I still don't get why everyone loves pocket hole joinery so much

Tbh I tried using pocket holes on a bookshelf project last weekend and the whole thing twisted on me after 2 days. The screws pulled right out of the particle board I was using and now I got a leaning tower of books in my garage. I spent 3 hours fixing it with dowels and glue instead. Has anyone else had pocket holes fail on cheap materials like that?

2 comments

2 Comments

king.lisa1mo ago

Oh MAN, this is exactly what I needed to see. I used to think pocket holes were basically magic and could fix anything. @miller.jason your story about Dave's kitchen island is brutal but it makes total sense now. I tried pocket holes on a particle board TV stand last year and the shelf literally buckled under my DVD player within a week. The screws just stripped right out. Now I only use them for solid wood or at least good plywood, and I glue the joints too. That cheap material really is a recipe for disaster with pocket holes.

miller.jason1mo ago

Oh man, that reminds me of my buddy Dave. He built a whole kitchen island with particle board and pocket holes, thought he was being clever. Two weeks later his wife put a heavy crockpot on it and the whole top shelf just sagged and dumped everything onto the floor. He had to rip the whole thing apart and rebuild it with plywood and regular screws and wood glue. Took him a whole weekend and he still gets mad when I bring it up. Pocket holes really need solid wood or good plywood, that cheap particle crap just doesn't hold them.