A client asked me to build a cabinet without any visible fasteners

I was talking to a client in their kitchen last week, and they pointed at their old cabinets and said, 'I hate seeing all those screw heads, it looks cheap.' They wanted a new piece with no metal showing at all. I've always used pocket screws and plugs, but this made me stop and think about how much we rely on hidden hardware. I spent two days figuring out how to use only dowels and glue for the whole frame. Has anyone else had a client push them to ditch screws completely for a cleaner look?

2 comments

2 Comments

rowanbennett12d ago

That's a cool story from @roberts.aaron. It reminds me of this old wooden puzzle box I have that just uses wood pegs and gravity, no fasteners at all. Makes you appreciate the craft.

roberts.aaron12d ago

My uncle's a custom furniture guy and he always made fun of dowel joints, called them 'glorified toothpicks'. I helped him on a job last year for a super picky designer who wanted the same thing, no metal. We spent a whole weekend on a test piece, just maple dowels and hide glue. The final dresser looked so clean, like it just grew together. He doesn't make fun of them anymore.