Get Holes For Beginners

As you drive a pocket-hole screw into your material, the pocket and pilot hole guide the screw precisely, while the screw's self-tapping tip drills its own hole into the mating piece. That means you don't have to drill into both pieces, and you'll get great holding power without splitting or stripping the wood.

As you drive a pocket-hole screw into your material, the pocket and pilot hole guide the screw precisely, while the screw's self-tapping tip drills its own hole into the mating piece. That means you don't have to drill into both pieces, and you'll get great holding power without splitting or stripping the wood.

Anatomy of the pocket hole At the base of the pocket, there's a flat ledge that the head of the screw will contact. The pilot hole continues almost—but not quite all the way—to the end of the board. It stops short for good reason: to prevent the wood fibers from “blowing out” as the bit exits the material.

Anatomy of the pocket hole At the base of the pocket, there's a flat ledge that the head of the screw will contact. The pilot hole continues almost—but not quite all the way—to the end of the board. It stops short for good reason: to prevent the wood fibers from “blowing out” as the bit exits the material.

Place a pocket hole close to each end, and then space them out every 6″ to 8″ in between. Hopefully, these tip make pocket-hole spacing easier to understand, and will help you make strong joints that last, and make them fast on your next project.

Place a pocket hole close to each end, and then space them out every 6″ to 8″ in between. Hopefully, these tip make pocket-hole spacing easier to understand, and will help you make strong joints that last, and make them fast on your next project.

The minimum width you'll want to use is 1/2″, as that's the narrowest width that will accept a pocket-hole screw.

The minimum width you'll want to use is 1/2″, as that's the narrowest width that will accept a pocket-hole screw.

Anatomy of the pocket hole At the base of the pocket, there's a flat ledge that the head of the screw will contact. The pilot hole continues almost—but not quite all the way—to the end of the board. It stops short for good reason: to prevent the wood fibers from “blowing out” as the bit exits the material.

Anatomy of the pocket hole At the base of the pocket, there's a flat ledge that the head of the screw will contact. The pilot hole continues almost—but not quite all the way—to the end of the board. It stops short for good reason: to prevent the wood fibers from “blowing out” as the bit exits the material.

The kit includes everything you'll need to get started: a pocket hole jig, a special stepped drill bit and stop collar, a 6-in. driver bit, a locking pliers–type clamp and a handful of pocket screws. Buy Kreg screws jigs at woodworking stores or on-line, or shop for a high-quality pocket hole jig with similar features.

The kit includes everything you'll need to get started: a pocket hole jig, a special stepped drill bit and stop collar, a 6-in. driver bit, a locking pliers–type clamp and a handful of pocket screws. Buy Kreg screws jigs at woodworking stores or on-line, or shop for a high-quality pocket hole jig with similar features.

The pocket holes need to be drilled into the vertical (blue) pieces, not the horizontal (wood grain) pieces. DON'T: When making a butt joint do not drill pocket holes into the edge of a workpiece (horizontal wood grain piece). This would not create a strong joint. The grain of the wood runs the length of the board.

The pocket holes need to be drilled into the vertical (blue) pieces, not the horizontal (wood grain) pieces. DON'T: When making a butt joint do not drill pocket holes into the edge of a workpiece (horizontal wood grain piece). This would not create a strong joint. The grain of the wood runs the length of the board.

8:23 15:11 Top 13 Pocket Hole Tips and Tricks | ULTIMATE Guide To Become a Pro YouTube Start of suggested clip End of suggested clip And. It's got a 3 8 inch metal dial. Actually made into it. And you're just going to clamp that intoMoreAnd. It's got a 3 8 inch metal dial. Actually made into it. And you're just going to clamp that into that pocket hole. So if you've got two pocket holes or a long panel. You can actually take this.

8:23 15:11 Top 13 Pocket Hole Tips and Tricks | ULTIMATE Guide To Become a Pro YouTube Start of suggested clip End of suggested clip And. It's got a 3 8 inch metal dial. Actually made into it. And you're just going to clamp that intoMoreAnd. It's got a 3 8 inch metal dial. Actually made into it. And you're just going to clamp that into that pocket hole. So if you've got two pocket holes or a long panel. You can actually take this.

0:25 2:11 How to Drill Pocket Holes Without a Jig - YouTube YouTube Start of suggested clip End of suggested clip In it by tilting the drill. I'm only drilling in there maybe a quarter of an inch maybe three-MoreIn it by tilting the drill. I'm only drilling in there maybe a quarter of an inch maybe three-eighths of an inch. And then that gives you a pocket to insert your screw.

0:25 2:11 How to Drill Pocket Holes Without a Jig - YouTube YouTube Start of suggested clip End of suggested clip In it by tilting the drill. I'm only drilling in there maybe a quarter of an inch maybe three-MoreIn it by tilting the drill. I'm only drilling in there maybe a quarter of an inch maybe three-eighths of an inch. And then that gives you a pocket to insert your screw.

What depth should I set my Kreg Jig for a 1x board? A 1x board (ie: 1×2, 1×3, 1×4, 1×6, 1×8, etc) is technically ¾” deep, so you would use the ¾” settings. These settings will be used to set the depth collar on the Kreg drill bit and the depth gauge on all of the models except for the Kreg 720.

What depth should I set my Kreg Jig for a 1x board? A 1x board (ie: 1×2, 1×3, 1×4, 1×6, 1×8, etc) is technically ¾” deep, so you would use the ¾” settings. These settings will be used to set the depth collar on the Kreg drill bit and the depth gauge on all of the models except for the Kreg 720.

Joining plywood using pocket holes They can be ever so slightly thinner than 3/4″. This means that you need to set your drill ingly. In this case, I would still set the drill height at 3/4″ BUT set the drill bit between 3/4″ and 1/2″.

Joining plywood using pocket holes They can be ever so slightly thinner than 3/4″. This means that you need to set your drill ingly. In this case, I would still set the drill height at 3/4″ BUT set the drill bit between 3/4″ and 1/2″.

The simple answer is that either way works. Strength is really equal in both orientations, because the screw still enters the wood the same way, and is surrounded by wood in either orientation. The biggest determiner of where the pocket-hole should be located is still where they'll be the least visible.

The simple answer is that either way works. Strength is really equal in both orientations, because the screw still enters the wood the same way, and is surrounded by wood in either orientation. The biggest determiner of where the pocket-hole should be located is still where they'll be the least visible.