I think the whole "pocket hole everything" trend is wrong.

People act like pocket screws are the answer to every joint, but I've been building doors and cabinets in Denver for 8 years now. I saw a kitchen from 2012 where every single face frame was pocket screwed, and by 2023 the miters were all gapping 1/8 inch. Has anyone else noticed pocket joints just don't hold up long term compared to a good dado or mortise and tenon?

2 comments

2 Comments

skyler_jackson275d ago

What kind of wood were those face frames... pine or hardwood?

the_harper5d ago

Kinda surprised nobody's mentioned that those face frames might be from old growth lumber... even if they're pine, the stuff from back then was way denser and more stable than what you'd get today. Makes a difference in how it holds up for 50+ years versus modern fast grown stuff. Just a thought on the long game.