Changed my mind about using pocket holes for face frames

I always used pocket holes for face frames because it's fast, but a client wanted a painted kitchen with no visible hardware. My buddy Mike said, "You'll see the plugs under that paint, trust me." I tried dowels on a test piece instead, and after filling the tiny holes, the paint job came out perfectly smooth. It took an extra hour per cabinet, but the result was worth it. Anyone have a favorite doweling jig they use for this kind of work?

3 comments

3 Comments

phoenix_grant341mo ago

Tell me about it, I had that exact same sinking feeling when the primer went on and every single plug shadow showed up like a ghost. It's one of those things you don't think about until you're staring at it, and then you can't unsee it. Swearing off pocket holes for any paint grade work was the best move I ever made, even with the extra time. That smooth finish just feels so much more professional.

smith.anna1mo ago

Oh man, you are so right about those pocket hole plugs showing through paint. Learned that the hard way on a built-in bookcase project last year. Switched to dowels and a simple self-centering jig, and the difference is night and day for a finished paint job. That extra hour you mention is totally worth it to avoid callbacks. The smooth surface you get is just unbeatable.

the_aaron1mo ago

Watched my buddy nearly lose his mind on a painted cabinet door project. He filled the pocket holes perfectly, sanded everything smooth, but after three coats of white enamel those little circles still whispered their secrets from the grave. He ended up taking the whole thing apart and redoing the joints with biscuits. The final piece looked like a solid slab, no shadows, no ghosts, just perfect. He said it added a full day of work but saved his reputation.