Pocket Hole vs Biscuit joinery

[Douglas Markel]

Any thoughts on which applications are better for pocket hole vs which applications are better for biscuits?  Clearly pocket hole joinery is superior for face frames.  It seems to me that biscuits would be better for flat face joining of wider boards.  I welcome any thoughrts! 

[Douglas Markel]

Thanks Robert!

[Pedro]

I agree with Robert. I never like to see fasteners on my projects. Face frames are outstanding for Kreg. I would like to see work were others have learned to hide the "holes". Example attaching the FF to the carcass.. I would put the pocket hole below the fixed shelf in cabinet, or in the bottom of the carcass to the FF. Any other ideas out there?

[Robert J Guidry Sr]

I agree with you both, don't like to see fasteners on projects. When attaching face frames attach top on outside of top, outside bottom of bottom and sides in the outside. If the outside of the cabinet shows, I will use biscuits on the side that shows or use a plug on the inside and stain it the same as the inside.

When I make large drawer fronts or table tops etc. where the screws will not show, I will use the pocket holes, sure beats using clamps. but for large panels where the screws will show, I use a Freud glue joint bit.

Pedro said:

I agree with Robert. I never like to see fasteners on my projects. Face frames are outstanding for Kreg. I would like to see work were others have learned to hide the "holes". Example attaching the FF to the carcass.. I would put the pocket hole below the fixed shelf in cabinet, or in the bottom of the carcass to the FF. Any other ideas out there?

[mo khan]

I use pocket holes whenever I can- I don't like using plugs to hide them. I try and put the holes where they can't be seen. If they will be seen then i use a false front of the same timber and glue it on. See my pics of the Morris Chair and notice that I have attached the hand rest rail to the post with pocket holes and then glued a 1/2" piece of timber over it. I like using pocket holes to make table tops. I also have a 3/8" dowelling jig and sometimes instead of using dowels i drill a through hole in a T joint using the dowelling jig and my stepped drill bit. I then use one of the Kreg screws to fasten the joint and plug the hole with a dowel. Round plugs are less apparent than the ones made by the Kreg jig. I use this when attaching chair backs to the chair legs. Any more suggestions?