| Ever since man discovered that useful objects could | | | | the shelves absorbs much of the moisture from the |
| be constructed from the wood taken from trees, one | | | | glue compounds thereby weakening the joints. |
| of the most important techniques needed to make | | | | As nails and finally screws appeared on the scene |
| these objects possible has been how to join two | | | | they were used along with glue to provide stronger |
| pieces of wood together. From early attempts to join | | | | joints. These techniques had their own negatives such |
| various pieces together with strips of vine or leather to | | | | as the time and labor necessary to countersink and |
| the invention of various forms of glue, craftsmen have | | | | then plug the holes necessary to hold the screws. |
| struggled to make strong joints in order to complete | | | | Wooden dowels used to join wood pieces has long |
| useful and lasting items. | | | | been an acceptable method used by professional and |
| The physical properties of wood itself both hamper | | | | home craftsman alike. Small round pegs called dowels |
| and assist the craftsman. Early chair makers used the | | | | are inserted into holes bored into adjoining pieces and |
| ability of wood to both expand and shrink as a very | | | | when use with glue provide a good joint and |
| successful method of joining complex chair parts. Legs | | | | additionally assist in the proper alignment of mating |
| of chairs for instance could be fashioned from "green" | | | | pieces. |
| or wet wood. The cross braces would be shaped and | | | | A more recent device is the biscuit. An over shaped |
| then dried completely. | | | | thin piece of wood known as a biscuit is inserted into a |
| Once these dried pieces were inserted into holes, | | | | mortice cut with a power tool known as a biscuit |
| mortises, bored into the legs, the legs would shrink | | | | cutter. These work much like dowels but provide much |
| around the cross pieces thereby locking them into | | | | greater wood surface for glue to adhere to. |
| place without the need for glue or fasteners such as | | | | Recently a most ingenious method has been |
| nails or screws. | | | | developed that solves most of the problems of joint |
| Windsor chair makers brought these techniques to | | | | construction and has become very popular with the |
| exceptional levels with specialty tools such as spoon | | | | home craftsman. The Pocket Hole Jig or Pocket |
| bits which fashioned mortises larger at the bottom in | | | | Screw Jig such as the models produced by the Kreg |
| effect fashioning a mortise which when dried would | | | | company, simplify joint construction and make it |
| lock the tenon of the crosses braces tightly in place. | | | | possible for even the novice crafts person to make |
| This shrinking and expanding of wood pieces due to | | | | strong joints in wood. |
| humidity or lack of it is also responsible for the self | | | | Using precision machined tools known as jigs, holes are |
| destruction of many well built wood projects. | | | | drilled through one piece and into the mating piece. |
| Movement of wood as it expand or shrinks due to | | | | Screws are then driven in. The magic behind Pocket |
| moisture content can literally tear pieces apart or at | | | | Hole Jig technique is that using end grain of wood |
| least cause loosening or splitting of wood. | | | | parts which offers a very week holding surface is |
| Mortise and tenon joints in cabinet pieces, bookshelves, | | | | avoided. The screws pass through the pieces at an |
| tables and other useful projects became one of the | | | | angle and are in most cases invisible in the finished |
| most preferred methods of joining individual wood | | | | project. |
| pieces. Decorative and extremely strong dove tail | | | | However there are precision plugs available whee it is |
| joints were next developed which not only provided | | | | deemed necessary to completely hide the screw |
| more area for glue to hold the joints but also produced | | | | holes. |
| a very elegant finished joint. In the days of hand tools | | | | While perhaps not acceptable to the perfectionist |
| these methods were very labor intensive and costly to | | | | cabinet maker who has the talent, training, equipment |
| produce. | | | | and customers who will pay for the labor intensive |
| Glue by itself does not provide adequate strength in | | | | methods of the past. The Pocket Hole Jig is a boon to |
| most instances for a number of reasons. Joining end | | | | the crafts person who needs to build quality pieces |
| grain to cross grain as in shelves in a bookcase | | | | quickly and inexpensively. |
| provides very weak joints because the end grain of | | | | |