That’s what you get when you use pocket screws, and if you haven’t given them a chance yet, you might want to try.

The joinery process involves two parts. First, a shallow-angled hole is drilled into one board to create the “pocket”, usually by using a special jig. The workpiece is then butted against the adjoining piece and joined using special pan-head self-tapping screws. The joints take a minimal amount of time to prepare, and the results are more than strong enough for many applications.

The Gear

What do you need to get started? Well, of course, you need to start with a pocket hole jig. The jig not only guides the drill bit but also holds the workpiece in place while you drill a perfect shallow-angled hole. CMT, General, and others make excellent jigs, but you can’t say “pocket screw” without immediately thinking of Kreg Tool Company. Kreg produces a number of kits and jigs to suit any budget or shop setup, ranging from a small pocket-sized mini to more elaborate kits with built-in toggle clamps and dust collection.

A crucial component of any pocket screw kit is the step drill bit. This bit drills a square-bottomed hole for the screw head to bear against and a shank hole for the screw body to pass through.

Many of the tools you already have in your shop will also be pressed into service, such as a drill. If you are drilling a lot of pocket holes, you might consider dusting off the old corded drill since battery life won’t be an issue. A cordless drill with a clutch is ideal for screw driving and will help avoid driving the screws too far. Obviously your project boards need to be cut to proper dimension, so whatever means you use to get them there is up to you. Just as with any other type of joinery, pocket screws work best with clean, square, tearout-free project parts.

The screws themselves are of the pan head self-tapping variety. They come in various lengths for different-sized parts as well as coarse and fine threads for different materials. Generally-speaking, I use fine threads for hardwoods and coarse threads for softwoods, plywood, and composites.

The Process

First, your parts should be cut to proper length and width. This brings up an important benefit to the pocket screw system: you don’t have to account for joinery. No more mental gymnastics when trying to calculate tenon lengths! When you’re ready to join your pieces, simply mount the workpiece onto the jig and drill the holes.

When you set up to drive the screw into place, its a good idea to use one of the manufacturer?s face clamps. These specialized clamps work very much like vise grips, but the wide faces help keep the surfaces flush as you drive the screws home. Many times, I will employ an additional clamp (F-style or parallel) across the joint just to help ensure everything is held as tightly as possible.

Once the screws are set, you can remove the clamps and move on to the next step, even if glue is involved. This may sound like a minor point, but when you think about the complexity of some projects, this can help keep you sane and negate the need for a wall full of clamps. Furthermore, you’ll save yourself a great deal of time! Take a face frame for example. If you cut classic joinery on the frame members and then glue them together, you’ll lose at least an hour just waiting for the glue to dry. Then, of course, you have to glue that face frame to the casework. That’s another hour. With the pocket screws, you can go from step to step without missing a beat.

While at first it may seem like “shortcut joinery”, pocket screws are quickly becoming the norm in many commercial shops. If you look hard enough on many high end custom cabinet jobs, you?ll probably see evidence of pocket screw construction.

When To Use Them

Without a doubt, pocket screws shine when it comes to cabinetry! As I mentioned, I use these screws exclusively when working with face frames. There’s nothing easier for the task, and it saves a great deal of time. I use them not only to join together the solid wood face frames, but also to attach solid wood reinforcing edging for plywood shelves and the plywood boxes as well. Pocket screws also work very well for attaching table tops, flat mitred items like picture frames, legs on occasional tables, and repairing broken pieces of furniture. Many folks use them as an exclusive joinery system for all types of projects.

When Not To Use Them

Let’s face it: the pocket hole itself stands out like a sore thumb! When designing a project, take your time to lay out the joints where the hole will be in an inconspicuous area. Putting them toward the inside or back of a project is always a good idea. If you can?t hide the hole, manufacturers also make special plugs that you can insert into the hole and sand or plane flush. They are made out of many common wood species and you can find one to match or you can use a contrasting species to make a statement.

Remember also that the screw and wood are dissimilar materials. While they hold well for static loads, when you use them in projects that deal with a lot of shifting loads and racking forces, specifically chairs, you definitely want to lean toward more traditional, beefier joinery methods.

Pocket screw joinery is fast and strong. While I don’t use them on every project that leaves my shop, I do find them incredibly useful and my Kreg Jig was a solid investment.

Examples

Here are some great examples of projects made using pocket screws from the Wood Whisperer community! From left to right: Dyami Plotke, Mike D’Alfonso, Dean Jackson, and Roger Turnbough.

Have experience with pocket screws? Share your story (good or bad) with us in the comments!

This article was written by Tom Iovino, Managing Editor of TomsWorkBench.com and columnist for Wood Magazine. Editing and photos by Marc Spagnuolo.

Hey Marc, I love your show. I watch it religiously and have learned so many good techniques. I wanted to know, what is your position on pocket hole joinery in relation to coffee table assembly. I built my first coffee table using a Kreg pocket hole jig to join the apron and legs together. Kreg states in their owner’s manual that a pocket hole is mechanically stronger than a mortise and tenon joint. Do you think pocket hole joinery is cheap sign of craftsmanship? I would like your feedback on what you think of my coffee table design? I have attached a picture of my coffee table.

And here was my reply:
Hi Chris. First off, let me compliment you on your design and craftsmanship. What a beautiful piece. No matter what the underlying joinery is, that is a fantastic design with great execution. Now, concerning pocket hole screws. Remember, joinery can be just as much about taste and opinion as it is about strength and utility. If you are happy with the final product and you enjoy using pocket screws, all the power to you! Screw away my friend!

Now for my opinion. I have used pocket screws in the past when I could get away with it. The only time I really use them is if they will never be seen. And even then, they are usually the last option I think of. Perhaps its a bit elitist, but I do feel that pocket screws “cheapen” a piece. I would certainly expect Kreg to defend its product and their strength claim may be valid (Im not convinced). But is strength really the only concern to us as woodworkers? If that’s the case, we might want to start using metal to build furniture instead of wood. :) Cant get much stronger than that!

Seriously though, I take pride in the fact that my best work contains little to no metal. But that’s just me. We all have to decide for ourselves where to draw the line. Some folks cant imagine using power tools on their projects. They take pride in the fact that their work is crafted the old-fashioned way. Some folks just want to get ‘er done!

Just remember that we all woodwork for different reasons Heck, some of us do it just so we can collect tools. And still others do it simply because its such a sharp contrast to what we do at the office all day behind our computer screens in the confines of our cubicles. Whatever your reason is, keep it fun. If pocket screws make it fun for you, then keep using them. Your work certainly is not suffering for it. Good luck.

Want to learn a little more about pocket screw joinery? Check out the Pocket Screw Primer!