Dowels can be used to accurately create and reinforce a variety of different types of joint for use in furniture making and frame joinery.
Edge to edge joints
The simplest type of joint involves joining two edges of a piece of wood together. This is referred to as an edge to edge joint, or an edge to edge butt joint.
It is often used to create picture or door frames.
L-shaped joints
When an edge is joined to the thin end of the surface of a wooden plank, it is referred to as a corner joint, an edge to corner joint, or an L-shaped joint.
This is most often used when making cases, cabinets or shelving units.
T-shaped joints
T-Butt, or T-Shaped joints are created by joining the edge of a piece of wood to any location on the surface of another plank of wood that is not at its edge.
This type of joint is used to support shelves in cabinets and shelving units.
Carcassing joints
A carcassing joint is formed when an edge butt is lined up against the long edge of another plank’s surface. This is used in furniture making to create shelf and cabinet backs.
Mitre joints
If you’re feeling adventurous, you might try making a mitre joint. In this type of joint, two pieces of wood are cut at 45 degree angles.
This technique is most often used in picture frames. It is considered to be a neat way of working as it hides the ends of each constituent piece of wood.
