Old timer at the shop told me to stop using pocket screws for face frames and switch to dowels

I blew through three jobs last year with gaps at the joints before I finally tried his method on a hunch and my last kitchen install in Denver had zero callbacks, has anyone else dealt with that shift?

2 comments

2 Comments

derekjenkins5d ago

Gotta disagree with you on this one. Pocket screws have saved my butt on site more times than I can count when I'm clamping up a face frame in a cramped kitchen and can't get a clamp in there. I've got a jig that lets me pop a screw in under a minute, and with some glue and proper clamping pressure I've never had a joint gap on me. Dowels are great but they need dead on drilling every time, and one slip with the drill bit and you're screwed.

wesley_martin5d ago

Yeah Derek, I get where you're coming from but I've seen too many pocket screws shift on me during glue-up, even with the jig. Dowels are more forgiving if you use a good drill guide and take your time, I'd rather do that than fight with screw alignment later.