Problems with Kreg Jig and Oak Plywood

[Ron Ralph]

I am making my wife a sewing cabinet and was trying to put the pieces together after drilling the holes just shy of 3/4". When I went to attach the pieces together using the 1 1/4" coarse screws, a few things happened:

1. The screw came through the other side of the plywood by 1/16th of an inch.

2. The screw hole stripped out. I had my drill set at 6 for torque.

I then tried the 1" screws after drilling new holes. No luck either.

Anyone else have any problems with plywood?

Regular wood, the Kreg works great!

[Tim King]

Ron I had simular problems drilling birch plywood into oak with 1 1/4" fine screws. I made a slight adjustment on the drill bit collar and it helped. Try it on some test pieces first. Good luck.

[Ron Ralph]

I was actually attaching oak plywood to oak plywood. I'll try backing out the depth of the drill bit a little bit the next time. I did back off the Kreg jig to just less than 3/4". I decided to put it together with a nail gun this time. I hate it that i have to go back and fill up putty holes now...

[Don Grubish]

That was happening to me a bit on the cradle project. The screws were poking out just enough to be annoying. I was able to sand them flush, and now no one knows of the mistake. Turns out my drill bit collar was a little deep. I didn't tighten it down well enough. I also now use Tim's suggestion of backing it off a bit from 3/4" mark.

Also, on softer woods, be careful you don't strip out your screw by trying to over-tighten the screws. Go only until you feel that slight tug/twist on your power drill. Any more than that and your Kreg screw can start freely spinning in the pocket hole.

Good luck, bud.