Woodwork Joinery

Woodworkingjoinery is the craft of connecting and securing the separate members of the wooden construction to one another by means of specific cuts on the ends and/or sides of the members.

Woodworking the joint is the spot where usually two pieces of wooden construction are joined together to form a rigid self-supporting and permanent construction. Woodworking joints can be formed between the edges or between the end and the face, in the direction of the length, at right angles or it may be at an angle, other than a right angle. Various glues or fasteners (nails, screws, bolts…) are being used to increase the strength, effectiveness, and rigidity of woodworking joints. Since the main purpose of woodworking joints is to join wooden parts together, their construction should be done carefully, so it would not weaken the parts that are joining.

Each of these joints has a name and is usually some variation of a hole or slot on one timber, and a corresponding, matching projection on the other.

The purpose of our woodworking joints database is to introduce the basic types and methods of making woodworking joints to the amateur woodworker and carpenter, and for the experienced craftsman to serve as a reminder, or to expand certainly knowledge in this field, if needed.

There are many types of woodworking joints; some can be made easily, and the others are quite difficult to make, but the practice will show you that the more complex the woodworking joint is, the stronger it is.

The quality woodworking joints can be manufactured with hand tools, but if you need high productivity, you will have to rely on machines and power tools.

Our goal regarding this joint database is to provide as much information as possible about each joint. We own many old carpentry books and magazines, and all the given information on joints has been found in them. If you know of any additional information about any of the joints described, its other name, or if you have noticed any mistake that we have made, do let us know - we are aiming to make this a great quality database of woodworking joints available to everyone!

Woodworking joints can be divided into four main categories, depending on the functions they perform:

• Lengthening
• Widening
• Framing
• Housing

Woodworking joints are usually divided into the following categories:

Box joints: A finger joint or box joint is used to join two pieces of wood at a corner.

Bridle joints: A bridle joint is like a mortise and tenon woodworking joint, thought in most circumstances it would not be as strong

Butt joints: A butt joint is made by placing the end of one piece of wood against the side of another and fastening them firmly to each other.

Dado joints: A dado joint is made by cutting a rectangular groove entirely across one member into which the end of another member fits.

Dovetail joints: Dovetail joints are so named from the shape of the piece which makes the joint.

Lap joints: A half lap joint usually consists of two members notched to the half thickness and lapped on each other with the face flush.

Miter joints: A miter joint is one formed by the meeting of two pieces at a corner, on a line bisecting the right angle.

Rabbet joints: A rabbet is a recess cut out of the end or edge of aboard.

Scarf joints: A scarf joint is formed where two pieces lap each other in the direction of the grain, with flush surfaces.