All that said, I have never actually used the Pinewood Pro drilling jig, so if somebody has, and have had good results, please let me know!
I have used the older version (straight holes only) for the last two years, and at the Cub Scout Pack level it seems sufficient. If your block of wood is square, it seems to work pretty darn good, though I haven't tested it with pin gauges and 1-2-3 blocks yet. It is critical that you fit the sides, tighten the screws, and clamp the bottom. There is some slop when it is loose, but when it is tight and clamped down it feels pretty good.
I use it with a pin vise for the drill bit, to minimize wear. The nice thing is that this one is anodized, so wear, when it happens, will be apparent.
That said, there is a tiny bit of slop between the bit and the hole, and there is slop in the sliding mechanism that could result in misalignment if it isn't tight on the block when tightened down. Additionally, I've only used it with bent axles, where I had to tune the back end anyhow and could work out any minor misalignment by turning the axles.
I agree, though, this is not a pro-level tool by any stretch of the imagination, but it is better than nothing for folks without a good drill press or better jig, and the price point is pretty affordable.
That clear jig, though...we wantssssssss it.
