Woodworking
Joints That Stand
the Test of Time
Mortise and Tenon
Joints
Even woodworkers
are familiar with
Aristotle's popular
adage that "the
whole is greater
than the sum of its
parts." While these
words of wisdom
often hold true in
woodworking, proper
joinery can make or
break a piece of
woodwork. The type
and quality of
joints affects the
functionality and
sturdiness of any
piece of woodwork
that is made up of
more than one piece
of wood.
Knowledgeable
woodworkers are
familiar with
numerous types of
joinery and have
the experience to
determine when and
how to use each
type of joint.
The most
appropriate joint
to use for a given
task depends on
several factors,
including the
intended function
of the piece being
manufactured and
the woodworker's
skill level. Often,
the strongest
joints are also the
most complex and
difficult to
accomplish.
Beginner
woodworkers may
want to start out
with simpler
projects to learn
basic joinery
skills before
attempting to
create heirloom
furniture pieces
that will stand up
to the test of
time.
Mortise and tenon
joints are among
the strongest and
most commonly used
woodworking joints.
They are often used
to join two boards
at a ninety degree
angle. In this type
of joint, a
rectangular "tenon"
protrudes from one
board, and fits
snugly into a
"mortise," or hole
of the same shape
in the adjoining
board. The joint is
usually glued and
can also be pinned
for reinforcement.
Mortise and tenon
joints have a neat
appearance and are
commonly used in
cabinetry,
furniture and door
frames.
A dovetail joint is
another very strong
type of joint that
is commonly used in
drawers as well as
other types of box
shaped pieces.
Dovetail joints
consist of
trapezoidal shaped
pins and tails,
with the pins on
one board and the
tails on the other,
which interlock to
form a secure
connection. Glue is
used to reinforce
the joints to
further enhance
stability.
While properly
crafted dovetail or
mortise and tenon
joints will
certainly help your
piece stand the
test of time, every
woodworking project
does not
necessarily require
this type of
joinery. The
woodworker's time
and skill level as
well as the demands
that will be placed
on the final piece
should also be
considered. For
example, while a
drawer or chair may
call for sturdy
joints that can
withstand repeated
and heavy use, a
simple picture
frame that will be
hanging from a wall
untouched can serve
its purpose using
much simpler
joinery.
See related articles:
Biscuit Joinery
Dadoes and Groove Joints
How to Make Dovetail Joints
