My old boss in Grand Rapids told me to never use pocket screws for face frames, but I've been doing it for 8 years now with zero issues.

3 comments

3 Comments

Honestly, that old rule is pretty outdated. Modern pocket hole jigs and screws are way stronger than they used to be. I've built tons of cabinets that way and they hold up just fine, even with heavy use. The key is just using the right length screw and good glue in the joint.

thea7041mo ago

But what about wood movement over time? I've seen pocket hole joints on wider boards crack when the wood shrinks or swells with the seasons. The screw just doesn't let the wood move like a proper floating joint does. For small projects it's fine, but on bigger panels or solid wood, that lack of flexibility can cause real problems down the road.

the_james1mo ago

Used to worry about that exact thing, but seeing how well my own projects have held up changed my mind.