WOOD

JOINERY
Wood Joinery
 Joinery is a part of woodworking that involves
joining together pieces of wood, to create furniture,
structures, toys, and other items. Some wood joints
employ fasteners, bindings, or adhesives, while others
use only wood elements.

 The characteristics of wooden joints - strength,

flexibility, toughness, etc. derive from the properties
of the joining materials and from how they are used
in the joints.

 The joinery used to build a house is different from

that used to make puzzle toys, although some
concepts overlap.
TYPES OF
WOOD
JOINERY
Butt Joint
 One of the most simple joints, this is simply putting
the ends of two pieces together.

 It joins the end grain of one piece to the long grain of

another and the two pieces are glued together.

 These joints typically only use glue to hold the pieces

together, so they are fairly weak and can be broken
just using your hands.

 Butt joints - joining boards

• Simple edge joints used for making wide boards

• Can be strengthened using biscuit joints or tongues
• Boards arranged with alternating end grain to prevent
warping
Butt joints - joining boards
Application of Butt Joint
Edge Joint
 Simple joints

 Join narrow boards together to make

wider boards.

 Strengthened with
• Tongue & groove
• Loose tongues
• Biscuit joint

Uses:

• Boxes
• Frames
Biscuit Joint
 A reinforced version of the butt joint.

 This joint uses a “biscuit” to connect

the two pieces.

 A biscuit is an oval-shaped piece

usually made with compressed wood
and is placed in corresponding
mortises. Biscuit joints - joining boards

 Glue is then used to secure the pieces

Application of Biscuit Joint
Bridle Joint
 This joint is similar to a mortise and tenon, but with
more open holes in the wood.

 The end of one piece of wood is cut into a tenon

shape and the other piece of wood is cut into a
mortise, so that the two pieces that can be fitted
together to form a corner.

 This joint can be used to create legs or to help create

frame pieces when it’s being shaped.

 This is a strong joint with good durability.

Uses:
• Frames
• Doors
• Making chairs
• Making tables
Application of Bridle Joint
Dado (Joinery)
 A dado is nothing more than a square-
grooved slot on one board where
another board will fit.

 Similar to tongue and groove joinery.

 This is a commonly-used wood joint

for connecting plywood. Dado joints - joining boards

 A dado joint, also referred to as a

housing joint.

Uses:
• Shelved units
• Dividers for boxes
Application of Dado (Joinery)
Dovetail Joint
 A form of box joint where the fingers
are locked together by diagonal cuts.

 The strongest method for joining two

pieces of wood with the grain going in
the same direction.

Uses:
• Drawers
• Corners of boxes
• Where rails meet legs
Application of Dovetail Joint
Finger Joint
 Similar to the dovetail joint.

 The finger joint also has a series of pins along an edge

that are interlocked together using glue.

 The difference is that the finger joint pins are straight

instead of angled.

 This joint isn’t as strong as the dovetail, but it is fairly

easy to make.

Uses:
• Joining corners of frames and boxes
• Cabinet construction
Application of Finger Joint
Mortise and Tenon
 One of the strongest

 The mortise and tenon is used to attach two pieces

of wood at a 90-degree angle.

 The mortise part of the joint is a hole or cavity cut

into one piece of wood.

 The tenon is typically around 1/3 the thickness of Twin mortise & tenon joints - joining boards
the piece of wood.

Uses:
• Frames
• Doors
• Tables
• Chairs
Application of Mortise and Tenon
Pocket Hole
 A strong joint that uses a pocket hole that is
cut into one piece of wood with another
pilot hole that allows a screw to be driven
into the adjoining piece of wood.
Application of Pocket Hole
Rabbet Joint
 The rabbet joint is simple and straight forward.

 A cut is made into the end of a piece of wood to

create a “step.”

 This joint is in a variety of wood working projects.

Locking Rabbet Joint

Tongue and Groove
 Joining two boards square to one another along a long edge,
one can simply butt the joint together and hold it with
fasteners.

 The tongue and groove joint is much stronger

 Provides more adjoining surface areas, which is particularly

useful.
Dowel Joint
 Used in place of mortise and tenon

 Dowel is a wooden cylinder

 A dowelling jig is used

Mitre Joint
 A simple form of joint that can
be strengthened with loose
tongues, biscuits or dowels
Lap Wood Joint
 The lap wood joint combines two pieces of
wood by cutting away half the thickness of
the pieces.

 This joint is typically used when the two

pieces have the same thickness.

 The portion of wood cut away will fit into

the corresponding cut out on the other
piece.
Screws
 Screws are used to hold a joint together.

 First, a pilot hole is drilled and then

countersunk.

Screws and plugs

 Screw is hidden with a round wooden plug.

Screws and plugs

Joint block
 Allow pieces to be taken apart

 Not very strong or attractive

APPLICATION OF WOODEN JOINERY
APPLICATION OF WOODEN JOINERY

LAP JOINT BISCUIT JOINT BISCUIT JOINT

LAP JOINT BISCUIT JOINT BRIDLE JOINT

JOINERY DETAILS OF WOODEN DOOR
JOINERY DETAILS OF WOODEN DOOR
JOINERY DETAILS OF FURNITURE

BRIDLE JOINT
JOINERY DETAILS OF FURNITURE
Advantages
 Give strength
 Long lasting
 Decorative

Wood Joinery
 Resist forces well

Disadvantages
 Time-consuming
 Require skill - difficult to make
 Special tools needed