Is there a point to pocket holes?

 If you get into any level of woodworking or building/making/fixing, you will inevitably run into the argument of whether pocket hole construction is Good or Evil. Yes, there are people who seem to take it that far.

I was making pocket holes before there were jigs and special bits and special screws to do it.  Way back when I worked in the cabinet department in a factory.  And the only time we used pocket holes was in building face frames for the cabinets.

The reasons for using pocket holes back then was for 2 reasons.

1. So the fasteners can't be seen from the front or edges.

2. Pocket hole/screw fastening is stronger than basic butt joint connections

And that's it.

As to the first reason, whether it's cabinet faces or frames or anything that is meant to "look good", the one thing no one wants to see is nails or screws in visible areas. It's just plain ugly.  It's one of the basic reason face frames are made to begin with.  To hide or disguise the inner workings of the object.  It's that simple.

Now, the second reason has a few parts to it.  One of the strongest ways to keep a joint together is with glue.  Sometimes, you can't use glue or a very strong adhesive or bonding agent.  In those cases, nails or screws, even nuts and bolts, are used to replace or to add to the strength and structural integrity of the joint.

Most face frames and the like are butt joints.  Just stick the end of one piece to the end or edge of another piece, there ya go.  Butt joints are easy and common, they are not strong.  In cases where strength is a primary concern, butt joints aren't likely to be found.

Of you do want any kind of strength in a butt joint, there will be glue, probably in addition to nails, staples, or screws. Since we're talking about pocket holes here, let's focus on screws.

Aside from being visible and largely not good looking,  putting screws in from the outside, in is not a position of strength.   At best, it keeps things put until the glue dries. The weakest part of the screw is doing all the work in that situation. And from the weakest position. 

A pocket hole/screw does three things opposite...  it's not visible, it reduces or avoids end grain connections,  and it places the strongest part of the screw nearest the joint being held together. 

An important thing to consider in whether to use pocket holes or not is if shear strength of the item is important or if it's just a matter of alignment and/or keeping things together in place.  If you foresee the likelihood of downward pressure from maybe being leaned on or overloaded as possible,  dowel pins and glue are usually enough to maintain alignment and strength there.

The big strength of screws is that they pull the two pieces of wood tightly together.   And it's still probably a good idea to have some dowel pins to help with alignment.

So, like most other things, pocket hole joinery isn't really about right or wrong, good or bad.  It's more about what's more appropriate or less appropriate to a usage or situation. You have to know what you want as the end result.  What is the priority of the thing you're building or fixing as you put it together. 

I see way too many social media folks putting out content that includes picket holes simply gor the sake or "simplicity" of making them because they have a fancy jig or tool that facilitates that.  No.  Picket holes should never been seen as the all-around replacement for other types of joinery just because it's cheaper, easier, or faster.

If it's not appropriate to the requirements of the piece, it's not appropriate.   Don't use it just because it's the only thing one knows how to do.  There are many types of joinery that are more appropriate to the goals and needs of various projects.   It just means it's time to learn something new.