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Am I the only one who thinks pocket screws are fine for face frames?
I see all these cabinetmakers swear by mortise and tenon for face frames. I just don't agree. Been using pocket screws for years now. My frames are still solid and square. No cracks or shifts over time. It saves so much time in the shop. That extra time lets me sand better or pick nicer wood. Clients never notice the difference. Why make things harder when this does the job?
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charles_green2mo ago
The old shop I worked at in Ohio did a mix. We used pocket screws for a lot of frames, but always did a mortise and tenon for the center stile on a double door opening. That one piece takes a lot of stress from the doors slamming. Pocket screws are fine, but that's the one spot I'd never skip the extra strength.
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wesley_hart2mo ago
My shop switched to pocket screws about twelve years back for all our cabinet face frames. We build maybe thirty kitchens a year, and I have not had a single callback for a frame coming apart. That saved time gets put right back into better finish sanding.
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