Essential Joinery. Marc Spagnuolo
clearly.
2. Lay out and drill pocket holes
following the manufacturer’s
instructions on the non-show
face. Place at least two screws per
joint if possible.
3. Apply clamping pressure
to the assembled joint so the
boards don’t shift. Glue is
optional, but doesn’t hurt.
TIP
Avoid screwing into end
grain. The pockets are
usually drilled in such a way that the
screw itself is biting into edge or
face grain when the joint is pulled
together. Screws are weak when
driven into end grain.
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ESSENTIAL JOINERY
Butt Joints | FRAME BUTT JOINT USING POCKET SCREWS
4. Pocket screw companies
make handy clamps that help
keep the joint nice and flush.
These can be used in addition
to the regular clamp.
5. Drive the screws into place.
The screw helps close up the
joint.
6. This joint is easy to make
and surprisingly strong.
4
5
6
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ESSENTIAL JOINERY
FRAME BUTT JOINT USING DOWELS
Another option for connecting frame parts is dowel joinery. Holes are drilled on
both workpieces and premade dowels are inserted with glue. Dowels have the
additional benefit of being completely hidden.
1
4
2
3
TOOLS
Dowel jig
Drill
Drill bit
Clamp
1. Arrange the parts to be
joined and mark the dowel
locations across the joint.
2. There are many dowel jigs
on the market, but self-centering
dowel jigs are the most useful.
3. Align the desired hole size
with the lines on one of the
workpieces and secure the jig.
4. Drill in the hole using the
desired drill size with blue tape
wrapped around the bit serving as
a depth stop.
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ESSENTIAL JOINERY
Butt Joints | FRAME BUTT JOINT USING DOWELS
5. Move the jig to the remaining
holes and repeat the drilling
process.
6. Repeat the drilling process on
the adjoining workpiece.
7. Insert dowels into each hole.
For a more permanent
connection, add glue and
clamping pressure.
6
7
5
TIP
You can make your own
dowels using a simple device
known as a dowel plate (a thick piece
of steel with various common sized
holes in it). Scrap wood can be cut
or riven slightly oversized and then
pounded through a dowel plate
to create dowels of the
desired diameter.
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ESSENTIAL JOINERY
FRAME BUTT JOINT USING DOWELS | Butt Joints
ALTERNATIVE METHODS
HOMEMADE DOWEL JIG ALTERNATIVE
A dowel jig is a nice convenience and offers increased accuracy and repeatability, but it is certainly
possible to save a few bucks and make a shop-made doweling jig out of scrap wood.
1
2
3
1. Lay out the desired hole
locations on a thick piece of
scrap. Keep in mind, because
this jig is made of wood, the
holes will eventually wear out.
Consider it disposable.
2. Drill the holes as straight
and true as possible. Keep a
large square nearby to give a
visual reference.
3. Glue another piece of
scrap to the reference side of
the block to serve as a stop.
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ESSENTIAL JOINERY
Butt Joints | FRAME BUTT JOINT USING DOWELS
4. To use the jig, simply clamp
it to the board, lining up the
reference marks with the drill
locations on the workpiece, and
drill away.
5. After drilling the dowels in
the adjoining piece, glue and
assemble as per usual.
4
5
20
ESSENTIAL JOINERY
FRAME BUTT JOINT USING DOUBLE BISCUIT
Biscuits can make quick work of frame assembly, but for some applications, a single
biscuit just doesn’t seem strong enough. So let’s add two biscuits