Changed my mind on pocket hole joinery

Always thought pocket holes were for amateurs. Looked weak compared to dovetails or mortise and tenon. Then I built a set of kitchen cabinets for a rental property in Phoenix. Had 32 doors to hang in three days. Pocket hole jig saved me. Joints held up fine with glue and screws. No callbacks after two years. Still use traditional joinery for client work. But for quick, solid utility stuff? I was wrong about pocket holes. Anyone else come around on a technique they used to hate?

2 comments

2 Comments

juliaa251mo ago

Did you really not have any issues with the doors sagging over time? I've seen pocket holes pull loose in hot climates like Phoenix when the wood expands and contracts. Screws can't handle that movement as well as a real joint can.

reese_bell1mo ago

I actually heard from a buddy of mine who builds cabinets in Tucson (he's been doing it for 20 years) that the key with pocket holes in hot climates is using coated screws and pre-drilling with a slightly bigger bit. He says the screws don't strip out as easy that way. @juliaa25 I think he might be onto something, even if it's not a perfect joint replacement.