4 inches in diameter which is universally accepted. So, in almost all the jig options, you will find hole sizes of 1/4 inches mainly. However, if you wish to make larger holes, you might have to look for a specific shelf pin jig in the market. 3. Hole Spacing

Now that your shelf holes have been drilled, you can insert the pins and place the shelves on top! Just count down the same number on all four rows so your shelf is level. How to make a DIY shelf pin jig Choose a drill bit that is the same diameter as the shelf pin: Make sure the drill bit is the same size as the pins. If your shelf pins are ¼", choose a ¼" drill bit. If it's metric, use a metric bit (not an imperial size bit that's "close enough.") The shelf pin measured below is just shy of ¼", so I'll use a ¼" bit for that hole. Perfect for Building or Adding Holes to Existing Furniture.The compact size of the Shelf Pin Jig makes it perfect for adding additional shelf pin holes in existing furniture, as well as for building projects from scratch. Need more length for additional speed? Connect multiple Shelf Pin Jigs together with the included Jig Extender. There are several jigs available on the market, such as the Kreg shelf pin jig. These jigs come with drill guide holes, ensuring that your bit stays straight and the holes are evenly spaced and the correct depth. To make a corner butt joint, clamp the board vertically on the workbench. Place the dowelling jig on the edge of the board, making sure that the lateral stop is touching the board edge with the carpenter's triangle. Then secure the dowelling jig using two one-hand clamps. Drill the first hole, noting the position on the scale for orientation for the other drill holes. Then allow the drill slide to engage in every third hole, secure it and drill.

In our opinion, the KREG Shelf Pin Jig is the best option if you are looking for something reliable and compact. It offers a hole spacing of 32 mm and can be easily converted into a larger template by using a similar jig. Moreover, it has a brilliant build quality and comes with a 1 year warranty as well. If you’re adding shelf pin holes to an existing piece of furniture or building shelves from scratch, the Shelf Pin Jig is the perfect tool for the job. Unlike other shelf pin guides, the KregShelf Pin Jig features hardened-steel drill guides that ensure precise and straight drilling, so you’ll get level, wobble-free shelves. versatile in use as a dowel template for edge-to-edge, corner butt and T-butt joints or shelf support holes One of the first things you need to consider when drilling shelf pin holes is selecting the right size drill bit. The size of the drill bit should match the size of your shelf pins to ensure a snug fit. Here are some tips for finding the correct size:

If your cabinet is already assembled, it's easy to know which end is up. But if your cabinet is in pieces, make sure to mark which is the top on each of the side pieces. You don't want to start at the bottom on one side and at the top on the other! I always mark the top with a piece of painter's tape. Set the depth stop If you like doing DIY projects, Woodhaven offers one of the best shelf jigs in the market which is super easy to use and does not make things complicated for new users. Speaking of this shelf pin jig here, it comes with an array of 15 holes, where all the holes are spaced by a distance of 25.4 mm and have a diameter of 1/4 inches. However, since there are two rows given on the template, the offset distance for the rows is 37mm and 64 mm respectively.

Although markings are not provided on the jig, it offers a 37mm offset from one side and a 50mm offset from the other side. Meanwhile, the spacing between two consecutive holes is 25.4 mm or 1 inch which is good enough. In fact, the size of each hole is 1/4 inches, so you won’t find any difficulty using any kind of hinges.