HOW TO MAKE CARPENTRY JOINTS – Making carpentry joints is essential if you need to join two pieces of timber together and this craft is also known as joinery. At Hometipster you will find a number of carpentry joint guides available in our DIY Carpentry section, however, in this guide we have compiled a number of joints, including:
- Puzzle Joint
- Scarfing Joint
- Shutting Joint
- Glue Joint
- Mortise and Tenon Joint
- Hinge Joint
- Halved Joint
- Dowel Joint
- Bridle Joint
Making a Puzzle Joint
Step 1
Take two lengths of timber of the same width.
Step 2
Place a the timber in a Dovetail Joint Template and fit into place.
Step 3
Attach your router and cut around the template. Note that you need to take your time and pay attention to detail as a puzzle joint does require precision if the two pieces of timber are to fit together exactly to create a seamless joint.
Step 4
Repeat this with a staggered cut on the second piece of timber.
Step 5
Smooth out the notches with sandpaper. Don’t go over-board with the sanding, you simply want to remove any burred edges and splinters.
Step 6
Apply glue in each of the slots and then fit the two pieces of wood together. Wipe off any excess glue that is squeezed out of the joints as you go.
Making a Scarfing Joint
Step 1
Take two lengths of timber of equal width – such as a skirting or baseboard.
Step 2
With a mitre saw, cut each piece, in opposite directions, at a 45 degree angle.
Step 3
The joints will now overlap each other, front and back.
Step 4
Glue, screw, nail or dowel the joint together. Note: If you are screwing the joint together make sure you use the right type of screws for the job you are doing.
Step 5
You should now have a nice, and almost seamless carpentry joint and this particular joint is perfect for skirting, baseboards, dado rails and more.
Making a Shutting Joint
Step 1
Take your two pieces of wood.
Step 2
Cut a groove down and across to create an ‘L’ shape and repeat this on both pieces of timber.
Step 3
Now lock the two pieces of timber together.
Step 4
Note that Shutting Joints can take many forms and the one above is a real simple version.
Making a Wood Glue Joint
Step 1
Firstly make the type of carpentry joint most suited to your needs.
Step 2
Whatever joint you make the key is to make the joint tight and apply the right type of glue such as an epoxy adhesive.
Step 3
Select an appropriate glue and paste the joint so it is completely covered. The glue needs to seep into the fibers of the wood for it to be effective.
Step 4
Join your two pieces of wood together and use ‘G’ clamps to hold it in place while it is drying.
Step 5
Wipe off any excess glue that is squeezed out of the joint.
Making a Mortise and Tenon Joint
Step 1
Take your two pieces of timber.
Step 2
On the first piece of timber, at the end, measure down the length to the depth of the second piece of timber and with a set square and pencil, mark a line all the way around.
Step 3
Take the second piece of timber and lay flat. Now mark out a square in the center. Once marked out take a sharp chisel and chisel out the hole. You need to make sure that this is square and smooth.
Step 4
Going back to the first piece of timber, mark the square at the top that is slightly, but only slightly, bigger than the square hole you make for the other piece of timber.
Step 5
Cut away the sides for the depth line you marked. You should now be left with a peg like square protruding from the timber.
Step 6
Insert the protruding square into the flat piece of timber with glue – you now have a mortise and tenon joint.
Making a Hinge Joint
Step 1
Carefully measure where you want to place your hinge bracket.
Step 2
Mark out the shape of the hinge on your wood with a pencil.
Step 3
With a mallet and a sharp chisel, strike downwards along the outline.
Step 4
With the same technique above, make notches along the length of the area you are chiseling out.
Step 5
Carefully chisel out the wood to the depth of the hinge bracket – be careful not to go too deep. Test by placing the hinge in the slot until it sits perfectly level with the timber.
Step 6
Screw the hinge into place and you have yourself a working hinge joint.
Making Halved Joint
Step 1
Take two pieces of timber that you want to join.
Step 2
Using a set square mark out two lines to the width you require on both pieces.
Step 3
Measure the depth of the two pieces of wood.
Step 4
Take a hand saw and cut the lines to the depth marked on both pieces of wood.
Step 5
Take a sharp chisel and chisel out the slot on both pieces of wood.
Step 6
The two pieces of wood will now slot together providing a smooth joint either side.
Step 7
Fix in place with glue or dowel joints.
Making a Dowel Joint
Step 1
The size of dowel pegs you use will depend on what you are making. Go to your local DIY store or Timber Merchant and you will find dowel pegs of all lengths and thickness. You can make your own if you wish, but it does save time and effort to buy them.
Step 2
Take your two pieces of wood and drill a hole that is fractionally smaller that the dowel peg.
Step 3
Take a dowel peg, dip it in glue and with a hammer tap it gently into the hole you have drilled. This should be a nice tight fit.
Step 4
Take some glue and paste it on the other end of the dowel that is protruding from the wood.
Step 5
Take your other piece of wood and place the dowel pegs into the hole.
Step 6
Get a piece of scrap wood and place this over the joint and tap with a hammer. Using a scrap piece of wood will save you from making dent marks in the wood with the hammer.
Step 7
Wipe away any excess glue using a damp cloth.
Step 8
Leave the dowel joint to dry for 24 hours.
Making a Bridle Joint
Step 1
The bridle joint can be cut for either the center of your wood or at the end.
Step 2
Take a set square and mark two squares, that are opposite each other, and that you will cut out of your wood.
Step 3
Once the two squares are cut out you should have formed an ‘H’ pattern in the wood.
Step 4
Take your other piece of wood and cut out a square, leaving each side equal in width.
Step 5
Take some sandpaper and smooth out the joint.
Step 6
Apply glue and fit together.
Step 7
Wipe away any excess glue that is squeezed out of the joint.
