replaces any wood that's removed to create the holes a pocket hole reduces the amount of wood around the screw head this is why you can't cluster pocket screws together on the end of a rail as closely as you may dowels you'll remove too much wood when you create all those pockets and this is why i don't usually recommend pocket screws for high stress structural joints such as chair and table legs where a lot of leverage may be applied but i love pocket screws for case work including cabinet boxes and face frames for built-in bookcases pocket screws are also very useful for solving difficult problems many times i've been able to slip a pocket screw into a tight spot to create a joint where conventional joinery would have been difficult or impossible pocket screws also allow for some wood movement which makes them useful for attaching wood table tops or other cross grain joinery they're wonderful for projects that you may wish to disassemble and modify at a later date because they may be used without glue and perhaps my favorite thing about pocket screw joinery is that no clamps are needed in fact i've used pocket screws in place of clamps to hold projects together while the glue in the conventional joinery dries admittedly pocket screws come with a big downside unlike dowels and biscuits that are concealed within their joints a screw pocket is unmistakable they may be plugged but unless you plan to paint the project their locations must be carefully hidden through planning so there are obvious pros and cons to all three types of joinery biscuits are great for aligning project parts during glue ups but they add little structural strength to the project dowels may be structurally strong when grouped together but the holes must be precisely bored with an accurate jig and pocket screws are fast and easy for case work for face frames and other joinery that won't be subject to a great deal of leverage but the holes must be carefully hidden there's a time for dovetails finger joints rabbits dados mortises and tenons these are still the fundamental joints of furniture making and in some cases there is just no substitute for good traditional joinery but when used properly there is absolutely no reason why biscuits dowels and pocket screws shouldn't have a place in your workshop as well see you next time castle doesn't just make pocket hole jigs they make pocket hole joinery machines the internal router cuts a cleaner pocket than any drill bit can with no tear out and a crisp exit the steeper angle centers the screw for a stronger joint and reduces component drift during assembly castle machines are top quality built to last and flat out perform visit their website at the link below and see the difference for yourself
START_SPONSOR_TOKEN doesn't just make pocket hole jigs they make pocket hole joinery machines the internal router cuts a cleaner pocket than any drill bit can with no tear out and a crisp exit the steeper angle centers the screw for a stronger joint and reduces component drift during assembly castle machines are top quality built to last and flat out perform visit their website at the link below and see the difference for yourself END_SPONSOR_TOKEN