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It works like this: You clamp the pocket hole jig onto your workpiece and drill angled holes with the special stepped drill bit. Then you simply align the two pieces to be joined and drive a pocket screw at an angle into the pocket to connect your pieces.
Are pocket hole joints strong?
The superior strength of a pocket hole joint has actually been proven. Independent testing found that a pocket screw joint failed at 707 pounds when subjected to a shear load while a comparable mortise and tenon joint failed at 453 pounds – meaning that the pocket screw joint was approximately 35% stronger.
What is the purpose of pocket holes?
A pocket hole is simply a hole drilled at an angle that forms a pocket for the screw. Think of it as a highly engineered toenailing technique. What makes it precise is the design of the pocket hole jig that guides the drill bit into the wood at a specific angle to produce an engineered hole to house the screw head.
Are pocket holes necessary?
Glue might strengthen the pocket hole joint, but it’s not necessary. This makes pocket holes a faster joint than others. It’s great for quick jobs, such as the 5 minute pocket hole shelf we recently completed. It also means that a piece can easily disassemble for transport whereas a glue-up is forever.
Is a pocket hole jig worth it?
The professional, the hobbyist, and the DIY woodworker. Ultimately, you’ll need to decide if one of their tools is right for you. The Kreg Jig is a valuable tool. If you plan to construct cabinets, bookshelves, tables, or anything with multiple joints, then the Kreg tool is undoubtedly worth your money.
Are pocket holes weak?
Matthias Wandel has an article on Testing pocket holes against mortise and tenon and dowel joints where he finds that they are indeed significantly weaker than other joint types. With the exception of small objects, 99lbs as an average breaking force for a pocket joint doesn’t seem very strong at all.
What is the weakest wood joint?
Butt Joint The butt joint is the simplest joint to make. It is also the weakest wood joint unless you use some form of reinforcement. It depends upon glue alone to hold it together.
Who invented pocket holes?
The concept of pocket jigs dates to the ancient Egyptians, but Joon Park, the former Hughes engineer, who has registered 19 patents since 1987, claimed that he had sole right to three pocket hole jig designs he had registered with the U.S. Patent Office beginning in 2003.
What is the strongest woodworking joint?
What is the strongest woodworking joint? For excellent stability, the mortise and tenon joint is a great choice. It’s a relatively simple joint, yet it holds well. Woodworkers have been using it for generations because of its strength, versatility and simple design.
What is better than pocket holes?
Mortise and tenon joints are normally more work to make than dowel or pocket hole joints. But once I had my pantorouter and my slot mortiser set up to cut them, these actually were the fastest joints to make. They are also the cheapest to make if you don’t factor in equipment cost.
Do you need glue with pocket screws?
If you’re using pocket screws to build a dining room table for your forever home, then you’ll want to use glue with your joints. The glue will give you some added strength and inhibit your joint from separating.
Do you have to use Kreg screws?
Do you have to use Kreg pocket hole screws? You really do need to use Kreg screws when using the Kreg jig. The screws come specially designed to work with the holes that are drilled by the Kreg jig. Trying to use other screws will not properly bring the wood together.
Can you use a Kreg Jig on 2×4?
The Kreg Pocket-Hole Jig HD is optimized for working with 2x4s and 1 1/2″ thick and larger stock. It utilizes #14 heavy-duty, hardened-steel screws that provide incredible shear-resistance, as well as three anti-corrosion layers for incredible long-term moisture resistance.
How far apart should Kreg screws be?
The main thing is to get one at each end (Kreg suggests at 2″ from the edge), then space the pocket holes in between these 2 in a way that they’re somewhere around 6 to 8 inches apart.
How thick does wood need to be for pocket holes?
Wood that is 3-1/2” wide, center the wood between holes A and C, an drill in holes A and C. For all other widths of wood, make sure your pocket holes are set in a minimum of 3/4” from the edge to avoid possibly cracking the wood.
Are screws or dowels stronger?
Dowel joinery is stronger than screw joinery. The increased glue surface caused by the glue deeply penetrating the wood gives the dowel more holding power. Dowels also have superior holding power in modern composite materials such as particleboard and plywood.
How many dowels are in a joint?
You’ll need to use at least two dowels for each joint, more if the joint is particularly wide. One rule of thumb is that if the board(s) are less than 6 inches wide, place one dowel 1/4 of the way across the joint, and a second dowel 1/4 of the width in from the opposite side.
