Changed my mind about pocket screws after a chat with a guy at the lumberyard

I ran into a retired cabinetmaker named Frank at the supply place on Tuesday. He said 'you know, a pocket screw is just a really strong clamp while the glue dries.' I'd always thought of them as a weak joint, but he's right, they pull things tight and the glue does the real work. Now I'm using them for quick case assembly without feeling like I'm cutting corners. Anyone else have a simple trick they were wrong about for years?

2 comments

2 Comments

angelapalmer8d ago

Oh man, I totally get that. I used to avoid them too, thought they were a hack move. Now I'm over here like, guess I was the hack all along.

blairm358d ago

Hold up, "hack move" is exactly right though. Sometimes avoiding the easy button is what pushes you to actually learn the skill properly. Taking shortcuts early can leave you with shaky basics later on. I've seen it happen a lot, where the quick fix becomes a crutch. There's a real case for sticking with the hard way first.