10 Most Common Woodworking Joints

We use woodworking joinery to refer to the methods used to join two or more pieces of wood together to create a stronger and more durable structure. Since they literally hold a piece together it’s critical to think through the use of your project when deciding on the proper joint to use. Here’s a list of some of the most common joints you’ll need to know. 

1. Butt joint (Edge-to-Edge): A butt joint is the simplest and most basic type of woodworking joint. It is created by simply butting two pieces of wood together, typically at a 90-degree angle, and securing them with screws or nails. 

2. Dowel joint: A dowel joint is created by inserting wooden dowels into holes drilled in the two pieces of wood being joined. The dowels are then glued into place, creating a strong and stable joint.

3. Dovetail joint: A dovetail joint is a type of joinery that is commonly used in the construction of drawers and other furniture. It is created by cutting interlocking wedge-shaped “tails” and “pins” into the two pieces of wood being joined. The tails and pins fit together to create a strong, interlocking joint.

4. Mortise and tenon joint: A mortise and tenon joint is a type of woodworking joinery that is commonly used in the construction of furniture and other woodworking projects. It is created by cutting a rectangular hole (the mortise) in one piece of wood and a corresponding rectangular projection (the tenon) on the other piece of wood. The two pieces are then joined together, with the tenon fitting snugly into the mortise.

5. Finger joint: A finger joint, also known as a comb or box joint, is a type of woodworking joint that is similar to a mortise and tenon joint. It is created by cutting a series of interlocking fingers or teeth into the two pieces of wood being joined. The fingers fit together to create a strong, interlocking joint.

6. Lap joint: A lap joint is created by overlapping two pieces of wood and securing them together with screws or nails. This type of joint is commonly used when joining two pieces of wood at right angles, such as when attaching the legs of a table to the top.

7. Miter joint: A miter joint is a type of woodworking joint that is commonly used in the construction of picture frames and other items that require angled joints. It is created by cutting two pieces of wood at a 45-degree angle and joining them together, forming a corner.

8. Rabbet joint: A rabbet joint is created by cutting a groove or notch (the rabbet) into the edge of one piece of wood. The other piece of wood is then inserted into the rabbet, creating a strong and stable joint.

9. Spline joint: A spline joint is a type of woodworking joint that is used to join two pieces of wood at right angles. It is created by cutting a groove into the edge of each piece of wood, and then inserting a wooden spline into the groove to create the joint.

10. Tongue and groove joint: A tongue and groove joint is a type of woodworking joint that is commonly used in the construction of flooring and paneling. It is created by cutting a tongue or ridge on one edge of a piece of wood and a corresponding groove on the edge of the other piece of wood. The two pieces are then joined together, with the tongue fitting into the groove to create a strong and stable joint.

5 Others You Might Hear:  

1. Biscuit joint: A biscuit joint is a type of woodworking joint that is created by inserting a wooden biscuit (a small, oval-shaped piece of compressed wood) into a slot or hole that has been drilled into the two pieces of wood being joined. The biscuit is then glued into place, creating a strong and stable joint.
2. Bridle joint: A bridle joint is a type of woodworking joint that is created by cutting a tenon on one piece of wood and a corresponding mortise on the other piece of wood. The two pieces are then joined together, with the tenon fitting into the mortise and being secured with glue.
3. Dado joint: A dado joint is a type of woodworking joint that is created by cutting a groove or dado (a trench or channel) into the surface of one piece of wood. The other piece of wood is then inserted into the dado, creating a strong and stable joint.
4. Halving joint: A halving joint is a type of woodworking joint that is created by cutting two pieces of wood in half, resulting in two pieces with matching profiles. The two pieces are then joined together, with the matching profiles fitting together to create a strong and stable joint.
5. Keyed miter joint: A keyed miter joint is a type of woodworking joint that is similar to a standard miter joint, but with the addition of a wooden key that is inserted into a slot or hole in one of the pieces of wood. The key helps to strengthen the joint and prevent the two pieces from slipping or moving.

Joint Stresses: 

When selecting a joint, bear in mind that various stresses and strains will affect it throughout the life of the piece. There are four main types of joint stresses: tension, shear, racking or bending, and compression. Each of these will affect the joint in different ways. 

1. Tension: Occurs when the forces on a joint combine to pull it apart. A common example of this is in drawers. As you pull open a drawer the weight of the contents puts tension on the front of the drawer. A common joint to use to counter this is dovetails which have inherent mechanical strength. 
2. Shear: Occurs when pressure is applied to a joint line. A butt miter or scarf joint (which requires glue to hold together), might shear due to the lack of a mechanical lock. This is one reason to get in the habit of reinforcing a joint by pegging or screwing. 
3. Racking: Occurs through gravitational pull, shown in bending or twisting. Over time, gravity pulls the wood and bends it into a parallelogram shape creating diagonal stress across the joints.  This mostly happens to chairs, tables, and frames. To counter, use mortise-and-tenon or dowels. 
4. Compression: Occurs when a joint is subject to downforce, compression is counteracted by choosing a joint that will resist load. The weight of a sideboard on a mortise-and-tenoned plinth is a good example of this kind of stress, so in addition to ensuring that the joints and rails are deep enough, inserting glue blocks into the corners can also help.