Use pocket screws as clamps in M&T Joint?

[Jason Watkins]

Hey folks,

I was wondering if the clamping pressure from two pocket screws would be sufficient enough to hold a glued up mortise and tenon joint together without needing any other clamps?

For example, say you are making a table. The skirt boards have tenons and the legs are mortised to accept the tenons. 

Drill a pocket hole above and below the tenon on the inside of the skirt board.

Glue and assemble the joint as normal, then instead of clamping it with a bar clamp or whatever, just drive the 2 pocket screws home.

Would that be enough pressure to hold it together while the glue dries, or would you still need to use a clamp?

Thanks guys,

Jason

[Jay Boutwell]

Jason, It should be enough pressure to hold the joint.  I do this often when unable to hole a joint with out difficult clamping problems.  One of the common mistakes made is when the joint is clamped so tight that the joint is starved of it glue as it is squeezed out leaving you a "dry  joint".

Talking about difficult clamping of some joints, a trick I use is the application of common plastic electrician tape streached around the joints.  Because if has a memory like tendacy it will attemp[t top return to it pre streached form it will secure and hold the joint tight while the glue dries.  The glue does not stick to the tape as an added bonus.  I do this frequently when gluing angle pieces together like in building a long cabinet stile that is multi-angled.

[Jason Watkins]

Thanks Jay. I know I have a tendency to over tighten clamps, so I'll keep that in mind about starving the joint. 

[KregRep]

The Kreg screws would work great to hold your joint tight. This approach is a great solution in hard-to-reach places and for assemblies that are too long for your clamps.

KregRep

[Jason Watkins]

Thanks KregRep, this will simplify clamping setups for sure!

I imagine for thrift's sake you could even remove the pocket screws after an appropriate drying period, provided the joint was correctly fit, and re-use the screws. 

[KregRep]

You could remove the screws, Jason.