I'm working on my first woodworking project, making wooden window screens for an older home. I've been testing how to join a couple of pieces together but keep running into issues where the ends split. I've got two primary questions: 1. The instructions say to use coarse thread for softwoods and mention poplar, but isn't poplar a hardwood? Should I stick with coarse or switch to fine thread? 2. I'm joining a 1x3 at the top with two pocket holes into a 1x2, which will be the sides of the frame. How close can I drill to the edge of the 1x2? It seems like I might be drilling too close to the edge, which could be why it's splitting. For the final project, I'm planning to use pine instead of poplar.
1 Answer
I typically use coarse threads with poplar and have never faced any issues. For referencing pocket holes, Kreg’s micro jig works well—just place it on the material, and you can center it pretty much by eye!
Are you using one pocket hole or two on the 1x3?