Biscuit (plate joint): Used in butt joints or mitered corners. Thin, oval "biscuits" made of compressed wood fit between the two pieces. A biscuit swells when in contact with glue, making a tight joint.Box: Like the dovetail joint, it uses interlocking fingers, but they are straight instead of angled. Much simpler than dovetails.
Butt joint: Placing the edges of two boards against each other.
Dovetail: Using interlocking "fingers" called pins and tails to make a very strong, long-lasting joint. Commonly used for boxes.
Through Dovetail: When the pins and tails go through the side of the opposite piece.Half-blind Dovetail: When the ends of the dovetail are concealed because the cut only goes part-way through.
Finger: Fitting two pieces together by cutting slim, pointed "fingers" that interlock on one end.
Mortise-and-Tenon: When a protrusion (tenon) fits into a matching hole (mortise). Similar to Tongue and Groove.
Scarf: Cutting or notching two boards at an angle and securing them together.
Tongue and Groove: A joint with matching grooves. One groove protrudes (tongue) and fits into a groove on the opposite piece (groove).
Dado: A square channel or groove cut into the surface of a board that runs from end to end. A joint is made by placing the end of another piece into the dado and gluing or nailing it.Rabbet: A corner joint where one piece has a groove cut into the end and the other piece fits perpendicularly into the groove.
Last update: April 15, 2000