A finger joint in woodwork is a type of wooden joint consisting of two or more pieces cut to interlock.
In other words, it is a type of wooden joint that utilises opposing fingers on either side, which meet at the centre point between them. It’s called a finger joint because they resemble a person’s interlocking fingers, with one shorter than the other when seen from above.
The smaller piece slides into the larger piece, and then they rotate around each other until securely but easily locked in place. They are commonly used for any number of woodworking projects, most notably where sturdy joinery is required, such as mortise and tenon, dovetail, and box joints. Finger Joints can be used where short lengths of wood are needed or when adding strength to the joinery by making it more complex. A good example is picture frames.
The finger joint is a common joinery method in carpentry and woodwork. It can be applied in many household DIY projects. The finger joint is widely used in constructing jewellery boxes, kitchen drawers, cabinets, and other similar items. Finger joints are also used to join two pieces of timber to form one unit of greater length than that of each piece.Finger joints are also referred to as comb joints because they resemble the shape of the comb. These types of joints join two pieces of wood at right angle corners; for instance, when making boxes, they also go by the name box joints. A finger joint can also be referred to as a square finger joint when used to join wood corners at 90 degrees, as is the case with furniture or fittings with box shapes, such as drawers.
There are two basic types of finger joints; end-to-end and edge-to-edge. The only difference between these two is where exactly the fingers cut into each piece is located, whether on an end or on an edge. The end-to-end finger joint is used to make long pieces of timber. You can use the finger joint to join two or more pieces of timber into one long piece by joining them at their ends. An edge-to-edge finger joint results in a square angle that forms the box joint. Another common type is the mitre finger joint, but this one is slightly more complicated than just cutting along a straight line. It requires that two separate pieces be glued together with their faces perpendicular to each other, then cut down by exactly half their length, with one piece being twice as long as the other.
Yes, a finger joint can be used to make a box, hence the name box joint. In fact, they are quite popular for use in the making of simple boxes due to their simplicity and ability to add additional strength and durability along with beauty and interest. Finger joints are usually suitable for furniture projects that require both small but sturdy joints and pieces that need to fit together closely without gaps or spaces between them.
Finger joints are very strong and, depending on the thickness of the wood used, may suit certain structural and non-structural projects where strength is needed. Finger or box joints can provide more resistance to stress, particularly for small pieces which won’t otherwise hold together well due to their diameter. Thicker pieces should use slightly larger grooves/keys (like half or full).
Generally speaking, any type of wooden joint that has less movement in it because of using keys will be stronger than those with large open spaces between them, which can come apart under pressure, like mortise and tenon. All the different wooden joinery methods have their own unique advantages, so it’s important to understand what they are for your projects.
Despite its name, the finger joint is not just for fingers. When it comes to woodworking, the term has two meanings; one is a joint which resembles fingers (which can be confusing), and another refers to a joint where at least one of the logs is small compared with the other log. The joints themselves are simple enough if you know how to make them, just make sure your workspace is well ventilated and free of dust.The first step is cutting the groove into one of the pieces you wish to join; this can be done either on an edge or on one of its ends, depending on your project and preference. To cut the groove - use a dovetail saw to cut the groove lines horizontally. If you are working with small pieces of wood that need even finer cuts, you can also use a coping saw. For large pieces of timber (lumber), especially if it's an end-to-end cutting job, you can use a table saw. Then use a sharp chisel (mortise type) to cut out the groove. Use a file and sandpaper to smoothen out the lines so that it fits snugly in the piece you plan to use for joining. You can also use a marking gauge or just centre line up two pencil lines at 90 degrees from each other and mark across with your knife's blade. Remember which side is going to be your top board, as this will be visible when all boards are glued together.
This activity involves cutting the fingers that will go into the grooves of the other pieces. The wood piece you wish to join will need a groove cut into it parallel to the edge or along where the end is going to be. This can be done with a marking gauge and knife or drilling holes at either side of your intended groove and chiselling away the waste between them. To attain a visually appealing finish, make sure all boards are sanded flat using sandpaper so that the joint lines go neatly together when glued. Otherwise, there'll always be a little gap somewhere that isn't quite flush. To ensure a perfect lock, gently tap the timber pieces so that the fingers fill the groove spaces completely.
Brush glue evenly onto one face of each board being joined and press together carefully, making sure everything fits well. The ends will probably not fit perfectly, but small gaps like this won’t matter too much as long as the overall woodworking project looks great.
Using hand tools for this kind of job isn't particularly difficult, and the end results can look great if done properly.
The wood you choose for a finger-jointed project should be selected carefully to give the best possible results. The kind of wood used will depend on what you are making and possibly other factors such as your budget. Some kinds of wood work well with certain kinds of projects while others don't, so take this into consideration before choosing the material you'll use. Hardwood generally works better than softwood when it comes to creating joints that fit closely together because it is generally not as flexible or flimsy, meaning that things won't move around too much when put under stress or pressure from heavier objects placed upon them.
If a joint doesn’t go together very well, you can try to trim it. Alternatively, sanding it down can often help do away with any gaps or spaces. This is a quick and effective way of dealing with issues like this but make sure your woodworking project is finished before attempting this, or else you might end up spoiling it all.
A wood glue may give better results, especially if the seams between furniture boards are not sitting flush together on their own, so do try using one of these for added safety.
Using a wood finishing stain can also help improve the look if your joints aren’t quite perfect because the colour can be matched to finish off any imperfections. It is almost impossible to hide small gaps in the joint if they have been left unfinished, so adding some kind of protection or at least a topcoat will help lessen its appearance while still maintaining a classy look. Is it is part of a DIY project, make sure you stay safe with these tips from Queensland Health.