A client asked me to use only pocket screws for a whole kitchen install

He said it was faster and just as strong as dados or mortise and tenon. I've always built with traditional joinery, but his point about speed on a big job made me pause. Do you think modern fasteners have made some classic techniques optional for casework?

2 comments

2 Comments

hugow3014d ago

Is speed really the only thing that matters here? A pocket screw joint is just two boards held by threads in end grain, which is the weakest way to hold wood, so it can rack and loosen over decades. For something you want to last, the old ways still have a clear place.

simonmoore14d ago

Yeah but @hugow30, what kind of project are we talking about? A bookshelf for a kid's room or a dining table that gets daily use? I've seen pocket screws hold fine for years in stuff that doesn't get moved around much, but you're right they can get wobbly if it's under constant stress.