Mitered Butt Joint (Miter Joint)

Types of Wood Joints

• Pocket joint is used in door jambs and residential archways
• Dado joint is similar to tongue and groove joint, but cut across the woodgrain
• Dado joint is used to form square joints and is commonly used in plywood, fiberboard, or other pressed products

Biscuit Joint

• Used to create a more robust version of the butt joint using tongue and groove principles
• Both ends of the timber get a slot cut into them to hold a small wafer that acts as a connection
• Biscuit joinery method is used in tabletops and wooden counters to create a more reliable joint suitable for daily use

Mortise and Tenon Joint

• One of the first methods invented for construction
• Used to avoid having the connection visible from the front of the piece without compromising strength
• Requires the hand of a skilled woodworker
• Results in a beautiful, strong joint

Sliding Dovetail Joint

• A variation of dovetail joinery that works like a tongue and groove
• Dovetail slot is machined in the face of the board, while the pin profile is cut at the end of the matching piece

Box Joint

• Works at the end of two timber pieces to build a seamless right angle
• Carves out a series of symmetrical slots to form rectangular projections called fingers
• Glue is used to create a permanent bond that results in a solid corner
• Box joinery is an effective alternative to dovetail joints and is easy to create

Bridle Joint

• A modified version of the mortise and tenon joint
• Instead of cutting a square piece to form a corner, woodworkers create a lengthy edge that fits into a grooved receptacle
• Creates a right angle through this connection with three adequate surfaces that hold adhesive for added strength

Finger Joints

• Used to join two pieces of wood to make a longer board
• A lengthening joint usually has a larger gluing surface between the joined pieces
• Cut fingers similar to a box joint, but deeper

Mitered Butt Joint (Miter Joint)

• Connects two butts that get cut at an angle
• Advantage of using this approach involves the strength of the corner
• Used for trim and molding purposes

Half-Lap Joint

• Used to join two boards together to create a flush surface
• Often used in the middle of the timber, although corner connections are also possible

Cross-lap Joint

• Forms in the middle of both boards
• Used for framing and cabinetry

Pocket-Hole Joint

• A basic butt joint fastened using screws at an angle
• Requires drilling a pilot hole between the two boards
• Used in cabinet doors and face frames

Mortise and Tenon Joint (continued)

• One of the strongest wood joints to use for framing and building
• Requires precise measuring and craftsmanship
• Often used in furniture making and crafts

Rabbet Joint

• Formed by forming a recess into the edge of the timber
• Much stronger than the butt joint
• Allows a flat piece to sit flush with both sides for a seamless finish
• Used in windowsills and doors when glass inserts must sit within a frame

Dovetail Joint

• Used to add strength to a corner
• Uses interlock joinery of a series of pins and tails to create a resilient edge
• Used in furniture, cabinetry, and framing

Half-Blind Dovetail

• Used in drawers because it features a trapezoid design for the pins that fit together at the end of the timber