Can we talk about how joinery has changed since the 80s?

I pulled apart an old kitchen cabinet I built back in 1987 last week to fix a drawer. That thing had through dovetails on the sides, solid maple, still tight as a drum after almost 40 years. The new stuff I see rolling out of shops now is all dowels and staples, glued up in 20 minutes. When did we decide that fast and cheap was better than something your grandkids could still use?

2 comments

2 Comments

susan3505d ago

OH man, I feel you SO hard on this! I just helped a buddy move an old dresser from the 80s and the joints were still rock solid. Meanwhile, I tripped over a brand new nightstand from the store and the whole corner WRECKED itself. It's like we forgot how to build things that last!

eric_price4d ago

I mean, it's wild how my grandpa's old workbench from the 70s is still perfect but my new desk leg just snapped in half last week.