Joinery & Balance

“There used to be a contest for cabinetmakers, held in Copenhagen; some of the best were invited. They did all sorts of high-level professional things: classic exercises, fancy drawers with rounded inside corners, very special joints somewhat like the ones Peder Moos was famous for. He did a chair for a person somewhere in the orient (so the story goes) and sent the piece by ocean freight. It was being unloaded from the ship when an elephant stepped on it. All that was left intact were the joints: the rest was smashed to splinters.”

James Krenov 1975

In this program, time honored methods of joinery will be introduced and their applications explored.

We begin with dowel construction, commonly misconceived as a less than desirable method of joining wood. However, when done well and used in the appropriate application, doweling can be an ideal and effective means of joinery. A very straightforward and simple process will be demonstrated and practiced. A small doweled cabinet will be made using this process to house a drawer which will be made in Drawer Making & Fitting.

We then move onto the frame and panel, which is traditionally used in casework. Using open mortise and tenon joinery we will create a frame to house a fielded panel. The frame and panel will then be fit to the doweled cabinet.  

Building upon the open mortise and tenon joinery previously covered during frame and panel, students will have the opportunity to practice live, haunched and through and wedged mortise and tenon joinery.

Provided Tools

• Recommended Tools are available for loan to students while at the school upon request
• 1 1/2" Wooden Smoothing Plane
  

Recommended Tools

• Plane Adjustment Hammer
• Low Angle Block Plane*
• Chisels
• Scribe
• Small Square
• Water Stones 1000 & 8000
• Whiz cut File*
• Safety Glasses
• Hearing Protectors

* Tools are available for purchase at the school

Recommended Text

The Fine Art of Cabinetmaking by James Krenov

Artisan & Resident Artisan Programs l Graphics & Edges l Plane Making & Surfaces

Joinery & Balance l Drawer Making & Fitting l Veneers & Curves l Hardware & Finish