Finally tested pocket screws vs. domino joinery on a set of face frames

Did a side by side on two identical cabinet doors last week and the domino joints were way stronger in the twist test. The pocket screws held fine but that loose tenon just felt solid. Anyone else switched over and noticed a big difference?

3 comments

3 Comments

shane6552mo ago

Are you just comparing raw twist strength or did you also test how much racking the frames take after a few months of humidity changes? I've heard domino joints hold up better through seasonal movement, but pocket screws are way easier to adjust if something shifts. Also, what kind of bit did you run for the domino - the standard or the sipo? I'm curious if the type of tenon matters for face frames since they're not taking the same load as a table.

lisaf382mo agoOG Member

Honestly @shane655, the racking test is where it gets real. I ran a batch of face frames through a full summer in my unheated shop and the domino joints held tight but pocket screws let me tweak a couple spots that shifted maybe 1/32nd. For the bit I used the standard five millimeter tenon, the sipo seemed overkill for face frames since you're mostly fighting twist not load. Just make sure your domino depth matches the frame thickness close or you'll have a gap issue later.

phoenix_thompson41mo ago

Really drives home how the little things in woodworking mirror bigger life stuff. Like how sometimes the simplest option, pocket screws here, gives you room to adapt when things go a bit sideways, while the more permanent fix, dominos, is rock solid but leaves you stuck if you miscalculated. Noticed the same thing with car repairs, bolting on a cheap bracket lets you tweak the alignment later but welding it solid is stronger from the start. Your 1/32nd shift is basically the same story as a door hinge that needs a shim or a cabinet that settles after a wet spring. All about knowing when you need the brute force and when you need the wiggle room.