Pocket Holes Coach Ketcham Productions

Pocket Holes? What do you need?

Types of Screw? A

Getting Started End Grain is fine, but it isn’t the strongest connection There is not much to bite into with end grain, like this screw going into a bundle of pencils. Screwing into a edge or face grain will give you a lot more to bite into

How do you screw into face grain? The solution is to drive a screw at an angle so that it goes into the face grain (or edge grain) of each board. Additionally, this may actually be stronger than screwing straight into face grain, because the angle will ensure a longer portion of the screw will be embedded in the wood.

Which Drill Bit? A pocket hole’s stepped drill bit has a narrow tip to guide the screw and a wider part to bore the pocket hole.

Which Screws? A regular screw would likely blast all the way through the pocket hole. A pocket screw has a wide head that rests on the little “shelf” made by the bit.

Setting up the Jig. First, set this drill bit guide part to match the thickness of your board. We usually use 3/4″ or 1 ½” lumber when making pocket holes.

The Bit The drill bit comes with an adjustable collar that is held in place with a set screw. Use an Allen wrench to loosen it. Lock the collar by tightening the set screw. Again, this is an adjustment I rarely have to change.

Spacing The jig had three holes spaced apart in such a way that helps you to bore holes whatever distance apart you like. This allows for a lot of flexibility when positioning your holes. Anywhere you place them on the board it fine.

Screwing the Boards Together Most of the time, you will use the jig to drill pocket holes in the ends of boards. Make sure the board the screw will be driving into is the face or edge grain board. This is the correct way: INCORRECT: In this direction the screw will be entering the end grain of the board and be weak.

What length of screw? There is a chart on the back of the screw package to help you decide what length of screw to use.

Clamps? The boards need to be clamped together before driving the screws in place. Without clamping, the twisting of the screw will cause the boards to slip out of alignment and the joint won’t be flush and even. Kreg makes this clamp with wide pads just for this purpose.

Attaching the boards Set your drill to its slowest speed and drive the screws in until they draw the boards together and stop. If you drive them in to fast or with too much torque. the threads will strip out on the joining board. You might want to set the clutch on your drill to a low number so that it stops twisting when it reaches a certain tightness.

Attaching

Concealing Pocket Holes Usually it’s not a problem to place pocket holes in the backs or undersides of projects where they won’t be visible. But sometimes, there is no other way and they have to be positioned in a visible location. If this happens, you can plug the hole either with a dowel or one of these pre- made wood plugs. Glue them into the holes and sand them flush. If you paint over them, they will be invisible.