Pocket Holes-101 Edition
I never knew what pocket holes were until about 2 years ago. In fact I didn’t even know how to make one until last year. I don’t know why but I had such a hard time wrapping my head around this concept! So I want to help break it down for you because I know just how helpful a tutorial was for me when I was first started my DIY journey. Also, this is a very beginner friendly skill to learn and once you figure out how to measure and adjust your tools you will fly through it.
What is the purpose? The reason you would want a pocket hole is because it’s a very seamless way to hide your hardware when securing two pieces together. It also provides a very strong and secure hold between your two materials. More in depth video here!
Before I dive in I want to share that I have the 520PRO and will be referring to this model as I walk you through this.
First, we need to determine our measurements. Take your Material Thickness Gauge (the little blue T) and measure how thick your material is by holding it up against it (see picture above for reference). This is the sizing you will adjust your Jig and Drill Bit too. Next you will adjust your Jig to that sizing by pinching the sides and moving up or down accordingly. After that you will take your Material Thickness Guage and loosen up the Stop Collar on your Drill Bit. Move it up or down to match the measurement of your material.
Next, you are going to take your material and secure it in your Jig by pumping the lever to tighten it up. Once secure, you can then use your Drill Bit and drive it into your jig to create pockets. When your Stop Collar reaches its stopping point you can reverse your Drill Bit out of the Jig. For a standard 2×4 stud I like to drill 2 pockets side by side for a strong hold.
When finding the correct size screw be sure to use the Screw Guide in your Screw Kit. This guide will help determine what size and style screw you will need for your project. If you don’t have the Screw Kit you can find the guide below. Then using your long Driver Bit you will drive those screws into your pocket.
I like to use corner clamps when securing my two pieces together. I find it to be very helpful and it gives me the best results. SHOP HERE!
If you are going for a finished furniture look I would grab some Kreg Wooden Plugs to pop into your holes. To do this you would insert the plug after you screwed in your screw and then using a Multi-tool you can trim off the excess and sand it down to be even with your surface.
Congratulations, you now have mastered the pocket hole! There are so many fun projects you can now do with this skill. Your projects will feel elevated and stronger! Now go make something fun and be sure to tag @ahomewithastory!
A little video for inspiration! Click here to watch!
