Joints

scarf joint

a joint by which the ends of 2 pieces of timber are united to form a continuous piece; the mating surface may be beveled, chamfered, notched, etc. before bolting, gluing, welding, etc.

tongue and groove joint

a joint formed by the insertion of the tongue of one member into the corresponding groove of another.

tenon

may extend fully through the other piece or only part of the way.

spliced joint

scabbed joint

dado joint

this is similar in shape and purpose to the rabbet joint. a groove is made in one piece at right angles to the grain of the other board. if nails are used, they are needed only at the end place since groove will provide the necessary strength to hold the other piece in place.

rabbet joint

this joint is made by cutting a shoulder or edge from 1 piece to receive the other piece. it is used in window or door frames, or in shelf and drawer construction.

halved joint

this joint is made by cutting half the thickness of the wood from each piece at the ends to be joined so as to bring the sides flush. the purpose of this type of joint is to maintain a level surface at the joint

oblique joint

this type of joint is made when 2 pieces do not meet at right angles, bracings. 1 piece is cut at an angle to fit the other and the 2 pieces nailed securely together.

mortise and tenon joint

this type of joint is used for building wooden framework where great strength and rigidity are all important. it is made by cutting a hole in one piece and a tongue in the second piece to fit the hole in the other.

dovetail joint

this type of joint, used for cabinet work and furniture work, is strong and durable. it is made by cutting a pin of a dovetail in one piece to fit a groove similarly shaped in the other piece.

mortise-and-tenon joints

through, housed, diminished, open, stub, wedged.

shiplap

wood sheating whose edges are rabbeted to make an overlapping joint.

butt or square joint

end joint is made by placing full thickness of wood directly against the second piece. should be squared and the sides against smooth so that the piece will be perpendicular to each other joint called toe nailed.

scarf joint

in welding, a butt joint between tow pieces of metal whose ends are beveled. in electrical systems, a joint in electrical cable in which the ends are beveled before soldering.

miter joint

is a joint between 2 pieces which come together at a corner. it is a finish joint and should not be used where strength is an important requirement. it is made by cutting the 2 ends at angles complementary to each other, usually 45 degrees, and then butting them together. the joint is secured by clamp nails or finishing nails, corrugated fasteners or dowels, or by gluing.

coped joint

is used when fitting 1 piece of moulding at right angles to the second piece.

plain joint

lap joint is used in very hasty construction for temporary framing and is made by lapping 1 piece over the other and nailing them together. it is not a very strong joint