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Tips,
Tricks and Info
Basic Woodworking
Joints
Perhaps the most important factor that
makes or breaks a project is the joinery. Usually, the more difficult the joint, the stronger it is. That’s why
it's best to decide on the joints you’ll use early on in the planning
stages. Here’s a rundown of the most popular joints that are used.
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Butt Joint. The simplest joint for joining two pieces of timber, either at a
corner or edge to edge. Make it stronger with glue blocks and/or screws. |
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Lap Joint. A modification of the butt joint made by
cutting a rabbet in the overlapping piece. Adds more gluing surface and
strength than a butt joint. |
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Mitre Joint. Create this corner joint by sawing one end of each
piece to 45°. It demands accurate cutting for best strength and visual
appeal.. |
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Dado Joint. Most popular on bookcase shelves. A dado cut
in one piece receives the end of the other. |
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Dowel Joint. Drill aligning holes in each piece of wood, then
glue dowels in place for a tight joint. Perfection requires a dowelling
jig and bits. |
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Mortise-and-Tenon Joint. A strong, traditional joint that can be
made even stronger by adding a peg. To add visual appeal mortises may
not go all the way
through the receiving timber. |
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Tongue-and-Groove Joint. This joint allows for wood shrinkage,
it's great for floors and paneling.
Cut a groove in the edge of one piece and a tongue on the other to fit
into the groove. |
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Through-Dovetail Joint. One of the best looking joints there is,
but also
one that requires more patience and accuracy to cut. The interlocking
feature makes it really strong, as well as adding visual interest. |
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