Swapped to pocket screws after 15 years of dowels...

I always thought dowels were the only way to get a strong joint on face frames. But after 3 crooked glue-ups on a kitchen job in Denver last month, I tried pocket screws on a practice cabinet and the joinery came out dead flat every time. Anyone else make the switch and never look back?

2 comments

2 Comments

johnh8220d ago

I mean hold on a second. Dowels aren't the only way but they're not the problem either. If you're getting crooked glue ups that's usually a drilling alignment issue or the dowels being too tight in the hole. Pocket screws definitely make things easier for sure, especially on a job site where everything needs to be flat fast. But a good dowel joint with proper relief cuts and a jig is still rock solid, just takes more setup time.

the_lisa20d ago

Read a thing online where some old timer said the trick is to use shorter dowels and put a little wax on them so they don't bind up... that stuck with me. He said most people go too long with the dowels and then they get crooked from all the swelling. I've had it happen plenty myself where I think I'm lined up perfect and then everything goes sideways, literally. The jig makes all the difference but even then you gotta watch that drill depth like a hawk.