A builder at a job site in Portland showed me a better way to do face frames

I was on a custom kitchen install last month over near Beaverton and this old timer just walks over and watches me struggling with pocket holes. He says try using a biscuit joiner and clamps instead because it saves you a ton of sanding time later. I gave it a shot on the next cabinet and honestly the joints lined up way cleaner. Has anyone else made that switch or do you stick with pocket holes for face frames?

3 comments

3 Comments

quinn3412d ago

Biscuit joiners leave bumps? Maybe if you can't read a tape.

the_cameron2d agoTop Commenter

Nah I gotta call that out. Biscuit joiners don't actually save you sanding time on face frames. You still get glue squeeze out and the biscuits swell up leaving little bumps if you aren't super careful. Pocket holes let you clamp and screw without any of that mess. The real trick for cleaner face frames is just using a good tight clamping caul and a sharp chisel to trim any proud joints. That old timer probably just wanted you to buy a new tool.

dakota_miller932d ago

That biscuit bump thing the_cameron mentioned is real though. I tried switching to biscuits on a set of cabinet doors last year and had to sand down five little bumps on one joint alone. So like, did you end up seeing any of that swelling on your joints with that method, or did the old timer give you a trick for keeping the glue from pushing the biscuit up? Because I'd be curious if there's a specific glue amount or clamp sequence that avoids it entirely, cause i really hate sanding.