I was dead set against pocket hole joinery until last month

For years I thought pocket holes were a shortcut for lazy carpenters who didn't know how to cut real joinery. I told my buddy Dave that I'd never use them on anything I built. Then I took on a kitchen cabinet job in a tight condo downtown where I couldn't get my clamps in to do proper face frames. Dave loaned me his Kreg jig and I figured I'd try it on one cabinet just to shut him up. After 3 tries I got the spacing right and that joint held up to all my weight when I leaned on it. I ended up pocket holing the whole set of 12 cabinets and saved myself about 8 hours of work. Now I still do dovetails for drawers but for face frames I'm a convert. Has anyone else had a tool they swore off then changed their mind?

3 comments

3 Comments

matthew16628d ago

Honestly, "swore off" an oscillating tool? That seems like strong wording for a tool that's basically just a little saw.

janarivera29d ago

My buddy swore off oscillating tools until he had to trim door jambs in a tight spot.

adamthompson28d ago

He actually swore them off completely? Man, that's wild to me. I get being frustrated with the vibration or the noise, but they're such a lifesaver for that kind of finish work. Glad he came back around when the jambs needed trimming.