Wood Joints

Question 1

Butt joint

Answer 1

A simple joining of two pieces of wood, either at a corner or edge to edge. Make it stronger with glue blocks or screws.

Question 2

Dowel joint

Answer 2

Drill aligning holes in each piece of wood, then glue dowels in place for a tight joint. Perfection requires a centering tool.

Question 3

Lap joint

Answer 3

Add gluing surface and strength to a butt joint by cutting a rabbet in the overlapping piece.

Question 4

Mitter joint

Answer 4

Create this corner joint by sawing one end of each piece to 450. It demands accurate cutting.

Question 5

Mortise-and-Tenon Joint

Answer 5

A strong, traditional joint that can be made even tougher by adding a peg. Not all mortises go all the way through.

Question 6

Dovetail joint

Answer 6

There’s not a better-looking joint, nor one that requires more patience and accuracy to cut. The interlocking feature makes it really strong, but adds visual interest.

Question 7

Bridle joint

Answer 7

They are similar to a Mortise and Tenon Joint except the tenon or pin and slot or socket extend across the full width of the timber. The pins and sockets are normally one third the thickness of the timber.

Question 8

Finger joint

Answer 8

Finger joints are simpler than dovetails, and easier to make. They aren’t quite as strong or pretty, but they are appropriate for plenty of projects, like small boxes and drawers.

Question 9

Lap halving joint

Answer 9

A cross halving joint is a common woodworking joint used a method of fixing two pieces together. It is often used as a joint for furniture and other wood based items.