My apprentice in Seattle argued we should always pre-drill for pocket holes, but I say it depends on the wood.

Three years ago on a big custom cabinet job, we snapped three screws in some really hard maple because we skipped that step. What's your rule on this?

4 comments

4 Comments

jana_shah2mo ago

Ugh, always pre-drill for hardwoods...

the_thomas2mo ago

Remember that time I thought my drill bit was tough enough for oak? @jana_shah, I ended up with a screw so bent it looked like a question mark. My project took twice as long fixing that one stubborn hole. Learned the hard way that pre-drilling isn't just a suggestion.

ruby_jones2mo ago

My old foreman swore by cobalt bits for oak after he snapped three regular ones. @jana_shah is right, it's just not worth skipping the pilot hole.

rose_reed1mo ago

My maple bookshelf project last year needed 40 screws and I skipped pilot holes like a fool. I mean, I burned through two drill batteries and snapped a screw clean in half trying to force it. The wood actually started to smoke on the last few. It took me a whole extra weekend to dig out the broken pieces and start over. I learned that day my cordless drill just doesn't have the guts for hard maple without a pilot hole.