Know a thing or two about joints? Share your expertise with the rest of the community. Just use the EasyEdit Button and add to our definition!

A very common method of reinforcing butt joints in furniture. They are common in both frame and carcase construction. Dowel joints are popular in chairs, cabinets, panels and tabletops. The technique consists of cutting the boards to size and then drilling a series of holes in the joint surface of each board. The holes are drilled such that there are corresponding holes in each member into which short dowels are inserted with some glue. The joint is brought together and clamped until the glue has dried. This produces a joint which is much stronger than a butt joint without reinforcement. Over time, dowels may shrink and become loose, allowing the joint to flex, although it may not fall apart. For this reason, dowel joints are not preferred for high-end cabinetry or furniture.

Making your drawers or cabinets on your own? Not sure which joints are easiest to make or which ones are the most durable? Click here to ask the community what they think. Feel free to leave an answer to someone else's question too!