Ebook: Collins Good Wood Joints

What is a cabinet-maker, if not a skilled maker of joints? The colour of the wood, or perhaps a near-perfect surface finish, may be the initial things that draw our attention to a piece of work, but it isn’t very long before we slide open a drawer or begin peering inside a cupboard to see and feel the quality of the joints. This is hardly surprising, because many people consider joint-making to be the true measure of a craftsman, not least because cutting finejoints requires in-depth knowledgeof one’s materials and a degree ofproficiency with a wide variety ofhandtools or machines. In addition,there is the choice of joint, which reveals something about a woodworker’s level of experience. A joint must, first of all, be functional toprovide sufficient strength, but itshould also be in keeping with the overall style of the piece for which it is intended in short, it must be the right joint for the job.