s

11/06/2007 9:02 PM

pocket hole jointery

Hello there

I am wondering what is the opinion around pocket hole jointery ?
I am thinking about buying a jig to try but wondering if it is even
worth it ?

I usually mortise/T my joints, but wondering if that pocket hole joint
helper can make my life easier and good joints

Thanks in advance


This topic has 12 replies

s

in reply to [email protected] on 11/06/2007 9:02 PM

11/06/2007 9:55 PM

On Jun 11, 3:49 pm, "Swingman" <[email protected]> wrote:
> <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > Hello there
>
> > I am wondering what is the opinion around pocket hole jointery ?
> > I am thinking about buying a jig to try but wondering if it is even
> > worth it ?
>
> > I usually mortise/T my joints, but wondering if that pocket hole joint
> > helper can make my life easier and good joints
>
> Depends upon what you do in your woodworking.
>
> For the furniture work I do there are few very applications that call for
> M&T joints that I would replace with pocket hole joinery, the possible
> exception being drawer web frames.
>
> For the cabinet work I do, I use do pocket hole joinery almost exclusively
> for kitchen/bath/built-in cabinet 'face frames', where the amount of joint
> strength is more than sufficient for the application, particularly when
> gluing the face frame to the cabinet sides, top and bottom.
>
> If some of your woodworking falls in similar categories, the Kreg jigs are
> excellent products, and a good investment where time, efficiency, and just
> the right amount of joinery strength for the application is required.
>
> --www.e-woodshop.net
> Last update: 6/1/07
> KarlC@ (the obvious)

Thanks

do you know of any place I can order a mortise chisel (pigsticker) ?
I looked all over the conventional stores but no luck ! internet
place ?

Thanks

Sb

"SonomaProducts.com"

in reply to [email protected] on 11/06/2007 9:02 PM

11/06/2007 4:36 PM

I have used pocket holes in furniture for years. No, it is not as
strong as M&T but can be very useful if used judiciously.

I have done end tables that are essentally like any trestle table with
a 4 sided apron, top and lower spreaders and a shelf to act as the
trestle. I used pocket screws (only) at the aprons and under the shelf
into the spreaders. For the spreaders, since the pocket screws would
be exposed, I did a counter bored screw in at an angle from the
underside.

I had one of these units literally get run over by a forklift during
shipping with tire treads on the box to prove it. It broke the top
loose from the table irons, busted a 1.75 square Oak leg, busted one
Oak apron and only slightly pulled out one joint of pocket screws.

I have built several large free standing furniture pieces. with face
frame and solid wood sides. In this case I have the face frames and
solid pieces in a shallow dado in the legs plus pocket screws. This
creates a huge gluing surface and ultra strong joint. Here is one
example http://www.sonomaproducts.com/Furniture/PF-KI2-Cherry.htm
(click picture for bigger view). I recently did a similar one that was
like a case work piece with flat panels in a face frame on three sides
only 3 inches off the floor and a face frame on the front with
drawers, a cabinet door and open shelfs. The dados in the long legs
http://www.osbornewood.com/product/5000.cfm just squared the whole
thing up as I assembled it and made it a dream.

On Jun 11, 2:02 pm, [email protected] wrote:
> Hello there
>
> I am wondering what is the opinion around pocket hole jointery ?
> I am thinking about buying a jig to try but wondering if it is even
> worth it ?
>
> I usually mortise/T my joints, but wondering if that pocket hole joint
> helper can make my life easier and good joints
>
> Thanks in advance

Sb

"SonomaProducts.com"

in reply to [email protected] on 11/06/2007 9:02 PM

12/06/2007 11:37 AM

Very true.

The Kreg hand pocket holers make a 12 or 15 degree hole. The pro
Castle and other pocket hole machines like I use do a 6 degree hole.
This minimizes the lift tendancy. Regardless, you need to clamp the
connections before you add the screws. I most typically use a big deep
F clamp and devise a clamping scheme down to the table. You can stack
spacers under some parts, like an apron and get super accurate offset,
like holding the apron 1/2" in from the face of the leg. If you clamp
down strongly enough you don't need lateral clamping.

Regarding the special screws. I never use them unless maybe using a
soft wood, then I like those with the more coarse thread. I use
standard wood screws with a good, right sized, long phillips driver,
so you can lay the gun down at a real oblique angle. I also use longer
screws if possible to get lots of meat. Finally, I use my impact
driver so I can even drive these into white oak and walnut like
buttah.

Regarding the oblong holes, since I use the pro machine we don't have
those plugs available. The hole shape is different. I only use pocket
screws where they will be hidden or at the least very non obvious,
like on the near face of a cabinet divider where you would nearly have
to stick you head into the cabinet to see where it faces into the back
side of the face frame; and then only on lower priced stuff.

On Jun 11, 9:39 pm, Leuf <[email protected]> wrote:
> On Mon, 11 Jun 2007 21:02:31 -0000, [email protected] wrote:
> >Hello there
>
> >I am wondering what is the opinion around pocket hole jointery ?
> >I am thinking about buying a jig to try but wondering if it is even
> >worth it ?
>
> >I usually mortise/T my joints, but wondering if that pocket hole joint
> >helper can make my life easier and good joints
>
> The only thing to watch out for is their tendency to pull things out
> of alignment as you start driving the screw, and if it does get in out
> of alignment it is difficult to make an adjustment to it. If you
> clamp things really well it's not an issue. If only just for
> slapping things together quickly for shop use they are worth having
> around.
>
> -Leuf

xv

"xcz"

in reply to [email protected] on 11/06/2007 9:02 PM

12/06/2007 12:08 PM

Kreg K2000 Pro Pack (older model) -
http://www.onlinetoolreviews.com/reviews/kregk2000.htm

Kreg K3 Master (latest model) -
http://www.onlinetoolreviews.com/reviews/kregk3.htm

Hope it helps!

--
Regards,

Dean Bielanowski
Editor
OnlineToolReviews.com
http://www.onlinetoolreviews.com
Over 150+ free tool reviews online!


CE

"C & E"

in reply to [email protected] on 11/06/2007 9:02 PM

11/06/2007 10:10 PM


"Phisherman" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Mon, 11 Jun 2007 21:02:31 -0000, [email protected] wrote:
>
>>Hello there
>>
>>I am wondering what is the opinion around pocket hole jointery ?
>>I am thinking about buying a jig to try but wondering if it is even
>>worth it ?
>>
>>I usually mortise/T my joints, but wondering if that pocket hole joint
>>helper can make my life easier and good joints
>>
>>Thanks in advance
>
> Pocket hole joinery has its place and makes a strong joint. There are
> several downsides, including the special screws needed and the oval
> holes created. It is very difficult to replace traditional mortise
> and tenon.


The upside on the weird holes created is that there are matching plugs
available in various woods. Makes a nice cover up.

Sk

"Swingman"

in reply to [email protected] on 11/06/2007 9:02 PM

11/06/2007 5:07 PM


<[email protected]> wrote in message

> do you know of any place I can order a mortise chisel (pigsticker) ?
> I looked all over the conventional stores but no luck ! internet
> place ?


http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=1&p=49988&cat=1,41504,41533



--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 6/1/07
KarlC@ (the obvious)

BA

B A R R Y

in reply to [email protected] on 11/06/2007 9:02 PM

12/06/2007 10:40 AM

[email protected] wrote:
>
>
> do you know of any place I can order a mortise chisel (pigsticker) ?

<http://www.leevalley.com/>
<http://www.toolsforworkingwood.com/>
<http://www.highlandwoodworking.com/index.asp>
<http://www.woodcraft.com/

Sk

"Swingman"

in reply to [email protected] on 11/06/2007 9:02 PM

11/06/2007 4:49 PM

<[email protected]> wrote in message
> Hello there
>
> I am wondering what is the opinion around pocket hole jointery ?
> I am thinking about buying a jig to try but wondering if it is even
> worth it ?
>
> I usually mortise/T my joints, but wondering if that pocket hole joint
> helper can make my life easier and good joints

Depends upon what you do in your woodworking.

For the furniture work I do there are few very applications that call for
M&T joints that I would replace with pocket hole joinery, the possible
exception being drawer web frames.

For the cabinet work I do, I use do pocket hole joinery almost exclusively
for kitchen/bath/built-in cabinet 'face frames', where the amount of joint
strength is more than sufficient for the application, particularly when
gluing the face frame to the cabinet sides, top and bottom.

If some of your woodworking falls in similar categories, the Kreg jigs are
excellent products, and a good investment where time, efficiency, and just
the right amount of joinery strength for the application is required.

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 6/1/07
KarlC@ (the obvious)

LB

Larry Blanchard

in reply to [email protected] on 11/06/2007 9:02 PM

11/06/2007 8:08 PM

Swingman wrote:

>
> <[email protected]> wrote in message
>
>> do you know of any place I can order a mortise chisel (pigsticker) ?
>> I looked all over the conventional stores but no luck ! internet
>> place ?
>
> http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=1&p=49988&cat=1,41504,41533
>

Those are indeed mortise chisels, but they don't look like any pigsticker
chisel I've ever seen. A pigsyicker is thicker than it is wide, often to the
point it looks like a thick butcher knife, and the sides are not usually
square, but very slightly tapered. The best picture I could find with a
quick google is on the following web page, along with a lot of other chisel
types.

http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/showthread.php?t=13082


--
It's turtles, all the way down

Pn

Phisherman

in reply to [email protected] on 11/06/2007 9:02 PM

11/06/2007 11:45 PM

On Mon, 11 Jun 2007 21:02:31 -0000, [email protected] wrote:

>Hello there
>
>I am wondering what is the opinion around pocket hole jointery ?
>I am thinking about buying a jig to try but wondering if it is even
>worth it ?
>
>I usually mortise/T my joints, but wondering if that pocket hole joint
>helper can make my life easier and good joints
>
>Thanks in advance

Pocket hole joinery has its place and makes a strong joint. There are
several downsides, including the special screws needed and the oval
holes created. It is very difficult to replace traditional mortise
and tenon.

Ll

Leuf

in reply to [email protected] on 11/06/2007 9:02 PM

11/06/2007 11:39 PM

On Mon, 11 Jun 2007 21:02:31 -0000, [email protected] wrote:

>Hello there
>
>I am wondering what is the opinion around pocket hole jointery ?
>I am thinking about buying a jig to try but wondering if it is even
>worth it ?
>
>I usually mortise/T my joints, but wondering if that pocket hole joint
>helper can make my life easier and good joints

The only thing to watch out for is their tendency to pull things out
of alignment as you start driving the screw, and if it does get in out
of alignment it is difficult to make an adjustment to it. If you
clamp things really well it's not an issue. If only just for
slapping things together quickly for shop use they are worth having
around.


-Leuf

Sk

"Swingman"

in reply to [email protected] on 11/06/2007 9:02 PM

12/06/2007 7:46 AM

"Larry Blanchard" wrote in message

> Those are indeed mortise chisels, but they don't look like any pigsticker
> chisel I've ever seen.

Must be a regional thang ... the only "pigsticker" I'm familiar with is
carried on a belt and would give Crocodile Dundee an inferiority complex. ;)

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 6/1/07
KarlC@ (the obvious)


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