What type of Joinery?

[zootroy]

Any ideas on the type of joinery that may have been used to make this case? In particular, I'm wondering how the sides are attached to the bottom. It doesn't seem like any type of mortise/tenon would be strong enough since the sides a 3/4".

I can imagine biscuits or dowels, but i'm not sure that they would provide enough strength.

What do you guys think?

TIA
Jason

[gsmittle]

WARNING: I have no idea what I'm talking about.

The piece looks like maybe of 60's vintage, which would suggest dowels to me.

Or maybe it's pocket-holed on the bottom.

g.

[JimD]

I do not know how it is built but I know how I would build it. It looks like a good application of biscuits. It would be plenty strong enough. You could also use screws and plug the heads. I would only do that if I didn't have clamps enough to just use the biscuits or did not have a biscuit jointer. If you make the plugs for the screw holes out of material that matches pretty well they do not look too bad but it definitely is not in a "fine furniture" mode.

I made interior raised panel doors for our last house our of planned down construction lumber for the frame, shelving boards raised on the table saw for the panels, and biscuit joints at the intersections of the frame. They held up fine. I have also used them on case work without difficulty. I have also used them for apron to leg joints on a table. They have always held well. I now use more mortise and tenon joints (I got a dedicated mortiser) but I never had a problem with the strength of biscuits.

Jim

[LCHIEN]

I don't know the vintage or whether it's all wood or particle board and veneer. can't see all the details form the side. Could have some of those fasteners you find in the knockdown furniture from Ikea or someplace similar. usually you need mass production equipment to make those effective.

But if I were making it, dowels or biscuits would be plenty strong enough.

[drumpriest]

One thing to note that confused me about your comment. Mortise and Tenon is stronger than dowels or biscuits. Of the 3, M&T is widely considered the superior joinery.

I would agree with the guys though, probably either dowels or screws.

[zootroy]

The image is of the Anders nightstand from Room and Board

http://www.roomandboard.com/rnb/coll...107&dept=RB191

This is made from solid cherry.

The M&T, biscuit, dowel was a misprint/misthought. The real concern with M&T was that the tenon would have to be narrow without much depth. In this case, I would think that there would be more hassle than biscuits, without a significant strength gain. Any opinions?

Biscuits was my first thought, but I wanted to check with the experts before I jump into this.

I am making the entire bedroom set out of walnut. I just finished the bed and am very pleased with it. Now for something with drawers!

Any more ideas?

[cabinetman]

Jason

You can't really tell from the picture. It looks like there is an add on edge on the leading edge which may disguise what the end really does. If you could look at the bottom, and see that the ends are a full 3/4" past the floor (exposed), then you would know that the connection is either biscuits or a spline. Dread the thought it was just a butt fit and clamped. If the bottom reveals a 1/2" edge from the end, then it may be a rabbet. But for $599.00 no matter what they used it better not come apart.



"I'M NEVER WRONG - BUT I'M NOT ALWAYS RIGHT"

[Russianwolf]

I will say this. given that it is production work, and given that the top appears to be attached to the sides directly, my guess would be biscuits or dowels.

The best way would be dovetails. The method I would use if I were building it would be a sliding dovetail.

[JimD]

Also remember that if you mount the back into a rabbet like you should, it will add a lot of strength to the joints. You can go fancier if you want (dovetails or sliding dovetails (but watch out for assembly of wide sliding dovetails with yellow glue (it wants to grab)) if you want but I would be completely comfortable with biscuits. I have some old furniture I made 20+ years ago when I was starting out that is just but joints glued together and screwed (with the screw holes plugged). I has survived nicely including 4 moves. Biscuits are more elegant and stronger, I am sure they are plenty strong enough for nightstands (one of my cruder pieces is a cabinet over seven feet high, 4 feet wide, and two feet deep).

I would dovetail the drawer, however. Once you get a jig and get it set up, it takes very little time and adds a nice touch of class. It is also overkill for strength, however. Glue and brads will hold up OK.

Jim

[atgcpaul]

Any ideas on the type of joinery that may have been used to make this case? In particular, I'm wondering how the sides are attached to the bottom. It doesn't seem like any type of mortise/tenon would be strong enough since the sides a 3/4".

I can imagine biscuits or dowels, but i'm not sure that they would provide enough strength.

What do you guys think?

TIA
Jason

It's probably biscuits or dowels. However, the catalog said it was inspired
by George Nakashima. Having seen a few Nakashima gallery pieces, he would
use through dovetails on the 4 corners.

Paul