As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Pocket holes are an extremely method of joining two wood pieces together in woodworking, and are used to make tables to desk drawers to cabinets. A pocket hole jig makes this process extremely simple.
Contents
What Is a Pocket Hole Jig?
A pocket hole jig is a device used to control the bit on a router or drill when forming pockets for a pocket hole joint. These relatively inexpensive tools make it easy for amateurs to create wood joints that are both strong and invisible.
Pocket Hole Jig Features
If you’re looking for a pocket hole jig, here are some of the features you should be considering.
Size
There are three sizes of pocket hole jigs; large, industrial jigs, bench-mounted jigs, and handheld, portable jigs perfect for home workshop use.
Price
Plastic pocket hole jigs intended for consumer use can be sourced for as low as $10, although the quality and longevity of these tools may not be the best.
The best pocket hole jigs can cost close to $100, are generally made from metal, can drill holes of various sizes, and are compatible with thicker materials.
Material
Less expensive pocket hole jigs are usually made of plastic and are durable enough for occasional use. If you plan to make a lot of pocket holes, consider a more durable aluminum pocket hole jig.
Compatibility With Thick Material
The limiting factor of a pocket hole joint often comes down to the thickness of the material. Most pocket hole jigs will be compatible with material from half an inch thick to one and a half inches thick.
For thicker material, a bench-mounted pocket hole jig may be necessary. Material thinner than half an inch thick is not suitable for pocket hole joinery.
Accessories
To make a pocket hole joint, you will need the jig itself, which is usually made from plastic or metal. You will also need several accessories.
These accessories include the drill bit used to make the hole, the screws you will use to fasten the joint, a stop collar to control the depth of the pocket hole, and a hex key to remove or attach the stop collar to the drill bit.
Clamps
To drill perfect pocket holes, the jig must be securely clamped to your workpiece. Pocket hole jigs may come with extendable arms to ensure stability, an inbuilt clamp, or magnets that help attach the jig to external metal clamps.
What Is a Pocket Hole Joint?
A pocket hole joint is a method of joining two pieces of wood.
To create a pocket hole, a router or light duty drill is used to hollow out an angled tunnel in the wood. Sometimes, a pilot hole is drilled from the other side, although with self-tapping screws this step is not necessary.
The screw is inserted through the pocket hole and enters the other piece of wood, holding them tightly together. For a stronger joint, you can add glue to both pieces of wood.
Pocket Hole Uses
Pocket hole joints are often used on the underside of shelves or in other inconspicuous locations. If desired, a plug of wood or wood filler can be used to fill in the pocket hole.
There are even jigs available for purchase that can cut plugs the same size as your pocket holes. When scrap wood from the same project is used, the resulting plugs match the grain and tone of the original wood.
Pocket Hole Benefits
The benefits of pocket hole joinery include how easy these joints are to construct and assemble, and repair.
Easy of Construction
Creating a pocket hole joint only requires you to drill a maximum of two holes; the pocket hole, and a pilot hole through the bottom.
If you use self-tapping pocket screws, no pilot hole is necessary, making this kind of joint even easier to construct.
Ease of Assembly
Joinery is one of the most complex parts of woodworking. Mortise and tenon or dovetail joints require precise alignment and more than a little bit of math. Many require their own tools, such as a good dovetail jig to execute.
Most joints require that you alter, or mill, both pieces of wood. The tenon must fit perfectly into the mortise, for example. For less experienced woodworkers, this can be extremely frustrating and perhaps impossible to achieve.
A pocket hole joint, especially when created using a pocket hole jig, is a beginner-friendly joint. As long as the two pieces of wood are assembled correctly before the screw is inserted through the bottom of the pocket hole, the resulting joint will be strong and perfectly aligned.
Repairability
Pocket holes joints are among the easiest joints to repair. Joints that have started to pull apart can be strengthened, supported, or repaired through the addition of another nearby pocket hole.
Alternatively, you may be able to remove the screw from the existing pocket hole and replace it to repair the joint.
Conclusion
Pocket hole jigs are convenient, easy-to-use accessories. With a pocket hole jig, you can make consistent and strong pocket hole joints, securely fastening together two pieces of wood. Pocket hole jigs are available in different sizes and materials. Check to ensure your pocket hole jig is compatible with the thickness of your workpiece.
