Shopsmith Forums

Being new to wood workiing, was wondering about pocket screws verses the ole glue, brad nailer method.

Been told that the pocket screws are by far the strongest.

A combination of glue and pocket hole joinery does make for a very strong joint....just not sure if it is the strongest! One of the attractions is that the joint is quick and easy to make.

John
FlashbacPT

What is it you're joining?

I would consider the glue/pin nailing the 'quickest'. Realize only the glue provides meaningful separation resistance. The pins are a 'quickie' clamp.

A pocket screw would be better, but not as good as glued pocket screw.

Possible expansion may require refraining from gluing(hence the what joint question above (among some other reasons).

Thanks for the response. Guess i should have included the project that is a set of adjustable book shelfves for the home/office.

the Admiral wants me to practice more before tackling her new kitch Island that she has requested from the wood shop. LOL

A trip to Lowes has added a kreg JR to th shop inventory and I have decided to make my own shelf pin jig from left over stock.

happy holidays to all.

Capt Chuck

Chuck,
As you probably know, pocket screws are designed for butt joints. They are great on face frames as well as panels. Other joint configurations are possible but, require some serious pre-planning.
Sorta depends on how you want your joints to look.

Chuck,

I have built several bookcases and cabinets. I am not a fan of butt joints and would only use the screw joints on a stationary cabinet. I use a wide variety of joints to give my cabinets every chance of remaining solid. May I suggest you read some books and magazine articles before you begin. I discovered that making every side, top, bottom and even the back interlock add to solidity and long life in a cabinet. Before I built my first cabinet I spent a great deal of of time studying every bookcase and cabinet in my house and many stores. This study paid big dividends and helped me learn many a lesson. Things to look at include, how rigid is the structure? How does each part interlock with the others. I remember seeing a bookcase where all of the interior shelves were mounted on pins. That bookcase didn't last a year. All of mine the top, bottom, sides and at least one other shelf toward center are permanent. On top of that the back is attached solidly to all sides and that center shelf. Jim

We always talk woodworking and visit shops when my wife's family gets together.
One BIL was talking yesterday about the gun cabinet he had built using mostly pocket hole joints.
He had used the special plugs on all of the joints except on the back of the face frame of the front. Nobody can see those, right? Weeell... He hadn't thought about the fact that he was using a full mirror inside of the back... He put that in last. When you look in through the front you see all of those pocket holes in the back of the face frame in the mirror.

Not going to be the easiest place to work...


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Ain't hind sight(view from the back) wunnerful?:D