Face Frame Joinery – Pocket Hole Jigs

Bob — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 18:27:34 +0000

If you don’t already know, one of the best methods to assemble face frames is by using pocket hole joinery. In my cabinet shop we build mostly traditional style cabinetry having hardwood face frames. We have several Kreg pocket hole jigs as well as a pneumatic pocket hole machine. Before we purchased our first Kreg system we used biscuit joinery and lots of pipe clamps. This method was not very efficient, required lots of clamps, and we had to wait for the glue to setup. When we switched to pocket hole joinery it was immediately recognized how much faster it was to complete our face frames. It no longer required any pipe clamps, no waiting for glue to dry, joints where stronger, and the frames could be applied to the casework right away. I highly recommend this system of construction.
More Uses then You Can Imagine
We’ve increased the use of pocket hole joinery much further then cabinet face frames. The products our shop produces include wainscot paneling, wall detailing, coffer ceilings, arched moldings, and various types of “one of a kind” components. All these different elements are assembled using pocket hole joinery to some degree. When we have a large job like doing a stain-grade library that has multiple wall panels and frames, coffer ceiling, and large areas of integrated cabinetry, one of our first thoughts is pre-assembling all these items prior to final installation. Using pocket hole joinery allows us the advantage of trial assembly because we can disassemble after dry fitting.
Another component assembly that’s made easier is drawer boxes. The Kreg jig has adjustable positioning so you can drill pocket holes in half inch material allowing you to build drawer boxes much quicker.
Cabinet parts can be assembled using the pocket hole method as well. These parts are typically drilled with a stationary Kreg pocket hole machine we have that runs on air. It’s hand operated but there are several models that are foot operated, many with multiple drill heads.
For small or large shops there is a machine that will fit your needs. I can’t say enough about the usefulness of the joinery system. A must have tool for cabinetmaking.

Tools For Cabinetmaking » Kreg machines

Face Frame Joinery – Pocket Hole Jigs