UNIQUE FRIENDS SCHOOLSWoodwork Joints are simply the ways pieces of wood are joined together to make furniture, doors, roofs, cabinets etc. The joint you choose affects the strength appearance and durability.
Woodwork is the activity or skill of making things from wood. Woodwork projects involves the application of wood work to create objects such as wooden tables l, stools, boxes, photo frames for human use.
Woodworking machines are machines that are intended to process wood.
WOODWORK JOINTS
To produce different kinds of wood articles, they must be joined together.
Woodwork joints are grouped into three classes, these are;
1 Box Joints: are classes of wood joints that form an angle of 90 degrees. Examples of box joints are; butt joint and dovetail joint.
Butt Joints: are generally used in the construction of of window frames, wood boxes, door frames, window and cabinet boxes etc. The commonly used butt joints include; plain butt joint and rebated butt joint or plain lap joint.
a. Plain lap joint: are joints where the square end of the one member fits into the or against the edge or flat face of the other members and are fastened together by using non-wood materials such as nail, screw, glued, etc.
b. Rebated butt or plain lap joint: These are joints that are produced by joining wood pieces together by overlapping them. It is stronger than butt joints. It is used for frames, tables etc.
Dovetail Joints: These types of joints are used for making book shelves, drawers, office tables and corner joints etc. They are simply strong because of the way the tale and pins are shaped.
2 Framing Joints: These types of joints are used to form different types of frames or criss-crossing ends. Framing joints include: halving joints and birdle joints.
Halving Joints: These are types of joints in which two pieces of wood to be joined meet or cross each other. They are used in making wardrobes, chairs, tables, and other activities of this nature.
Mortise and Tenon Joints: These are the strongest types of joints. They are most commonly used joints in wood work construction.
A tenon (tongue) fits into a mortise (hole). It is very strong and durable. It is used for doors, chairs, tables etc.
Birdle Joints: These types of joints are very similar to the mortise and tenon joints, but they have increased bearing surface. They are a general framing joint.
Widening joints: These joints are used for widening either the length or breadth of boards from several narrower boards by joining them and to end. They are mainly used for making table tops, floors etc.
Types of widening joints are; tongue and groove joints, do well joints
Tongue and Groove Joints: These joints are used for making floors and wall tiles. They are mainly used for decorations. One piece has a tongue, the other a groove. It allows wood movement. It is used for flooring, ceilings, paneling.
Dowel Joints:These types of joints are stronger and are used mainly for making cabinets and dining tables. It is used for wooden pins (dowels) for strength, furniture making etc.
OTHER JOINTS
Housing (Dado) joint: A groove cut across wood. It is used for bookshelves, cupboards etc.
Mitre joints: Ends cut at 45° and joined. Neat appearance but not very strong. It is used for picture frames, moldings etc.