Wood Working Joints

[Ken Darga]

It's beneficial to learn the various woodworking “joinery” methods,

so as to determine the applicable joints to make, with the available tools one has, or intends to acquire, to accomplish the desired end product results.

Many joinery methods can be accomplished with simple tools, while other joints will require investing in power tools.

For beginner woodworkers, I’d suggest starting out, using simple tools.

One such book, “The Joint Book”, the complete guide to wood joinery, by Terrie Noll, published by the Cartwell Books. 

‘’This hardcover book with internal spiral binding is 6.5in x 8in, a perfect size for carpenters and woodworkers to keep near their workbench or toolbox for quick access. The design of this book allows it to lay open flat, which allows for easy and frequent reference, and the interior photographs, illustrations and diagrams, make the learning process simple and fun for beginners, and provides useful tips for more advanced readers.

The Joint Book contains easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions for creating edge and scarf joints, lapped and housed joints, mortise and tenon joints, miters and bevels, dovetails, dowels and biscuits, and provides detailed descriptions of fasteners, hardware, and knockdown joints. This book is the perfect companion for any woodworker interested in improving their joint-making skills.

 

Every page is filled with diagrams and color drawings illustrating every joint that's used in American woodworking. There are plenty of color photos also.
It doesn't take up much space in the work area and you can also carry it around easily in your glove compartment or tool box. It will be there when you need it. The shiny cover means sawdust slips right off and it stays clean.
The most helpful part is that Noll shows exactly how to set up various tools. Where to put the wood, set up the jigs or cutting guides, even how to proceed safely with your hands. This is a significant aid if you've never done a certain joint with a power tool before.

 

This book shows you any joint you could ever want to build and how to do it and it does it with full color photos and drawings. Every page gets right to the point and tells you what you need to know. It is also extremely well organized, not only by being intelligently divided into sections, but also with color coding so you can find what you want with ease. In addition, there is a joint index in the back of the book that shows small pictures of every joint in the book so you can flip through it and find what you're looking for if you only know what it looks like, not what it is called. That alone is worth the money but, fortunately for us, the publisher went the extra mile and made this book with a spiral binding so it stays open, and printed it with a really thick and glossy cover so it resists wear when in use around the shop, and the interior pages are all printed on thick paper stock. It's also compact (but not too small) so it isn't bulky or in your way when trying to use it as a reference while working. This is a true book for use around the shop and it has gone beyond what I ever expected to find in a joinery book.