They lied to you about pocket screw joinery.

this subject comes up in the comments whenever i make anything that features any type of pocket screw joinery some people just insist that this type of joinery has no place in a self-respecting woodworkers shop like nails which is another subject for another time some people have just been conditioned to believe that the very existence of a mechanical fastener is a sign of inferior work and if that fastener is angled and driven into a pocket it somehow becomes doubly bad they mock them or they condemn them outright as if all applications of pocket screws were the same using them to build cabinets is just as bad as using them to build windsor chairs not only do i disagree with this notion i think it hurts our craft because there absolutely are times when pocket screw joinery may not only be perfectly acceptable but perhaps even the best form of joinery for the task now how can i say that about a technology that was unknown to the great masters of the past because pocket screws were not unknown to the great masters of the past this type of joinery is not a modern invention for cheap mass-produced furniture people have been driving screws at angles since the screw was invented and it didn't take long before they figured out that you could use a gouge to carve a pocket so the head would be set below the surface pocket screw joinery is found in furniture made more than a century ago not only proving the old-timers found it acceptable but showing that when used properly this type of joinery can last for generations the key is to use it properly just as i wouldn't use regular miter joints to fasten legs to a table i wouldn't use pocket screws where a mortise and tenon would be more appropriate but i guarantee that a kitchen cabinet assembled with pocket screws will last just as long as one assembled with rabbits or dados because kitchen cabinets are attached to kitchen walls they aren't subject to the same forces that a table or chair would be just as not every house is built with mortises and tenons not every piece of casework must be made with dados but i know some of you are saying what's wrong with overbuilding why shouldn't i use the best form of joinery possible whether the project needs the strength or not maybe you should but don't pretend pocket screw joinery is not strong enough for certain projects and don't assume that pocket screws are never among the best forms of joinery for the task at hand for example pocket screws are an excellent choice when you must allow for wood movement the shakers use them to attach solid wood table tops by making the hole in the pocket side of the joint over size the shaft of the screw could flex and move as the swelling of the wood required we recently used pocket screws to join a desktop in an l shape again to allow for cross grain wood movement pocket screws come in very handy in a lot of awkward situations too here we're building some frames for dust panels that will be mounted above a drawer in a cabinet the unique design of the cabinet's carcass necessitated notches in the corners of these panels here a pocket screw was the best joinery solution in my opinion especially considering that the strength of the assembly came from a panel that would later be set within the frame pocket screws have gotten us out of a lot of jams in this workshop over the years they made a lot of things much easier here we mounted an angle support rail to a corner desk this also created mounting blocks for attaching the desktop pocket screws not only made this assembly fast and sturdy but it also made it possible to disassemble the desk if we need to into separate components when the time comes to move it the ability to take a project apart is a major benefit of pocket screw joinery shop projects in particular are always changing as you rearrange and alter your shop's layout many times i have wished to modify a cabinet or a fixture and with pocket screws this is a relatively simple process the same is true of modular organization systems in the house like in your closet or your basement pantries other storage areas the ability to modify utilitarian projects is an undeniable benefit of pocket screw joinery pocket screws may also be used as clamping devices even when you wish for the greater mechanical strength of something like a dado assembling this chest of drawers required many more large clamps than the average workshop has but strategically placed pocket screws held it together while the glue dried without revealing their locations in the finished project finally and perhaps most importantly pocket screw joinery opens up the craft to millions of woodworkers who simply do not have the tools or the skills or the shops for more traditional forms of joinery nobody is suggesting that they use them for everything there are proper applications and there are improper ones but don't paint with such a broad brush that because you wouldn't use it in one situation no one should use it in any situation if someone can build a sturdy cabinet on their back porch that will serve its purpose just as well as your dadoed cabinet that you built in your nice workshop who are you to tell them that their project is less legitimate because they have screws driven at an angle results are what matter and if you're using them properly in the right situations pocket screw joinery can certainly produce quality results just ask the shakers see you next time castle doesn't just make pocket hole jigs they make pocket hole joinery machines the internal router cuts a cleaner pocket than any drill bit can with no tear out and a crisp exit the steeper angle centers the screw for a stronger joint and reduces component drift during assembly castle machines are top quality built to last and flat out perform visit their website at the link below and see the difference for yourself wait don't go yet if you're new here please subscribe and remember to ring the bell i would really appreciate that give us a thumbs up or better yet leave us a comment i always read them and be sure to check out the latest issue of stumpy nubs woodworking journal it's always packed with tips tricks and tutorials designed to make you a better woodworker

Channel: Stumpy Nubs

Views: 504,625

Keywords: woodworking, stumpy nubs, tips, workbench, table saw, scroll saw, drill press, quick tip, band saw, bandsaw, lumber, hack, hand plane, sharpening, tormek, worksharp, diamond stone, water stone, wood turning, bowls, lathe

Id: -jW8YynwsDc

Length: 6min 17sec (377 seconds)

Published: Fri Sep 03 2021

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[u/bramletabercrombe]

I haven't seen someone "bemoan" pocket hole joinery around here in a half dozen years.

[u/prince_of_belgium]

I like mine too, really useful especially as an amateur.

[u/Tedstor]

My Kreg PH set is among my favorite tools.

I wanted to build a shop stool. I didn’t use exotic woods, and wasn’t interested in getting cute. I just wanted a to build solid project in a couple of hours. Pocket holes were the answer.

The people who piss and moan about new fangled joinery are the types who are worried about ‘process’ and not ‘product’.

I’m more or a results/product driven guy.

[u/Ancient-Budget-8793]

I use pocket screw joinery all the time. I have an all metal Kreg jig from back in the 80's, but I think it is over used. Even in this video it is used to join a cabinet end to bottom when a screw straight through the end into the bottom is easier and better. The DIY videos and Pinterest posts are the worst. It is like they go out of their way to use their Kreg jig when other ways are easier and better. Why? Because like Stumpy, they are collecting sponsor money to promote the product. So maybe take Stumpie's rant with a grain of salt?

[u/GuyWhoLikesCoding]

I posted some pictures of my first significant mortise and tenon piece a while back. The thread wound up become a flame war between people who hate on pocket holes and everyone else. One guys said he was done with the sub as a result. I felt bad about it ever since.

[u/sturmey]

Isn't he the guy who said chainsaw carving bits were dangerous, then nearly cut himself because he didn't follow the most basic safety guidelines about how to actually use one?