Are pocket screws just as strong as dowels?

Our expert answers

Thanks for your question Leslie. Pocket screws are generally not as strong as dowels for most woodworking joints, especially when it comes to shear strength (forces trying to slide the joint apart) and pull-apart strength. Pocket screws mainly rely on the mechanical strength of the screw and friction between the two pieces of wood. There’s little true wood-to-wood glue bonding across the joint faces. Dowels, on the other hand, create a lot more glue surface area inside the joint and provide mechanical reinforcement through the wood itself, not just metal fasteners. This often results in a joint that’s stronger than the wood around it. We’d love to see your project when completed. Happy woodworking!