FRAMING JOINTS
Framing joints are those used in frame-like construct ions. The members are usually constructed with their edges at right angles to each other, or the end of one member meets the edge of the other member.

Butt joints

 

A butt joint is a joinery technique in which two members are joined by simply butting them together. The butt joint is the simplest joint to make since it merely involves cutting the members to the appropriate length and butting them together. It is also the weakest because unless some form of reinforcement is used (see below) it relies upon glue alone to hold it together. Because the orientation of the members usually present only end grain to long grain gluing surface, the resulting joint is inherently weak.

To overcome their inherent weakness, butt joints are usually reinforced by one of the following methods:-

 

DOWEL JOINT

  • The dowel joint is made by cutting the members to size and then drilling a series of holes in the joint surface of each member.
  • Holes are often drilled with the assistance of a dowelling jig which aids in accurate hole placement — accuracy is paramount in this technique to ensure members line up perfectly in the completed joint.
  • The holes are drilled such that there are corresponding

holes in each member into which short dowels are inserted with some glue. The joint is brought together and clamped until the glue has dried.
Used for cabinet doors, joining table legs to aprons and chairs

BISCUIT JOINT

As its name suggests biscuit joints are secured with pieces of timber that are in the shape of a biscuit and these pieces of timber help to prevent movement and add strength.

To construct these joints you need to use a tool called a biscuit joiner which is used to cut the biscuit shaped holes in the wood.


Half lap joints

Half lap joints (or halving joints) are so called because both members of the joint are halved in thickness so that the faces of the finished assembly are flush with one another

TEE HALF LAP JOINT

This joint consists of a pin on the end of one piece which fits into a socket in the other piece.
It is used where the end of one piece meets another piece in from the end.

 

CORNER HALF LAP JOINT

It is used where the pieces meet at their ends to form a corner.

 

 

 

CROSS HALF LAP JOINT

It is used where two members cross each other.

 

STOPPED TEE HALF LAP JOINT

In this joint the socket is stopped away from the edge and the pin is cut short, so that in the assembled joint the end grain of the piece is not seen

 

 

Other half lap joints include:

DOVETAIL HALF LAP JOINT                                                  MITRED HALF LAP JOINT



SCARFED JOINT
Scarfed joints are those in which the two timbers united are so cut and fitted as to make the joint uniform in size with timbers.

Used to join top and bottom plates in house frames and to join rails in fences.

Bridle Joints

The bridle joint is another form of framing joint. It is a stronger joint than the half lap joint as it has a larger gluing area.


CORNER BRIDLE JOINT                                                         TEE BRIDLE JOINT

Other bridle joints can be viewed at: http://www.craftsmanspace.com/knowledge/bridle-woodworking-joints.html