Woodworking

A tenon is a protrusion cut onto a length of wood. When matched up with a properly cut mortise or slot in another board, the mortise and tenon joint can be one of the strongest in woodworking.

A dowel joint uses a concealed dowel to connect and reinforce the corresponding sides of a mated joint. Combined with wood glue, it makes for a very strong joint. Used for frame joints and leg...

Lap joints can be found in all types of wood construction from framing to furniture pieces. When cut so that the two boards interlock (a half lap joint), they are strong and durable and the joint...

Teak is a beautiful wood that has a very high oil content. This oil protects the wood, making teak a very popular wood for outdoor or marine environments. While the oil protects the wood, it has a...

Building a tower using balsa wood can be a challenge for even experienced modelers. It's an experiment in engineering and construction that can mastered only through trial and error to see what...

A biscuit jointer (or joiner) is a router that creates a small semi-circular slot which receives a small wooden "spline" (called a biscuit because of its appearance). The slots are cut into the...

Rabbet cuts are made in the edge of a board to fit into a dado. Rabbet and dado construction is used when making bed frames and shelving. This provides more support than a simple butt joint....

A mortiser is a power tool used to create a mortise joint. A mortiser cuts out a cube shape into a piece of wood or lumber. A mortiser can be a stand-alone piece of equipment or it can be used in...

Attaching the bottom to a finger joint box can be done with nails, glue, or screws. Learn how to nail the bottom to a finger joint box in this free woodworking video.

Sanding and staining a finger joint box are two important steps in finishing a finger joint box. Learn how to sand and stain a finger joint box in this free woodworking video.

Colored stain such as blue stain can be used to stain wood. Learn how to stain a finger joint box with blue stain in this free woodworking video.

Making a finger joint, or a box joint, using a table saw jig is done by flushing the board against the plug. Learn how to make a finger joint in this free woodworking video.

When all four pieces of a finger joint box are made, the joint are aligned. Learn how to fit together box joint pieces in this free woodworking video.

Box joint corners should be square, and if they are not, a sharp chisel can do the job. Learn how to square box joint corners in this free woodworking video.

The plywood bottom of a finger joint box should fit tightly. Learn how to fit the bottom of a finger joint box in this free woodworking video.

Rounding box joint edges makes the finger joint box look a little more interesting. Learn how to round box joint edges with a router in this free woodworking video.

Dado blades should be set at a the appropriate height according to your need. See how to set dado blade depth to make a box joint jig in this free woodworking video.

An old box joint jig can be used to check the measurement See how to make a test cut on a box joint jig to make sure the dado is set at the proper height - free woodworking video.

See how to make a test cut on a box joint jig to make sure the dado is set at the proper height - free woodworking video.

The second cut is the most important part of making a finger joint jig. See how to make the second for a box joint jig in this free woodworking video.

Watch how to test a box joint jig to see if it cuts properly in this free woodworking video.

A box joint jig allows you to cut fingers joints for carpentry projects. See how to set up a box joint jig in this free woodworking video.

A woodworking router is a convenient power tool for cutting slots in a box joint jig. See how to make half inch router cuts in wood to make a box joint jig in this free woodworking video.

A woodworking router can be used to make a box joint jig. See how to make quarter inch router cuts in wood to make a finger joint jig in this free woodworking video.

Dado blades on a table saw can be used to cut box joint jigs. See how to set up dado blades to make a box joint jig in this free woodworking video.

Carriage bolts hold a box joint jig in place. See how to correctly place carriage bolts when making a finger joint jig in this free woodworking video.

A finger joint jig is a table saw setup that cuts slots in wood that form box joints. Find out more about finger joint jigs in this free woodworking video.

Measuring for a finger joint jig is the right way to make a box joint jig. Learn how to make the measurements and marks for making a finger joint jig for your table saw in this free woodworking video.

Marking the wood stock for a box joint jig should be done before making cuts with the router. Learn how to mark the stock for router cuts in order to make a finger joint jig in this free...

The slot for box joint jig bolts should be straight and flat. See how to create a stop for the router on a box joint jig in this free woodworking video.

There are many types of dovetail jigs available to choose from, with various options to make the project of your choice. Most dovetail jigs are used to make the joints for drawers. The dovetail...

Mortises are an essential joint mechanism in woodworking, and one of the most historically popular (and historically omnipresent). Here's a little more information about what this type of joint...

A cogged joint requires two pieces of wood and at three cuts but creates a solid connection that can last a lifetime. Cogged joints are made during the construction not the assembly process. The...

The exact opposite of the mortise and tenon joint, the bridal joint gets its name from its resemblance to a horse's bridle the way it fits into a horse's mouth. Look below for instructions on how...

A puzzle joint is the central joint of a Chinese puzzle. The center joint itself makes an interesting toy, and it's also a good way to keep three pieces of wood joined at their centers without...

A tenon joint is when two pieces of wood are joined together by inserting the protrusion of one piece of wood into a corresponding hole in the other. This is very similar to the child's toy where...

A saddle joint mimics the way joints work in the human body. One side of the joint fits around the other side to give a range of motion. It's also a sturdy and strong way to build moving parts and...

A stub tenon joint is a strong and sturdy joint that works very well. It does take a little time to prepare, but the results are well worth the effort.

A haunched tenon joint is a must when creating a door. The joint is strong, and because of the "haunches" on the tenon, allows for more surface area that can be glued, making the joint more secure.

One of the strongest joints you can use is a notched joint, because it brings together both the strengths of the supporting leg as well as the cross bar. It's more stable than mounting one on top...

A birdsmouth joint is the perfect joint to use when making octagonal columns. The birdsmouth joint allows the wood to fit together tightly and strongly. In fact, the birdsmouth joint was used by...

Adding a box joint to a woodworking project is an easy way to enhance the project's strength and appearance. Once you build the box joint jig, making the joints themselves adds mere minutes to...