The Secret to Sturdy Furniture Is Good Joints
Learn the different methods used to join wood together — and their pros and cons
When shopping for a new piece of wood furniture, paying attention to how it’s built will help you figure out how well it’s going to hold up. Joinery is an important part of this equation because it determines the sturdiness of the piece. There are many different ways to join wood; below is an introduction to the most popular methods.
Mortise and tenon. With this option, a part of one piece of wood, called the tenon, is inserted into a precise hole on a second piece of wood, known as the mortise, and reinforced with glue. This common and strong joinery method is used to attach narrower pieces of wood, such as when connecting a chair leg to a chair seat.
An exaggerated version of a mortise-and-tenon joint may also be used as a design detail, such as in the decking in this outdoor space.
An exaggerated version of a mortise-and-tenon joint may also be used as a design detail, such as in the decking in this outdoor space.
Rabbet and dado. In this method, a piece of wood, called a rabbet, is inserted into a groove, the dado, and reinforced with glue. This is a common and extremely strong way to join two pieces of wood — it’s often used for joining together large boards, such as those used in a cabinet, dresser or bookcase.
Browse kitchen cabinets
Browse kitchen cabinets
Box joint. This joint style is used when two boards are connected at a corner with interlacing notches and glue. The notches provide a large surface area for the glue to adhere to, resulting in a strong joint. This is a fun decorative way to join two pieces of wood, since you can actually see the joints.
Dovetail. This method is similar to a box joint, but with notches in the shape of a trapezoid. This is the best joinery method for constructing drawers, since the side pieces won’t slide out of the front or back piece.
Dowel joint. A dowel joint is made by drilling holes in two pieces of wood and inserting a round peg into both holes with glue. This joint can be very strong if done correctly. Inexpensive furniture, especially those made of MDF or particle board, usually have just one dowel and don’t usually reinforce it with glue. The result: loose joints.
Miter joint. In this method, two pieces of wood cut at a 45-degree angle are joined using glue, nails or screws. This joint is not super strong, but it provides a nice design detail. As a result, it’s acceptable for nonstructural pieces such as moldings or picture frames, or if reinforced with corner blocks.
Wood screws. You might naturally assume that a screw is a good way to connect two pieces of wood, but you should actually avoid furniture that uses only screws in its joints. Screws should be used only as additional support to one of the other joinery methods.
Familiarizing yourself with proper furniture construction will help you figure out if an item is built to last. The right joinery methods will ensure that you get a sturdy piece of furniture you can use for many years.
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Most of the popular joinery methods employ the same basic principle: Fit two pieces of wood together and use glue to reinforce the connection.