For instance, if you’re making a table, you’ll want to use the most attractive sides of your boards or planks for the tabletop. You’ll also want their grains and colors to line up so they don’t look mismatched or obviously joined. The lines of your V don’t have to be perfectly straight. You just need to make the shape across all of the boards. That way, the V is legible only when the boards are correctly aligned.
Add a strip of scrap wood in the middle if your planks or boards are long and you’re concerned about bowing.
Don’t apply glue to both edges that you’re joining. Too much glue will just cause more of a mess. Make sure you slightly shift the pieces back and forth to ensure an even coat of glue and get rid of air pockets. [3] X Research source Carpenter’s glue is great for woodwork, but if you plan on gluing wood to another material, you’ll probably need to work with a different glue. [4] X Research source
The glue still needs several hours to cure, so handle the joined boards gently. In humid conditions, you’ll have to wait an hour or longer to remove the clamps.
You can tell the end grain from the face and edge grains by checking the texture of the surface and arrangement of the growth rings. The end grain is the rougher, more porous side of a board. In addition, the exposed radii of a tree’s growth rings are only visible at the end grain. They look like a neatly arranged set of several curved lines. [8] X Research source To complete the process, you’ll drill pilot holes into a board, align it with another board, then drive screws through the first board’s pilot holes and into the second board. If you’ve never drilled pocket holes before, it’s wise to practice on scrap wood so you can get a feel for the process.
Go for a jig with a built-in alignment guide and clamp. While they’re cheaper, products that lack these features are less precise and more difficult to use. [10] X Research source
For example, if you’re making a frame, make sure you’re drilling into the back side of the board instead of what will be the front side of your final project. If you’ve cut a 45 degree angle into your board to make a miter joint, lay the board so the angle sits flat against the base of the jig.
After stopping halfway to eject the shavings, insert the bit back into the guide hole and continue drilling until the collar prevents you from drilling any deeper. [14] X Research source Insert your bit into the guide hole lined up with the other side of the board and repeat the process.
If you drive screws without clamping the boards, your joint won’t be flush. While using screws alone creates a strong joint, using woodworking glue will help keep the joint flush during seasonal shrinking and swelling. [16] X Research source
Pocket hole screw packaging often includes a guide chart. You can also find size guides online. [18] X Research source Use pocket hole screws only. They have a built-in washer that sits flush with the flat edge created by the pocket hole drill bit.
