Basic joints for carpentry – Housing and recessed joints
A recessed joint, in its simplest form, is a slightly stronger version of a butt joint that provides contact between mating components in two planes instead of one. A rabbet is formed by removing a square or rectangular section along the end or along the edge of a piece of wood using hand or power tools.
refund set
In the simplest type of rabbet joint, the rabbet is typically cut halfway through the thickness of the wood, leaving a projecting tongue equal to the thickness of the other square-cut component. This type of rabbet is often used at the top of bookcases and shelving where the top rests on and between the top ends of the sides. It can also be used to join drawer fronts to the sides and to each other. At least half of the final grain is hidden.
Joints are usually reinforced with pins, which are driven through the overlap in pairs at opposite angles; this is called dovetail nailing.
The rebate is usually cut with a rebate plane. It has a width guide and depth stop and cleans the vertical edge of the cut as it is used. Short rabbets at the end of a board, for example, can be cut with a saw, but care is needed.
Reduction in half to bare face
This is another type of rabbet joint that is often used to secure shelves in bookcases. The shelves have tapered ends with the projecting tab sliding into the horizontal slots on the inside faces of the bookcase sides. The joint is done with the shoulder up for added strength. This gasket can be used on drawers; a lowered back or a front can be accommodated between the sides
casing seals
Not all housing boards are discounted, but whether they are or not. They fall into two categories: through casing, in which the construction is visible at the rear and front edges of the joint; and the stopped housing which from the front edge appears to be a simple butt joint.
through housing
This is a simple joint to stake out and cut. The shoulder lines of the casing (the thickness of the plate to be housed separately) should be marked on the inside face of the plate and the edges squared. The depth of the casing, between a third and a half of the thickness, should be marked with a gauge. The shoulders should then be sawn through and debris removed with a chisel again working from each edge towards the center. Finish off the bottom of the casing with a router or kitchen chisel.
detained housing
At this joint, the cut should be made only part way through the board, stopping about 20mm from the front edge. The end of the board to fit into it must be cut off at the front corner to accommodate the ‘stop’.
Mark the shoulder lines along the inner face to the top and along the back edge. Measure the depth at the trailing edge as well. To allow clearance for sawing, the first 50mm of the back of the casing from the top must be cut with the chisel, which is used with the bevel down. Then saw the shoulders, chisel away any remaining debris, and finish the bottom of the casing with a router, if you have one.
