Always thought pocket holes were fine for face frames, but this job changed my mind

Honestly, I was building some custom cabinets for a kitchen remodel over in the West End and used pocket screws on the maple face frames like I always have. The client called me back six months later because a few doors were starting to bind. When I checked, the frames had shifted just enough from seasonal movement to throw everything off. My old boss used to say, 'A dab of glue and a biscuit is a marriage, not a date,' and I finally get it. I redid the frames with a biscuit joiner and glue, and the alignment is rock solid now. It took more time upfront, but seeing the difference made me switch methods for good. Has anyone else had a face frame fail on them from just using pocket screws?

2 comments

2 Comments

hayden_martin295h ago

Yeah, but I've had pocket screws hold up fine for years if you use glue in the joint too.

oscarmurphy4h ago

So your pocket hole marriage was more of a summer fling? I guess wood movement doesn't care about your screws. It's funny how a method can seem perfect until your work comes back to haunt you. I've seen that shift happen, and it's always on the nicest projects. Makes you wonder what other shortcuts are just waiting to fail.