Carpentry

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Carpentry

Specifically covering woodworking.

Definitions

Common carpentry terminology.

  • Face: Visible side of an installed board
  • Stud: Vertical framing member for walls (2x4, 2x6)
  • Joist: Horizontal framing member for floors or ceilings
  • Bearing Wall: Load-bearing wall that supports weight from above
  • Butt Joint: Joint comprising two pieces of wood butt together
  • Dovetail: Strong interlocking joint
  • Level: Perfectly horizontal alignment
  • Plumb: Perfectly vertical alignment
  • Miter: Angled cut for corners and frames (45°)
  • Header: Beam above doors/window openings
  • Grain: Direction of wood fibers
  • On Center: Measurement from the center of one framing member to the next
  • Kickback: Safety hazard when a tool forcefully ejects material
  • Tear-Out: Splintering/chipping of wood during cutting

Tools

Hand Tools

  • Claw Hammer: Drive and remove nails
  • Tape Measure: Measurement
  • Carpenter’s Pencil: Mark cut lines
  • Utility Knife: Trim and score surfaces
  • Speed Square, Framing Square: Mark and check right angles
  • Chalk Line: Snaps straight lines on large surfaces
  • Level: Ensure level and plumb surfaces
  • Wood Chisels: Shape and clean out joints
  • Screwdriver: Drive screws
  • Nail Puller: Remove embedded nails
  • Clamps: Hold pieces together during assembly and gluing
  • Hand Planes: Smooth and shape wood surfaces

Power Tools

  • Circular Saw: Straight cuts
  • Power Drill: Drill holes and drive screws
  • Reciprocating Saw: Demolition and rough cutting work
  • Miter Saw: Precise crosscuts and angled cuts
  • Table Saw: Ripping boards and precise cuts
  • Jigsaw: Curved and intricate cuts

Uncategorised

  • Combination Square: Mark and check angles
  • Tin Snips: Cut thin metal or plastic
  • Awl: Mark and start holes
  • Tool Belt: Tool storage

Woodworking Joints

Joint type Details Notes
Butt joint Ends of two boards butted together, simple and quick Weakest (often reinforced with nails or screws)
Dado joint Groove cut across one piece, other fits into it Stronger than butt joints (often used in shelving)
Rebate joint Notch cut on edge of one piece, joined at right angle Moderate strength (often used in cabinets and frames)
Mortise and Tenon joint Tenon fits into a matching Mortise hole Very strong (often used for frames and furniture)
Dowel joint Wooden dowels align and join two pieces Good strength (requires precise drilling)
Biscuit joint Oval biscuit in slots for edge-to-edge joining Moderate strength (often used in panels)
Dovetail joint Interlocking wedge shapes for drawers and boxes Excellent strength (resists pulling apart)
Box and Finger joint Interlocking square fingers for boxes Good strength (less decorative than Dovetail joint)

Butt joint

Dado joint

Rebate joint

Mortise and Tenon joint

Dowel joint

Biscuit joint

Dovetail joint

Box and Finger joint

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