Update: I built two identical cabinets, one with pocket screws and one with mortise and tenon, and the difference in racking strength after 6 months is night and day.

The pocket screw cabinet door in my client's humid kitchen sagged almost a quarter inch, while the mortise and tenon one is still perfectly square, so I'm officially done with shortcuts for load-bearing frames.

3 comments

3 Comments

sethm588d ago

Wait, it sagged a whole quarter inch? That's crazy.

ray5628d ago

So that's why old furniture lasts forever?

lee5828d ago

You mean like how my old couch is basically a petri dish with cushions? I swear the springs are held together by ancient pizza crust and sheer willpower. It's survived three moves and a roommate's questionable beer pong phase. That thing will outlive me for sure.