Trouble with pocket holes

[Joe Mcc]

I just finished making a bookcase. I used my pocket hole jig on the face frame. The trouble came when I tightened the screws down. The board I screwed into split on the back side. I did not over tighten the screws and used 3/4 inch screws on 3/4 inch wood. The jig is pretty straight forward to setup, any suggestions. Thank You.:rolleyes:

[fredg50]

I use the Kreg jig with their screws and have not had a problem. The screws are self tapping but I found if the pocket hole is too close to the edge the wood can split. For 3/4 hard wood you use the 1 1/4 fine tread screw. For 3/4 soft wood you use the 1 1/4 coarse tread. For 1/2" stock you use the 1" fine and coarse screws. I hope this helps.

[papadan]

Lets start with what kind of wood is splitting on you?

[Joe Mcc]

I was using 3/4 in. poplar wood for my face frame. I used 1 1/4 in. screws.

[Bob D.]

Lets start with what kind of wood is splitting on you?

And the other half is what screws are you using?

Are they regular wood screws or pocket hole screws?

[Joe Mcc]

Pocket hole screws. i used fine and course screws with same results.

[Tom W]

Pocket hole screws. i used fine and course screws with same results.I am no one to give advice on pocket holes because I have a terrible time using them too. The result is I haven't used them in a few years. My almost new Kreg set sits in a drawer in its case along with a few bags of assorted screws.


But I wonder, like fredg50, if the pocket holes are drilled too deeply?


Also you say you used poplar and I think it is technically listed as a hardwood. You may wish to investigate the specific gravity of wood you use and let that be a guide as to whether fine or coarse thread screws should be used. But it is puzzling that both fine and coarse threads have split the wood.

Tom

[Joe Mcc]

Thanks guys, I guess i'll just have to practice with this jig.

[VASandy]

Do you have a depth stop jig on the drill bit? If you're making the pocket hole too long it could cause that problem.

[fredg50]

I use the coarse tread screws with poplar. The fine tread screws always tend to strip out on me. The Kreg instructions also say to use the washer head screw with soft wood so the pocket hole does not crush. If you have the pocket hole drilled in soft wood and screwing it to hardwood then use a fine tread screw with a washer head.

[papadan]

I have found on some hardwoods that I need to drill pilot holes for the screws along with the pocket holes. you are putting face frames on a cabinet so you are screwing out toward the edge of the boards. Picture of the damage would be nice!

[Handidad]

You could try drilling pilot holes for the screws. I have a 3/8" dia rod with a long drill bit in a centre hole that I sometines use if I want to be certain that pices of wood don't shift when installig the pocket screw. The pilot hole would also prevent splitting of the wood.

[Joe Mcc]

I used the drill bit that came with the kit, set it at 3/4in. like it said to do. Set jig at 3/4 in. also. Is the drill bit tip suppose to drill through the first piece of wood. When I ran the screws in, that's when the wood split.

[sauk_98]

I had the same problem with Cherry. I used the fine thread screws 1 1/4 and 3/4" material that I milled. I kept splitting the board I was screwing into and I did set it up using the depth gage. After making several pieces of fire wood I double chedcked every thing and could not find the problem. Finally using the depth gage I set the step of the bit between 1/2 & 3/4 so far it seems to be working fine and no more splits

[Joe Mcc]

Yes that's my problem. Did you still use the 1 1/4 in. screws? It stinks to do all that work cutting the wood, just to watch it split. Thanks.:)

[sauk_98]

Yeh I used the 1 1/4 screws, but once I reset the bit not to cut as deep seems it solved my problem. I was lucky that most of the wood that split I cut down and used in a different project

[Joe Mcc]

Thanks a lot for your input. I will try this on some scrap wood.

[beardking]

I am no one to give advice on pocket holes because I have a terrible time using them too. The result is I haven't used them in a few years. My almost new Kreg set sits in a drawer in its case along with a few bags of assorted screws.

Hmmm, which kit do you have? Wanna get rid of it at an uber-cheap price? :wave: :D

[Hexhead]

I use the Kreg a lot. Put the drill bit in the hole let go in as far as it can in the hole. then take your board and bring up beside the drill bit where it comes through the jig.

You can then see where the tip of the drill is going to come out.

Kreg supples some spacers that will lift the board up or let it go lower. Put in or take out theses spacers untill you can see that the point of the drill is going to come out of the middle of the board you going to drill.

You can also adjust the stop on the drill up or down and do the same thing.

If I've mudded the waters for you e mail me.