Face frames, quick cases
Pocket screw
A screw in a 15° pocket. Fast, and wrong on a show face or across a solid panel.
Use when
- A face frame has to go together today and the pockets will be hidden.
Don’t use when
- Do not pocket-screw across the width of a solid-wood panel.
- Keep
- Waste, hatched on the drawing
- Dimension
- Long parts are broken. The 1 in bar is true scale.
Stock
Thickness steppers move by 1/16 in, or 0.5 mm. You can type 3/4 or 1-1/8.
Sizes
| Mark | Size | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Screw length | 1-1/4 in | 1-1/4 in screw for 3/4 to 3/4 |
| Pocket angle | 15° | 15° is the usual jig |
| Face thickness | 3/4 in | The pocket is drilled in the back of this piece |
| From the edge | 1/2 in | Keep the pocket off the show edge |
Cut sequence
1A pocket wants a jig
Drilling a 15° hole by eye puts the screw through the face. Use the jig.
2If you must
Clamp a block at 15° and drill through it. Stop before the face.
Setup: 15°
3Dry-fit, then glue
Close the joint dry. Check that shoulders and faces meet, then glue. If this is a frame or a box, check both diagonals before the glue grabs.
Stop when: Dry-fit is tight with hand pressure, square, and the diagonals match.
Glue
Mostly mechanical
Strength
light
Movement
Fine for a face frame or a hidden rail. The screw is the joint. Glue is optional.