Pocket Screw Technology

kirkwahl

I have to admit, I am way behind the times. I may be the last cabinet maker to switch to pocket screws. I have looked a a Kreg Jig, but I have used Mortice and Tennon joints for over 30 years, and pocket screws seem like cheating.

Let me know what you think.

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Kirk Wahl
Peace Of Mind Building And Remodeling LLC
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Jason Whipple

I use them on face frames, but I use the Domino for door frames. Pocket screws are great for attaching the face frames too. I use the plugs to fill the holes and then paint.

Another good use for the pocket screw is pre-assembling casings.

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Jason E Whipple, General Manager
Historic House Restoration, Cincinnati, Ohio
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Bergstrom

The two main advantages of the pocket hole are speed and simplicity. I can easily cut and assemble a pocket joint in less than a minute.

For shop use I would stay away from the Kreg units because the stepped drill bit is a spendy PITA and the angle of the pocket cut lends itself to shifting during assembly. The Castle and Porter Cable systems are superior for shop use but the Kreg jig definately comes in handy on the job site.

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Tom Struble

sometimes ill use a biscut and pocket screws,the biscut helps keep everything lined up nice

silvertree

For many things that are site built I can use my Kreg and the finished result is always good. I'm a trimmer and not a cabinet maker so Kreg is the way for me to go. I like the fact I can take things apart too.

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Leo G

I have both the manual two holer and the pneumatic semi automatic foreman. They are both great machines. I have learned the ins and outs of using the pocket screws and pretty much eliminated the slip. Don't use a lot of glue, good pc to pc pressure and use the low speed on the drill. Use your clutch. I don't see how you think a $20 step bit is cheaper than a router and a drill bit. I have heard that a lot of the router setups need bearings after a few years.

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KMac

The Kreg jig is an indispensable tool in my arsenal - it's not for everything but man does it come in handy. I recently purchased some of the Kreg clamps which I highly recommend as well.

Leo G

If you are building FF's I recommend getting 4 of the Kreg clamps. I have four of them, but need one more, for my portable jig. I am always stealing it from the drill box. One of these days I am going to need it in the field and it will be in the shop.

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Trim40

I also use it for cabinet building and for edge joining stock for wall caps.
Glue, screw, sand and install.

Leo G

I started using it for cope, stick and raised paneled wainscoting. One side is against the wall so it makes perfect sense and it increases the speed of assembly and makes angles a breeze.

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Custom Cabinets in Hartford County Connecticut

kirkwahl

I guess I am going to have to give it a try. I guess I have to put my money where my mouth is. I have always said I am all for an easier way of doing something. But when it comes right down to it, I have to say that I have always viewed things like pocket screws as a crutch for those who are not able to perform proper joinery. Truth be told, I rarely use biscuits either, I usually opt for loose tennons. Say what you will, but a 3/8" loose tennon of the same material has to be stronger than a 1/8" biscuit.

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Kirk Wahl
Peace Of Mind Building And Remodeling LLC
989-684-HOME
www.getpeace.com

Jason Whipple

Have you tried the Festool Domino Kirk?

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Jason E Whipple, General Manager
Historic House Restoration, Cincinnati, Ohio
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Gus Dering

Pocket screws are not cheating at all.

Do a test and see for yourself how strong of a joint they are. I am amazed how strong the joint is after you back the screws out. The glue still tears some long grain off and leaves it on the end grain.

Pocket screws are fast and easy, and I can see how someone would turn their nose up at them coming from mortise and tenons. But don't confuse faster with cheating. Cheating would require an inferior joint, that is not part of the equation here.

I make money for a living. Cabinetmaking is the vehicle not the driver. And I like a good sound vehicle as much as anyone. Not if it doesn't get me where I want to go though.

Jason Whipple

Here's a few pics of how you can use the pocket hole for attaching face frames. Works very nicely for painted interior cabinets. The last pic you can see one of two pocket holes that I used to pre assemble the FF.

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Historic House Restoration, Cincinnati, Ohio
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ChrWright

Love 'em in the field and love 'em in the shop.

They make for quick case and faceframe work and as Gus said, an incredibly solid joint.

Any discussion of modern wood joinery should include pocket screws. It's not something you'll use to restore a 19th century pie safe, but for new work you can't beat the efficiency.

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WarnerConstInc.

If he had, he wouldn't be doing the way he used to.

Jason Whipple

So true! I know a couple of cabinet makers who have checked out my Domino and said they would switch in a heart beat if they had to do it all over again.

I told them they could always start smoking in the shop

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Historic House Restoration, Cincinnati, Ohio
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basswood

Some folks probably think I'm borderline luddite, but I do like pocket hole joinery. If clients want to pay more for traditional methods, I'm happy to oblige. If not, I use a Kreg Jig.

With pocket hole joints, this complicated faceframe was cut and assembled in an afternoon. I think doing the same thing with mortise and tenon joinery would easily take several more hours. The pic is partly out of focus (we Luddites have issues with cameras too).

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Leo G

Really? That long Bass? Looks like about an hour FF to me. Are you still using the hand jig? I have traded up to the pneumatic Foreman. About 2 seconds per hole before you start the next.

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Custom Cabinets in Hartford County Connecticut

basswood

I use this:

Attached Images