Thread: Looking for 1" pocket hole screws

Don't know if these would be suitable for Kreg work, but plasterboard screws cost next to nothing and work great in MDF:

4C | Bugle Head Needle Point Screws 6G x 35mm Box of 400 | eBay

You can also get the collated screws for around $15 per 1000, but that might be a bit tedious for you depending on how you're driving (posidrive head) them in.

cheers, Ian

Thank you for the link and idea. I have a few odd ones kicking around so I'll give it a try and see if they work on scrap mdf.

I'll have to check the head diameter to make sure it fits in the pocket hole.

Screw it screws, quality Canadian made sell the size for $28.00 for 500.

Pocket hole screws round washer Kreg compatible

Cheap rarely equals good quality

Thank you for the link. They are pretty much the same price as kreg.


There is a place for quality and a place for cheap. This is a temporary table for a specific job. When the boat is built the table will be redundant. It's made from 16mm mdf cover sheets with laminex faces, which are marked. I got the sheets for $5 each. $45 for the sheets, some scrap to brace the top and build some rough sawhorses to put it at a comfortable height.


I've made some decent mortice and tennon joints, dovetails, glued up tops etc. I use pocket holes mostly to build jigs, quick repairs etc. I love them for that. I just need this table to last a few months.

I have found for 16mm mdf the Kreg 11/4 32mm screws are the best. The head if wider and hold a lot better. If you are a mens shed member they are $58 for 1200. That is 49c per screw.

Thank you for the reply.

I have a box of 500 1 1/4 kreg screws but I thought they are too long for 16mm stock ?

Choosing the Correct Length

I alter the depth of the hole to suit as I found the head of the 1” Kreg screws tears easily in mdf.

The heads tear off ? ! I thought they were the same as the longer ones ?

I think milescraft pocket hole screws tend to be a bit cheaper than kreg. Timbecon do them.

Never used them so don't know how good they are.

Originally Posted by damian

The heads tear off ? ! I thought they were the same as the longer ones ?

If you look at a the head of an 1” screw there is no lip (like a washer). As such the head is quite small and can tear through the pilot hole made by the Kreg drill bit in mdf if there is any stress on the joint.

Oh! Ok thanks. I'll have a close look at the screws. I thought they were the same as the longer ones:


Kreg Pocket Hole Screws - 25mm Coarse/MaxiLoc Head - Zinc - 1200 pack | Carbatec


Or did you use the cheese head screws ?


Kreg Pocket Hole Screws - 25mm Coarse/Pan Head - Zinc - 1200 pack | Carbatec


I checked timbecon, thanks. It never ceases to amaze me how bad their website is. Anyway I couldn't find big packets of the pocket screws and the small packs are about the same money as kreg.

If you are really keen to save, there are options that I've tried quite successfully
I use pan head sheet metal screws in place of Kreg.
The pan head screws are important because it doesn't split the pocket hole easily as any countersink screws would
However, sheet metal screws are not self-drilling which you will need when you put the joinery together
The steps are

1. Get a few Kreg screws as pilots and use them to assemble the joints as per instructions
2. back out the Kreg screws, one at a time, and then replace them with the sheet machine screws

In this way, Kreg screws become tools rather than consumables.
I have had lots of successes with groups in a community-based woodworking class where we did not have any funds to buy Kreg screws

Pan heads are easy to obtain, For example, Scrooz sells 1000 x 6g x 25mm screws for $31.39.
Obviously, It will take longer to do, but there is no difference in the quality of the pocket hole joinery afterwards.

Thank you very much for that. I have bookmarked the link.


If I went that way I guess using the bugle screws here would be the way to go


4C | Bugle Head Needle Point Screws 6G x 25mm Box of 1000 | eBay


$17 for 1000 delivered.


The Kreg screws are #8 as I recall and these are #6. Unless my mind has gone completely the kreg is thinner so it would drill a really good pilot hole and these would be tight on insertion.


On the other hand if I can use my 1 1/4 screws 500 might be enough, at least for the main table. I've got a mold to assemble aswell...but 500 might be enough.


Anyway when I get a chance I'll do some experiments.


Thank you all for the suggestions.

Originally Posted by damian

If I went that way I guess using the bugle screws here would be the way to go


4C | Bugle Head Needle Point Screws 6G x 25mm Box of 1000 | eBay


$17 for 1000 delivered.

If you use bugle screws, it would have to be with extremely light touch, i.e., hand tightening pretty much,
otherwise, they will be splitting the pockets really quick.
I wouldn't advise either.