I finally had a real talk with a cabinetmaker about pocket holes
I was at a supply house in Tacoma last week, and a guy I know who does high-end custom cabinets saw me buying a big box of pocket hole screws. He just shook his head and said, 'You know, for something you want to last fifty years, that's just a band-aid.' I've always used them for face frames and thought they were fine, but he walked me through how the wood movement in a solid maple frame can actually stress those little screws over time, leading to splits or a failed joint down the road. He wasn't rude about it, just firm, and showed me a picture on his phone of a failed frame from a repair job he did. It made me stop and think about when I'm building for speed versus building for keeps. For quick shop furniture, sure, but maybe not for a client's heirloom piece. Has anyone else moved away from pocket screws for certain jobs after seeing long-term issues?