Wooden connections
You may be thinking: “The whole piece of furniture made from one piece of solid wood – that would be best!”. But this only works with smaller everyday items, such as cutting or snack boards, and would not be possible with pieces of furniture for various reasons. On the one hand, this enormous mass of thick trunks is not there to make it out of tables made of solid wood , Solid wood stool or to carve or mill shelves from one piece. On the other hand, the natural material would tear and the piece of furniture would break under load. High-quality wood connections ensure more stability and are therefore not a necessary evil, but rather a quality feature!
The most important wood connections in crafts
For as long as humans have been working with wood, they have been concerned with wood connections. The existing material should be used as efficiently as possible. And depending on the direction of growth, they can withstand high loads. The simplest solution that everyone knows is to use screws or nails. Unfortunately, this method is usually neither aesthetic nor long-lasting. Metal angle? A rather amateur method, but for cost reasons it is often used in industrial production. In contrast, gluing is an inconspicuous wood connection that, when expertly carried out in the right place, is extremely durable. The flat dowel is also a modern, high-quality aid to create additional stability. Over the centuries, tines and tenons have proven themselves as solid wooden connections, which are also used in the furniture from the Anton Doll wood factory.
Wooden connections for carpenters and carpenters
Rough ones have been used in carpentry since time immemorial tenons used as a wood connection. wooden nails Oak wood , which later swells, additionally secures the mortise and absorbs tensile forces. These thick wooden nails can be both round and square. Depending on the shape, they are called round or square tenons.
Tenons and prongs for tables, shelves and stools
Tenons are also used in carpentry. However, it is much more delicate and precise, as the pieces of furniture are exposed to loads from many sides. In addition, gravity does not stabilize the structure as it does with a roof truss. For frameworks, for example, the carpenter works with forked tenons, also known as slotted tenons or shear tenons. Here, a centrally open slot is created at the head of one component. On the other part, the end is machined so that it fits exactly into the slot. If you place the workpieces on top of each other at a 90 degree angle and glue them together, a permanent wood connection is created. They are often found on windows, chairs, beds or closet doors. In traditional craftsmanship, the axis of rotation is stiffened with glued wooden nails; today, wooden dowels that are invisible on one side are used.
If the tenon of such a wooden connection is only made on one side, it is referred to as corner overlap. If the connection occurs in the middle of a board, the technical term is cross-overlaid.
Dovetail tines: a classic wood connection
Working with tines is also a proven method for joining components together in furniture construction. Especially with solid wood surfaces: This is where the tenons create interlocking. Two flat solid wood parts - such as the side panels, front and back parts of a drawer or a body - are connected at right angles. This increases the glue areas - and it holds better. At the same time, the individual components can swell and shrink without the workpiece becoming loose. If the tenons are wedge-shaped, they are called dovetail teeth. These are real classics of carpentry that are quite visually appealing. If these are jagged several times, they are called “Christmas tree tenon”.
Wooden connections without screws, nails and angles
In addition to this deliberately visible joint, there is the hidden version of miter joints, where the wood connection is invisible from the outside. There are also numerous other tine shapes that are used depending on the application and load. Some of them are real witnesses of craftsmanship: traditionally, the carpenter makes them by hand using a saw and chisel.
Flat dowel, or “Lamello” – a clever wooden connection
Incidentally, milling is necessary for a relatively modern wood connection in which a solid wood board is placed butt onto a surface: flat dowels. Little helpers, mostly oval plates, which are also called “lamellos”. A special milling machine is used to quickly mill several slots on both sides into which flat dowels coated with glue are inserted. Put it together – done! An astonishingly simple and durable wood connection that DIY enthusiasts now also appreciate.
Gluing is indispensable in furniture construction – and extremely durable
One of the most important wood connections in furniture construction is certainly this Wood gluing . The reason: Modern adhesives are extremely powerful. At the same time, furniture makers today have access to machines that enable gluing under high pressure. The hot glue process in particular enables a solid connection between solid wood parts - at the same time the formaldehyde contamination is very low.
For solid wood table tops, shelves or large ones Solid wood cutting boards high-quality gluing is required. Not just to create larger wooden surfaces: By connecting different fiber directions, you prevent the wood from warping, making it significantly more stable and long-lasting. Of course, we only use wood glue that is completely free of harmful substances for our high-quality furniture.
If the piece of furniture is not painted but only treated with natural oil, the quality is evident: beautiful solid wood without annoying screws or angles. This is exactly what we expect from the “favorite pieces for life” from the Anton Doll wood factory.
