Domino and Pocket Hole Disappointment

[NYC Tiny Shop]

You really don't need screws. Even the indestructible table only used Domino tenons.  [wink]

That's what I call standing behind ( or under) your work! Gotta love Dominos!

 

[MattrYYC]

Since getting the Domino I've only been using pocket hole screws for clamping when I don't have a clamp long enough on a big piece. If you don't have a right angle pocket hole clamp, it's a worthwhile purchase if you are doing a lot of pocket holes, I've had good luck doing my pocketholes in pairs, and using the second hole to clamp when I drive my first screw, clamp it tight and it shouldn't move at all, these clamps can be hard to get in some places though.

 

[icecactus]

@shane & Peter, thanks for the suggest. I may end up doing that. I have enough clamps that I could probably glue up 2 drawers at time. The glue seems to dry insanely fast here in Phoenix anyway, so by the time I get 2nd drawer assembled and clamped, I could take the clamps off the first.

@Peter, thanks for the video links! Making videos is not easy and I appreciate the time you guys spend to help newbs like me learn  [big grin]

The pocket screw / Domino combination works better alignment wise with the 5mm and larger dominos. The short length of the 4mm is more likely to get pulled  or forced out of alignment (especially in 1/2" plywood) than the longer ones.

I suspect my issue is a combo of this and possible plunging to fast. Though the dominos were hard to get into the mortise so I thought they were nice and tight.

If you don't have a right angle pocket hole clamp, it's a worthwhile purchase if you are doing a lot of pocket holes, I've had good luck doing my pocketholes in pairs, and using the second hole to clamp when I drive my first screw, clamp it tight and it shouldn't move at all, these clamps can be hard to get in some places though.

I actually have one. I used it a couple times and I was not impressed. It didn't hold and was hard to use. HOWEVER, I didn't think of drilling 2 holes next to each other. I have a feeling it will work MUCH better if i did that. I was using it on a hole that was ~6" away. Thx for the tip.

So, next time, I think I will just glue and clamp, maybe use staples or air nailer. Will be faster anyway.

This brings me to my next question. I plan on making large number of garage cabinets using 3/4" pre-finished ply. I was planning on using 5mm dominos and pocket screws. Do you think I will run into same issue? or is the larger domino going to hold much better? I would like the extra strength of the pocket screws since the plywood is prefinished and the glue will only work on the dominos, not the rest of the butt joint. They will have a lot of weight in them.

I know erock made a video (really appreciate your videos!) and I am pretty sure he used pocket screws, thought I'll have to watch it again to make sure, its been a while since I viewed it. Seemed like the method worked for him.

 

[eddomak]

I've had good luck doing my pocketholes in pairs, and using the second hole to clamp when I drive my first screw, clamp it tight and it shouldn't move at all, these clamps can be hard to get in some places though.

Thanks heaps for that idea of pairs of pocket holes! I haven't had the issue of movement since using dominoes, but drilling double pockets on the first and last holes in a sequence is a great idea - I always found that the right angle clamp way down the other end couldn't keep the end I was tightening from shifting, so needed to use a quick clamp behind the end I was working on as a stop block.