St Ursulas College Kingsgrove
Technology and Applied Studies: - Stage
5 Design and Technology
Basic Joints
Wood joints are used for two main purposes. They are used to build boxes of various shapes and sizes and frames. A box may be used for storing jewellery, toys or clothes. Frames are used for making things like stools, chairs and ladders. It is important to try to cut joints as accurately as possible or the strength of the joint will considerably reduced.
BOX JOINTS
Butt Joint The butt joint is the simplest of all joints. It is rather weak unless strengthened by using glue, nails or corner blocks. Butt joints can be used on corners or as partitions.
Mitre Joint This joint is used on corners. It is useful because it hides the end grain and also provides a larger gluing area. Like the butt joint it is weak unless the joint is strengthened. This is often done by cutting slots and gluing veneers in between. Mitres must be cut at 45O we use a mitre box for this purpose.
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Rebate Joint This corner joint is stronger and more rigid than a butt joint, but some end grain shows. You will need a saw, chisel and mallet to cut this joint by hand
Dowel Joint This corner joint is essentially a butt joint which is strengthened by wooden pegs called dowels which are pushed into both pieces of wood as they are glued. Dowel joints can also be used to make partitions. If the dowel holes are 'blind' (they do not go all the way through) the dowels are completely hidden
Comb Joint This is an interlocking corner joint. It must be made accurately or the strength and appearance of the joint will be severely limited.
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Dovetail Joint This is a very strong joint but is also a very difficult joint to cut. It has very good mechanical strength which is increased if it is glued.
Housing joint Is stronger than as simple butt joint. It is usually used for shelves or partitions but it is difficult to cut accurately. It is usually glued but can also be nailed.
Stopped Housing Is more difficult to cut but gives a neater finish. It is normally just glued into place.
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FRAME JOINTS
Corner Mitre As with the box mitre joint this really needs pinning for strength. The end grain is hidden. This type of joint is often used on picture frames Corner Halving Joint This is a simple corner frame joint that can be made with just four saw cuts. End grain shows on both sides of the joint and although quite strong it is often dowelled or screwed.
Corner Bridle Joint This is a strong joint. It is sometimes called a corner mortice and tenon. The mortice is often cut 'blind' and it is then known as a stopped mortice and tenon.
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Tee-Halving Joint This is similar to the cross halving joint, but this joint is used to make Tee's or separators in frameworks. It is quite strong but the tee can slide apart if pulled.
Dovetail Halving Joint This joint is much stronger than the Tee Halving as it can withstand pulling of the cross member. It is a difficult joint to cut accurately.
Cross Halving Joint This type of wood joint is used where two pieces of a framework cross. It is similar to the corner and tee halving joints, and can also be strengthened with dowels or screws if necessary.
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