We love when a beautiful piece comes together. The striking wood, the smooth pieces, the sturdy build, and the stunning aesthetics all bring a piece to life. The art of joinery is what makes a project into a completed piece. With so many ways to put together wood this is a true art form in our eyes.
Joinery is exactly what it sounds like; it’s a part of woodworking that joins pieces of wood together. There are a number of wood joints that can be implemented depending on the look you want or type of project you’re doing.
For example, some wood joints employ fasteners, bindings, or adhesives, while others use only wood elements. Different joinery techniques are used to meet different requirements. Whichever characteristic you need of the joint, be it strength, flexibility, toughness, or appearance, comes from the materials you are using and the purpose of the joint.
There are definitely typical joints that are used in most projects, however our favorites are the more complex joints used in in more traditional wood projects. These techniques use the properties of the wood itself rather than fasteners or adhesives.
Antiques frequently utilize traditional joinery, such as dovetail or finger joints, to put a piece together. This traditional type of joinery is also especially popular in India and central and southeast Asia. The reason being that nails and glue used didn’t stand up will to the vastly fluctuating temperatures and humid weather conditions of the area. Which makes sense why they work so well in a country like Bermuda.
From the simpler Butt joint or Mitre joint used in framing to the more complex Dovetail commonly used in Antique furniture to one of the oldest forms of wood joints the Mortise and Tenon there are a number of joints you can choose from for a project.
When planning a piece you have to think about the end game. How do you want it to look? There are many joints that add to the beauty and look of the piece and others that add an interesting aspects or details to a piece. How are you going to use the piece? Does the joint need to be flexible and give a little? You should choose a joint that is going to provide the strength you need if your piece is something that is going to be used frequently. Does it need to be durable? These are all aspects that you consider in the materials and design of the piece, but many forget the simple detail of the joints that bring them all together.
Depending on your project you’ll need to choose the right joint. Come to a professional, like us, if you have a design or project you want built. We love bringing a piece together and always consider all the details that will make your final piece stunning.