WoodWoodJoineryJoinery

Common Wood Joints

Butt JointButt Joint

• A simple joint commonly used for boxes.

• A butt joint can be

strengthened by fasteners such as: dowels, nails, screws etc...

Rabbet JointsRabbet Joints

With the grain: commonly used for backing on furniture, such as a bookcase.

(with grain)

(cross grain) Tools and machines used: router, Stacked dado, hand saw, rabbet plane.

Cross the grain: commonly used for box construction and drawer construction.

Miter JointMiter Joint

• A miter joint is any joint that is not a 90º joint concealing the end grain.

• Commonly used for picture frames, molding and small boxes.

• Can be reinforced with fasteners and/or splines.

Spline JointsSpline Joints

• Spline joints can have many applications: miter, butt, edge to edge, face to end grain, etc.

• In modern woodworking the most common spline joint used is the plate joiner(biscuit joiner).

Dado JointsDado Joints

• Dado joints are commonly used in fixed shelving.

• Variations include: through, blind, and dovetail.

• A strong and commonly used joint.

Through Dovetail JointThrough Dovetail Joint

Common Uses:• Decorative furniture• Boxes

Machines and Tools:• Router with jig• Dovetail Saw• Chisels

Blind Dovetail JointBlind Dovetail Joint

Common Uses:

• Drawers

• Boxes

Tools or Machines:

• Router

• Chisel

Dado Dovetail JointDado Dovetail Joint

Common Uses:

• Attaching drawer sides to drawer front.

Tools or Machines:

• Router.

Scarf JointScarf Joint• The Scarf joint is used to join wood

end to end linear.

• By cutting the wood at an angle the joint is less noticeable than a simple butt joint.

• The joint is often used by finish carpenters when installing molding.

Box JointBox Joint

Common Uses:• Decorative Boxes• Drawers

Tools and Machines:• Table Saw with

stacked dado• Router• Hand Saw

Mortise and Tenon JointMortise and Tenon JointCommon Uses:• To connect rails to

aprons• Table and Chair Legs• Aesthetic

Tools and Machines:• Router• Chisels• Table Saw• Specialized

Equipment

QUIZQUIZ

• This joint is adequately used in a fixed shelf in a cabinet is a _____________.

(A) Rabbet Joint

(B) Miter Joint

(C) Lap Joint

(D) Dado or Blind Dado Joint

• Face frame members are assembled by using all of the following joints except the:

(A) Mortise and Tenon Joint

(B) Pocket Joint

(C) Dowel Joint

(D) Lock Miter

• This joint is used on the corners of drawers in the highest quality of furniture:

(A) Rabbet Joint

(B) Dowel Joint

(C) Dado Joint

(D) Dovetail Joint

• This joint is used to insert a ¼” panel in the back of a cabinet.

(A) Dowel Joint

(B) Rabbet Joint

(C) Miter Joint

(D) Dovetail Joint

• This is used to strengthen a miter joint:

(A) Spline Joint

(B) Dado Joint

(C) Rabbet Joint

(D) Plough (Groove) Joint

Identify This JointIdentify This Joint

• NO – not that kind of joint.

• Drugs are bad . . . M’kay?

• These joints . . . .

(A) Butt Joint

(B) Rabbet Joint

(C) Dado Joint

(D) Box Joint

(A) Butt Joint (B) Box Joint

(C) Dado Joint (D) Miter Joint

(A) Butt Joint

(B) Rabbet Joint

(C) Dado Joint

(D) Miter Joint

(A) Butt Joint

(B) Rabbet Joint

(C) Dado Joint

(D) Miter Joint

(A) Butt Joint

(B) Rabbet Joint

(C) Dado Joint

(D) Miter Joint