A portable pocket cutter employs a shaping assembly and a boring assembly, connected via a frame and coupling assembly, for constructing a pocket joint in a workpiece. The frame is at least partially supported upon a workpiece. The shaping assembly is pivotally connected with the frame and further connects with a first bit for shaping a recess in a planar surface of the workpiece. The boring assembly is also connected with the frame and further connects with a second bit for boring a through aperture into an edge of the workpiece, the edge being generally perpendicular to the planar surface.