Old timer told me to skip the pocket hole jig for face frames

Guy named Jerry with 40 years in the trade said pocket holes on face frames will sag eventually on heavy doors. I ignored him and built a set of kitchen cabinets with them anyway, and 6 months later the door alignment started shifting on the bigger pairs. Has anyone else had this happen or was Jerry just old school and wrong?

2 comments

2 Comments

leehall1d agoTop Commenter

Jerry from my local hardwood supplier told me the same thing 15 years ago about a set of pantry doors I hung. I used 5/8 pocket holes with glue on 3/4 plywood face frames and had to adjust the hinges twice in the first year. The sag comes from the screws loosening over time under heavy door weight, not from bad joinery. Is your face frame material solid wood or something lighter like MDF?

gavin3651d ago

@leehall nailed it with the screw loosening thing. I used 3/4 birch ply on my face frames and 1 inch pocket screws with glue, still had to shim the hinges on a heavy oak door after 8 months. Jerry was definitely onto something, he wasn't just being old school. Pocket holes are fine for light stuff like cabinet fronts but they're a gamble on anything heavy.