Finally stopped using pocket screws for face frames after 8 years

I used to just blast through every face frame with pocket screws because it was fast and I knew it worked, but after a job last spring where a customer pointed out the slight gaps on a maple frame, I switched to mortise and tenon joinery with floating tenons. It takes me maybe 20 minutes longer per frame now but the fit is so clean I don't need to fill anything or sand as much. Has anyone else made a switch like that and found it worth the extra time?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_derek1mo ago

Did one of my buddies try switching to dominos and go back to pocket holes after a week?

xenar141mo ago

Ngl, pocket screws still win for speed and cost. You're spending an extra 20 minutes per frame for something most people won't even notice unless they're staring at it from three inches away with a flashlight. Honestly, a little wood filler and sanding takes five minutes total and costs pennies. Tbh, the customer who pointed out those gaps probably would've been fine if you'd just filled them and hit it with a coat of paint or stain. For the amount of frames most guys do in a week, that extra time adds up fast. Not everyone has the luxury of spending more time on one frame when they could be cranking out jobs and making more money.