And, as you can now see, the depth of the drill hole determines the length of the pocket screws. As a general rule, the screw should reach at least half of its thickness. The length of the pocket screws is determined by the dimensions of the bottom board. Screwing becomes that easy repetitive process, too, once you’ve changed the bit of the drill. Once the right depth of drilling has been determined and the depth guide has been set, you just move along the span with your drill. The jig also makes it easy to drill repetitively and accurately along the span of lumber for more extensive joinery. Fine-thread screws should be used with hardwoods, as they will not tear the fibers and lead to splits.Coarse-thread screws should be used with softwoods, as the threads are deep and aggressive in their grip and,.Pocket hole screws come in various sizes and two main types, the use of which is determined by the woods being joined: A jig makes the drilling easy and quick, and perfectly aligned, and Kreg, the premiere pocket hole jig manufacturer, even manufactures screws to be used for the joinery. It is common in frames (picture, painting, etc.) and joining a plate to the underside of tables and table legs, as well as the aforementioned cabinet face frames. The holes are drilled at an angle, and the screws extend at least half-way into the second piece of wood, creating a strong and durable joint. Pocket hole joinery involves the drilling of holes in one of the pieces of wood to be joined, stopping short of the edge, and then using screws through those holes through the edge and into the other piece of wood being joined. How Much Weight Can Pocket Hole Shelves Hold?.Floating Shelf with Pocket Hole Joinery.Finishing a Pocket Hole Joint To Hide The Hole.In fact, when Craig Sommerfield invented the Kreg Pocket Hole Jig, it was to please his wife who had asked that no screw holes show in their new cabinets.īut, structural frames should give you a clue to the answer of the main question. Now, cabinet face frames are not carrying weight, and that distinguishes them from other joinery purposes.

Their strength is superior to that of mortise and tenon joints, dowel joinery, and biscuit joinery, in such uses. Pocket hole joints are very common in structural frames and cabinet face frames. Pocket hole joints can join 2 pieces of wood in just about any way you need, whether edge to edge, edge to face, and even mitered. We’ve written about it from various angles and projects in the past, most recently here. It’s quick and easy, and it’s very strong. In woodworking, we keep turning to pocket hole joinery for the same reasons. Tomato soup and grilled cheese for lunch, or that old bathrobe we just can’t toss away, for instance. Sometimes things can be so good and useful that we just keep returning to them.

Pocket screw direction