Are we using pocket screws wrong?

[Tom&Shelly]

Just saw this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1xnU6DE9y8

One thing Scott found is that pocket screws from the inside of a corner joint aren't as strong. Makes me wonder if we're attaching our walls to the floor correctly. Maybe we should make the holes from the outside and fill later? But I'm not aware of any broken joints to prove the point.

Tom

[John61CT]

Key takeaway

Don't use them at all unless necessary.

Longer regular screws from the outside, with glue

is much much stronger

[tony.latham]

Don't use them at all unless necessary.

Pocket screw joinery is highly effective in the right places.

Longer regular screws from the outside...

Plywood is best joined with pocket screws since screwing parallel into the laminations often causes splitting.

I use Jay Bates's pocket joinery system for building drawers:

https://youtu.be/sKVo-rLv-W8?si=euniroG6OBTI8q3R

As he puts it, "strong and quick." And since I've been doing drawers using his method for at least eight years, they last. But yeah, there's a right and a wrong way.

Tony

[Tom&Shelly]

Key takeaway

Don't use them at all unless necessary.

Longer regular screws from the outside, with glue

is much much stronger

Hi John,

That's interesting, and not quite what Scott (on the video) found. What is your experience?

Tom

[philpom]

I recently saw this same video and instantly thought about this forum. Using them from the outside is good, from the inside, not so good. Longer screws straight threw the outside better (from a joint strength point of view), with glue way better regardless.

I used zero pocket screws on my build, everything was through from the outside, pre-drilled and countersunk. That's what my skill/tool set allowed for, no worries here. Mostly 2" and 3" screws with a few 1.5" sprinkled in.

[Squigie]

Into solid wood, I wouldn't worry about it.
But I am firmly on the side of 'don't drive between laminations in plywood'. Not a good fastening.