Torque is for headbolts, woodscrews, not so much.

[Larwyn]

The clutch settings on drill drivers are effective at limiting the torque applied to the fastener that you are driving.  If that fastener happens to be a machine screw or bolt into a threaded hole or nut then equal torque will result in equal pressure holding the two parts together.  If that torque is being applied to a self drilling woodscrew the results will vary.  The torque applied will be the same but the resistance to penetration of the screw by the material being joined will result in considerable variation in the tightness of the actual joint.  I have seen screws stop short of actually seating against the surface with the clutch setting that was perfect for the previous screw.  And I have seen screws snap in two with the same clutch setting that worked fine on the last 100 or so identical screws.

The clutch is a good way to limit your ability to overdrive screws, so are your senses of sight, feel, and hearing.

[John Rice]

well put

[Ian W]

Sight,feel and sound are important. Also experience. As easy as the KREG jig is to use, it gets easier with practice.
When I am working in soft wood, pine, cedar etc i finish driving the screws by hand.
cheers
ianw

[Bob Farmer]

I can get good results using both sight/feel/sound and using the clutch. Once you get more experienced, I think using sight/feel/sound works better for me anyway. Otherwise I'm always left wondering if I got it tight enough... that being said, there's nothing worse than a spun-out screw... so it's a toss-up!

[Larwyn]

Exactly, I have learned not to rely on a clutch setting, in fact when using the Kreg jigs that I own, a drill driver with a clutch setting does not even enter the picture. I have had a couple of stripped screw holes, or maybe broken screws, but was using glue at the time so I simply clamped the assembly for while, sending the problem down the road..

[Tony Perry]

I use the clutch and lean toward letting it fall short of completely seating. This i becuse I am in the habit of using a manual square head driver to snug things up. Just an old habit, mind you, not someting I would recommend for those fussy about your time.