I built a set of kitchen cabinets with pocket screws and then with mortise and tenon. The difference is night and day.

First project was a basic utility cabinet for my garage, used a Kreg jig and pocket screws for the face frame. It went together fast, maybe 3 hours. Then I built a proper cherry cabinet for my house, cutting all the mortises by hand. That frame feels rock solid, no racking at all. The pocket screw joint has a tiny bit of flex if you really push on it. For real furniture, is there any argument for pocket screws over proper joinery?

2 comments

2 Comments

grantcooper2mo ago

So you felt that flex in the pocket screw joint yourself. For that cherry cabinet, did the extra time and effort feel worth it once you saw how solid it was, or was there a moment you wished for the speed of the Kreg jig again?

parker_hunt612mo ago

Ask @grantcooper if he's ever had a joint fail later. That solid feeling beats speed every time for me, because I hate fixing things twice.

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