Glue

[thetoolnut]

I was fitting some window boards Yesterday which were eight and three quarters of an inch in width, one of the windows had reveals which were eight and a half inches deep which left me with a horn on the board which was only a quarter of an inch. I decided to rip a strip one inch wide from a left over piece of the same stock, i drilled pocket holes in the bottom of the window board for one and a quarter inch pocket screws. I then ran a bead of glue on the edge of the board and joined the two pieces with pocket screws. Big deal you might say but what i noticed when driving the screws was that when i got glue squeeze out it was my signal to stop driving the screws. This i found is especially handy when using an impact driver to drive pocket screws, especially an 18v lithium impact driver. It's very easy to over drive a pocket screw with one of these powerful drivers. Has anyone else noticed this? Not only does the glue strenghten the joint but it can also act as a clutch on an impact driver! 

[Rick]

Definitely you can strip out a pocket screw with an impact driver.  You can even bust screws if they don't strip first.  A better tool for driving pocket screws is a DRILL - DRIVER with an adjustable torque setting, but without one of them, your way of watching glue squeeze out is a good one!

[Jens Jensen]

I use De Walt impact and the trick I learned is listen to the ratcheting it just has a different sound when driving and reaching the point of setting screw,It is hard to explain but if you get used to it it is very easy tool to use

[Rick]

Jens, you are right that all Impact Drivers have two-stages.  The first is a high speed drill motor, the second is the rotary impactor. 

Never thought of using it ... I'll have to try it ... see if I can master the technique without stripping the threads.  

[Jens Jensen]

Just go slow on trigger until you hear the torque setting in

Rick said:

Jens, you are right that all Impact Drivers have two-stages.  The first is a high speed drill motor, the second is the rotary impactor. 

Never thought of using it ... I'll have to try it ... see if I can master the technique without stripping the threads.  

[Jeff Dahmer]

I use a 12 volt impact driver for pine and, like others have said, I watch the turning speed and listen for the ratchet sound before I ease off on the trigger. The 12V driver is tiny and very light and it is one of my most treasured tools.

A comment about the use of glue. Sure its a great indicator of the closing of the joint. However, it's main use is for additional strength particularly where the product is subject to creep - such as chairs, beds and items taking a daily battering. Why? Because the screw is nothing more than a circular wedge and frequent movement will work it loose. Glue stops that. I think Kreg should consider emphasising this point.