Last Updated: November 21, 2025
Common Joints
| Joint Type | Use Case | Strength |
|---|---|---|
Butt Joint
|
Simple corners, frames | Weak |
Miter Joint
|
Picture frames, molding | Weak-Medium |
Mortise & Tenon
|
Furniture, doors | Very Strong |
Dovetail
|
Drawers, boxes | Very Strong |
Lap Joint
|
Frames, grids | Medium |
Dado Joint
|
Shelves, cabinets | Medium |
Finger Joint
|
Boxes, corners | Strong |
Essential Tools
Hand saw
Basic cuts
Chisel set
Mortises, cleaning joints
Miter saw
Angled cuts
Router
Dados, decorative edges
Table saw
Rip cuts, precision
💡 Pro Tip:
Practice joints on scrap wood first - perfect technique before the real thing!