10 Best Butt Joint Methods | Woodworking Tips & Tricks

10 different ways to butt joint two boards together. Brought to you by Squarespace. For 10% off your first purchase, go to: squarespace.com/makesomething
The Holy Grail of Tablesaw Accessories. DIY Sliding Crosscut Table
• DIY Sliding Crosscut T...
0:40 Glue and Nails
0:54 Screws and Plugs
1:40 Pocket Holes:
2:03 Biscuit Joint
2:45 Festool Domino
3:24 Through Dowel
3:47 Blind Dowel
4:23 Spline
6:35 Mitered Butt Spline
8:00 Hidden Mitered Butt Spline
★ TOOLS / SUPPLIES ★
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Drill Press (similar): shrsl.com/1lwfn
Plug Cutter: amzn.to/2P5nzZD
Pocket Hole Jig: amzn.to/35IQ9pm
Biscuit Jointer: amzn.to/2P0wXxo
Festool Domino: amzn.to/35HfBM9
Little Bandsaw: amzn.to/2MV49nc
Table Saw: amzn.to/2MgDiBz
Large Bandsaw: amzn.to/2yud6uK
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Disc Sander: amzn.to/2KxBeD0
Clamps(similar): amzn.to/2Iu20M9
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David Picciuto
PO Box 2499
Toledo, OH 43606

[@shawnr888]

I love the no nonsense approach to the video. He doesn't spend ten minutes talking about nothing, he just gets to it!

[@rudyando]

Agreed. I hate it. Even with recipes you’ll look something up and get 1500 words on the history of the recipe and how much their family loved it. Just need the recipe. Thanks!

[@mike_98058]

You must have missed the commercial from 5:09 - 6:39!

[@kempster08]

I agree! You know what, I don't even mind watching the advert because I feel like he deserves it.

[@jomendez6929]

bit like my love life ,, tiny fore play ,, then she starts the stop watch ,,

[@daniellemeganhicban2896]

agreed!

[@donb6474]

we used #10 on our coffee tables we made back in 68 but we had to measure the cut out and use a hand saw and a chisel. worked great. I have not seen that joint made since then. Thank You. #9 is my new favorite.

[@jorgelimon964]

Nice, so not only was.music great back then... So was carpentry

[@elliottdmann]

As a total beginner, this is incredibly helpful. Answered a number of questions I have about joining two pieces of wood together.

[@williamellis8993]

Thanks, David. I never stopped to count the different types of joints and variations. Using Miller dowels is another great method.

[@davebauerart]

I love that you just name them and go for it, no long explanations or strength comparisons, they all work.

[@stephenforde7140]

Love the channel man, straight to the point in quick detail, no time to waste talking about the history of this and that.👍👍

[@FodderMoosie]

I've been putting a little shelf together with a combination of dowels, hidden dowels, and mitered splines. Only thing is, only two of my 15 joints are at 90 degrees! So it has been a real adventure, figuring all of this stuff out. This has been a helpful video, thank you.

[@mustafamirzaee9508]

when did i ask

[@donzemanovic4205]

Best part of learning how to roll a joint? You get to smoke your mistakes

[@leonardoasaro1832]

@@mustafamirzaee9508 🥶

[@jeffmackdesigns]

Great little video! Love how quick you jumped in to it and started sharing your knowledge!

[@nemo227]

I like a true dovetail, glued or without glue. Everyone has their own favorites. It's one of the things that make working with wood so interesting and beautiful. Oh, yeah, USEFUL too.

[@myaccount9745]

Also fairly easy and quick if you have a router table set up for it. Not a fan of doing them by hand.

[@nemo227]

@@myaccount9745 Yes, the dang set up sometimes takes longer than the job. Reminds me: I visited a cabinet shop to have them trim down some window shutters (back around 1963). It had been in town for several decades. I was surprised at how they had set up some simple table saws to easily and quickly do specific jobs. I was also impressed at how the old man there carefully double checked all of his measurements and calculations.

[@myaccount9745]

@@nemo227 Oh yeah there's a lot of 'secret' tricks in the trade and combined with skill people can do the craziest things with "simple" tools a hobbyist might not even be able to get done with all the niche tools we have today. It's crazy what some people can do with a circular saw, a drill and some hand tools and guides. I still like having a router and a table saw... I don't mind long set up times if it's built to last. If I make dovetails, it's probably meant to last at least a few years. Else I might as well use nails...

[@nemo227]

@@myaccount9745 Nails . . . nails . . . oh, yeah, those long metal thingies that some people use. (I'm old but still a smartass). I had a musician friend that took up wood working in his early retirement. He would have been a master craftsman. Our kitchen has several things he made: cabinet doors, cabinets, free standing pantry. He died a couple of years ago but the things he built are still here and a daily memory of his craftsmanship. BTW, do you make your living building or is woodworking a personal activity?

[@glennwells6157]

I didn`t intend to make use of this woodworking book, *TopFineWoodworking. Com* but rather curious about it. I had been truly amazed right after trying it. It never disappointed me in my wish to acquire more information about the art of wood working. Many topics were covered, including everything from wood types to developing your workshop.?

[@JkCanvas]

Love that all the joints you showcased were made out of maple and the last one had the red maple leaf for the fall.

[@DelenedeWetLientjie]

I'm so glad I found you. You're making it simple for this stupid. I need to make a somewhat padded headboard from offcuts, using just basic tools, a jigsaw and a drill. Arriving here gave me hope. Thank you

[@bunberrier]

You really get it, how to present information well, and quickly. Thank you!

[@tekviper9]

Glad your bringing back some mild humor in your videos, I know you have mentioned in your podcast that you want to be taken more seriously , Just dont be too serious ! :) thank you for sharing your skills.

[@remynisce33]

Wow love the hidden and visible mitered spline!

[@BDL090754]

I agree, exactly as the below comment, - No B.S. - No vanity "look at me" self filming. Wish there were more like you. Thank you

[@jamesclarke3248]

Great video. Thanks! Agree with the others, you should strength test them and then rank accordingly.

[@thetoughones]

Dude looks like he's gonna be late for a meeting but still nails it.

[@tvoovm7254]

Heh, nails it.

[@mikecove1]

Late because he’s working on a joint and nailing some butt? He’s not the first.

[@wagnerluis764]

Hi, man...very nice this video... The last three plugins / examples, the ones I liked the most ... I will practice it and use them in future projects...thank you for sharing them 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍 Wagner ( from Brazil )

[@WOODVY]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/epWnpaOEpsp-qNk

[@Ray-pr4vb]

Thanks for your “snappy” explaining. Fun and craftsmanship combined 😃

[@suelewis2864]

Thanks for this video! I actually understood what you were talking about and I don’t know anything about building things out of wood! 😊

[@dwighthapeman6590]

Does my heart good seeing someone with tools by Sawstop and Festool doing plain old butt joints.

[@victoreous626]

LOL Like riding a Ferrari downtown in the stop and go at rush hour.

[@peterkrajewski5942]

Dwight Hapeman and what about pocket holes done on the weaker side?

[@peterkrajewski5942]

Dwight Hapeman or using metal hammer instead of a mallet?

[@lydiaanderson0083]

@hello Dwight how are you doing?

[@viejitaaa]

Thank you!! So much information - very clearly shown, and explained directly and you get straight to the point! Very, very helpful

[@californiadreamer5968]

Wow! I had no idea. There is something about joining wood that fascinates me. It can turn a functional piece into a designer piece of craftsmanship.

[@kathrynnewton8721]

Lovely! Too quick for me though! Love to see the final ones in slow mo for the beginner!

[@petermcmillan1773]

They were done so roughly that he didn't want to show them off. Misaligned and pretty terrible quality for a professional, video could also be called how-not-to-use-glue. I know these joints aren't for a customer but jeez. If I did pay this man for a glue joint, I'd like it to be fully glued.

[@jamesbryson9542]

You know you can slow any KZbin video down?

[@BarkingIron]

David, I’ve been a subscriber of yours for some time now. I enjoy how you don’t spend a ton of time spewing B.S. and you just get down to the point (project). I find your videos informative and reliable. There’s a lot of woodworking channels here on KZbin and unfortunately a lot of them aren’t the best source of information. I look forward to your upcoming videos. Thank You

[@velocelt]

So much fun from a basic tips video! It's great that you're indulging your inner shop-comedian.

[@lydiaanderson0083]

@hello Freelancer how are you doing?

[@Bob_Adkins]

Straight and to the point, you assume the viewer knows the basics, which is refreshing. Thumbs up, and thanks!

[@unionruines900]

I've been working on some wine boxes lately so those mitered splines are looking promising.

[@Katobats]

The best tecnique ever more works less talk

[@indestruct1bl3]

I like using corner clamps, then drilling a hole straight through both pieces at a 45" angle for a dowel, just glue it then just cut the dowel ends off, and sand smooth. I generally do this when I am using a lot of soft woods as even when I predrill holes, screws will split the wood near the ends if I look at if funny, haven't had an issue with dowels though.

[@MechakittenX]

Thanks for the video! I'm very new to woodworking and have 0 clues what to do, haha! I constructed a disaster today 😎Very informative but now it's time to learn more!

[@edmundolanderos6085]

Thank you , I’m saving this video in my you tube history for future reference . - I will build a table and you just gave me lots of ideas.

[@TakersplaceDeOfficial]

I just made myself a plan to build some simple wooden boxes. Well, if that isn't perfect timing for this video :)

[@varietyhub498]

Do you actually need planning!?

[@maxwellzimbardo4904]

Just do it

[@lytantai972]

If you are one of those people who enjoys building woodworking crafts/projects and some basic carpentry skills this website will interest you in the same way that it did me. >> *TopFineWoodworking. Com*

[@judam6113]

GOSHDARNIT DAN! MAKE SOMETHING! Thank you two for making me laugh randomly from your videos

[@WOODVY]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/epWnpaOEpsp-qNk

[@michaelposey6529]

I very much appreciate the exaggerated care you took getting the spline piece off the table saw, even though it's a saw stop. Coming from someone who was the average youtube woodworker a year ago, so so many people have table saws that have no business having one. Subbed

[@MakeSomething]

Thanks Michael!

[@marynolan3588]

well done, good job. i could care less about joining wood together but some how i watched the whole video. your pace is perfect and the colors are spot on, i even checked out squarespace because of your endorsement, and you left me wanting more. NICE!

[@drumunl]

Mitered Butt Spline is actually the name of my new album. 😂

[@JusBidniss]

Coincidentally, it's also the name of a medical condition I had taken care of last year!

[@drumunl]

@@JusBidniss 😂😂😂

[@Carl-LaFong1618]

they were big in the 60's.

[@atlanteum]

You mean that's not the name of some anime series on Netflix?

[@ecr-9341]

As civilization continues to devolve...

[@sharonolsen6579]

My favorite: Mitered spline .. I like the way it looks when you see the spline ... very sexy joint !

[@Dsoginventor]

sharon olsen , I have a friend who prefers this type of joint, too. He has trouble making good box joints, but mitered splines are easy for him.

[@teddunagan4101]

Not saying its the strongest but i think the hidden mitered spline is my favorite for being so seamless and unnoticeable.

[@Denali_Rebel]

I like that you can see it. I think it adds character

[@BraxtlyTools]

Another dynamite video! Great stuff! We are definitely sharing on social media! Emmy Braxtly

[@TobiasGlahn]

For some reason I have not been around for some time but really happy to see how the channel and style evolved! Love it, keep growin'!

[@TeddyR_Official]

Great video. Each joint has their own application. Having said that, the #3 pocket hole can be done better by having the holes outside rather than inner side of the joint. The screws should be pointing towards towards the board to grab more material.

[@mar504]

Yup, if you are going to do pocket holes at least do them correctly.

[@bmacaz]

Absolutely, this is critical. And more leverage

[@haunthunterify]

Yes that joint he made is weak and will break easily. Outside is the way to go.

[@zillpatel201]

Thank you so much for posting! Exactly what I needed and very easy to follow and to the point!

[@SARSteam]

Off course I learned a bunch of new things LOL. This was awesome... Thanx for sharing!

[@flacokb]

First video of you and your work I see, you definetely have that passion I love as well...I inmediately subscribed. thanks for sharing! Congrats!

[@ALSTR330]

Dang I was kinda hoping you’d test them until failure and rank by strength at the end.

[@Yonatan24]

I would send them over to Matthias Wandel but he has probably fainted from the sight of these pocket holes...

[@Psychlist1972]

Other folks have done those. You really need 3 of each to do a valid test. And pocket holes are more than fine for many joints. :)

[@lar10101]

Way easy to figure out. The strongest joint is the one that has the most gluing surface. The spline joint. I like the blind mitered spline joint, however as it's plenty strong, and is invisible.

[@Psychlist1972]

@@lar10101 Not necessarily. The spline joint goes from edge to edge on the wood and so makes it easier to lever apart. A tenon (loose, domino, or full traditional) is fully housed and so may actually end up stronger. Same with dowels.

[@mattschoon6940]

Yea that would have caught my attention and watch the entire vid

[@bluetorch13]

10 min - 10 joints, PERFECT!

[@jonwills1957]

Love the look of that hidden miter spline!

[@tiddlesthatsmycat]

Looking here to make boxes for my cat tree. Shall follow even though you really are more advanced than I am but just watching I have gained confidence and starting my boxes tomorrow. Thank you

[@gitaramaker101]

8:05 I thought you rewind it, second look I thought it's a magic trick! I like the spline joints, it looks neat, clean and strong

[@jarrodderr]

Butt joints. My 2 favorite things...👍🏻

[@MakeSomething]

Haha!

[@robig1978]

new to wood working and slowly getting more tools - loving that plug cutter as didn't know it existed cheers

[@JupiterSequence]

Loving that deep cut ween album playing in the background thanks for the helpful tips

[@MakeSomething]

Ween when they were awesome!

[@acanadianwoodworker]

1:55 Gaffer tape - one of the most helpful tapes around!

[@StumpyNubs]

Tell camera man Dan a Domino is a loose/floating tenon. :)

[@cameradan7648]

Good point, you've earned a cold one.

[@StumpyNubs]

@@cameradan7648 - HA! A viewer!

[@chaseowens1122]

Stumpy Nubs you’re on it with all those computers at your new shop!

[@StumpyNubs]

@@chaseowens1122 - And all of them are tuned to the Make Something channel :)

[@kennethgreer]

What about the hidden dowel? Is that a floating tenon?

[@MakeSomething]

DIY Sliding Crosscut Table. The Holy Grail of Tablesaw Accessories kzbin.info/www/bejne/iafNmmZumbuCmck

[@Julian-ib8xn]

Watching this video was like speed dating for wood joints! Quick, informative, and left me wanting more! 😄

[@stevenvachon9745]

A dowel joint would be the strongest for those who are wondering (other than a dovetail through or half-blind) and is much easier obtained with a jig like the dowelmax. On a miter with a 45deg attachment on the dowelmax, you can drill through and have exposed dowels, an attractive alternative.

[@ruankoen5947]

Im new to this type of work And a dowel just seams so weak Was surprised to read that its the strongest I mean look at how thin the dowels are

[@valterleao6795]

Parabéns meu Amigo, adorei ver seu trabalho e suas habilidades! Abraço aqui do Brasil 🇧🇷

[@nnprsl]

I got here from 9gag by people talking about woodworking and mentions something like 'proper joint' but I love this video, it looks so fun! I'm not a woodworker and never ever do any woodworking in my life, but I subscribe to this channel because the contents are so good. Am I weird?

[@damienbrand9422]

Thank you Dave!!!

[@nathanmccook133]

I personally really like the rockler beadlock jig

[@alloyd8387]

Would like to have seen a strength test for each type and then a suggestion on best use for each type

[@rfrancoi]

First question that came to mind.

[@sunnydilyte]

Yeah me too. Want to know which one is the strongest of all.

[@turboragtop]

What good does it do to show 10 types of joints without testing them for strength?

[@rfrancoi]

@@turboragtop Gotta agree with you...

[@johnnyle5107]

You are the wood artist my friend. It is not about getting the job done but getting it done beautifully.

[@Violetsteel_]

I literally had no need to watch this video but I loved the quick, snappy demonstration and now I know a bit more about wood joints. :)

[@tmsmottl]

When I saw the title I fully expected something on par with Jonathan Katz-Moses April Fools Day video. But nope, this was useful!

[@Dogo24h]

Very useful! Thanks for sharing!

[@lauriepeters1336]

Guys I am learning woodworking at *TopFineWoodworking. Com* I recommend this website all you guys who are beginner or advance in woodworking

[@claytonhiga2778]

LAURIE PETERS up

[@SaBhu10an]

Pretty cool, but I know ten of you and I always love these !

[@ricardoaguiar2241]

I love hidden spline, thanks man.

[@j4nch]

I would love to see a comparison of their robustness :)

[@cassiejo0012]

I am new to woodworking and absolutely love it. I spend a lot of time learning all I can. I love this video and subscribed to you. I am trying to learn everything I can about joining wood. I want to make a chest for my grandpa. I have a question. I was interested in the pocket hole method and while looking at videos on it. I found someone who said to put the pocket holes on the outside for strength. I chose this joining way because in your video it was on the inside, so it would be hidden in the chest I want to make. Please clarify if I should use pocket holes on the inside or outside. Thank you so much and I can't wait to watch more videos.

[@withthesehands5799]

And here I was thinking, "there's no way there are 10 ways". Color me surprised. And impressed!

[@Evgeniyart1]

Спасибо за видео. Есть полезные варианты.

[@gallahant]

There are more than double that.

[@chuckmaddox6725]

well, face nail vs face screws and biscuits vs dominoes are basically the same thing. I call fowel :)

[@jesustorres2583]

beginner word worker here and this is invaluable info,thanks for sharing.

[@FusionSource]

Just wow on all your method, so useful, love the Mitered Spline

[@Kashed]

For the ultimate strength I do a mitered spline with a hidden spline with dowels, bisquits, pocket holes, screws and plugs.

[@harmless9012]

And without a couple of nails it will just fall apart

[@barrylast8655]

Lol... is there any wood left?

[@shmackbunz1917]

@@luthfiatthariq8324 They needed some extra joint to handle that much butt

[@DennisNestor]

2:02 love biscuits and gravy

[@TomRubicon5949]

Seems like I have a new set of skills to master! What a great video

[@gillessophie6158]

Great video. Greetings from France. Simple, efficace, rock

[@Belboz99]

I'd be really interested in seeing some stress testing on these joints... see which one performs best under a load.

[@urbannpa]

Pockets are the best if your not dovetailing it.

[@c.garcia2363]

Mathias Wendell already did the stress tests.

[@purefury702]

Colin @ woodworkweb did a bunch of tests kzbin.info/www/bejne/bJSkhq2VmqigmNk

[@shmookins]

Missed opportunity to test how strong each one is.

[@jorgelimon964]

It's your job to make the video 🙏

[@nafnaf0]

Yes that is what I was thinking.

[@ecaff9515]

Excellent video and process You are very good. Thank you for the inspiration. Also, thank you for sharing

[@spencer82rocks]

That’s the cleanest workshop I even seen and looks like drive true spline plus 7 more,so fast I missed some of it,your amazing

[@Gourmondise]

When I was building my coffee table I used 60mm screw straight down the edge and I have filled up the holes with pine filler. After sanding and 2 layers of linseed oil everything looked like it was done with dowels. Everyone thought it was store bought as I have spent time with the finish. Later I have used the same technique on the dining table and the 4 seater bench.

[@EdBrentnall]

I came here expecting to find novel ways to smoke. However, I was not disappointed. 👍

[@skipguenter3711]

If you can find the Porter Cable bench mount ... It's got several advantages over the Kreg plastic.

[@armandomartinezramirez560]

¡Wow! Muy útil para quienes estamos empezando a aprender carpintería. ¡Gracias!

[@Ebaybbq]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge

[@josephawatson]

am I the only one that giggles at butt joints still?

[@randyrodriguez4643]

You're certainly not alone!

[@chapmanry]

"Here are 10 ways to do a butt joint. These last two are my favorite. They aren't *technically* butt joints tho. I don't know, we're just having fun. Can't we just have fun?"

[@MakeSomething]

right?!?! Thanks Raul!

[@paolopedaria3942]

yeah your right bcoz its fillet joint actually

[@garthhorne617]

Just a newbie woodworker. You gave me in 10 minutes what had taken me almost a year to learn just some of these. Thanks for sharing your wisdom!

[@davidbryanwoodworksandmore]

I just started my channel. Check it out maybe you’ll learn more. It’s amazing how much knowledge is out here. Some good and some is not.

[@thibaudlephilippe8532]

Great !! you gave me ideas fort crafting my bed 👍 Thanks from France ✌

[@kritikopedo]

Should have put them in the vise after and smacked them with the hammer to see which one ended up being the strongest joint

[@katzmosestools]

I like big butts and I can not lie

[@MakeSomething]

Oh we know Jonathan! Us other woodworkers can't deny.

[@chrishand259]

This is where Jonathan takes off his glasses and says “stop it!” 🤣

[@gusuave007]

I love your video. I am going to try some of those methods in my walk-in closet makeover project. Thank you very much for posting it. Do you think it's worth it to buy a pocket hole jig?

[@junkstough6622]

I was hoping to see finger joints and dovetail joints as well

[@KevinLitman]

8:05 - Welcome to Make Something with me, David the Magician Picciuto

[@kennethgreer]

It's a good example of kickback.

[@thehunter3490]

I love the way wood working, i love to watch your toturial and teach us some method to use this other technic!! Thank you so much this is so helpful like me, Learning From Wood Working and Its another Skills that i learn from you. Still today i was a Industrial Arts Major but this actually we already learned it from our Instr. But i love to watch this toturial .

[@ronsmith7973]

I love it, you are really getting into motorsports..... you even had to rev up the biscuit jointer... can wait for the go cart vids!👍

[@MakeSomething]

😁👊🏻

[@mrjroeder]

Follow up video: strength testing to see which joint is strongest?

[@cdouglas1942]

job for Matthias Wandel

[@havenisse2009]

There's also the IKEA way: have a round metal dowel with threads and insert a long-ish machine screw to pull things tight. A few small dowels to control position.

[@nicosgeo]

Can you state IKEA part number?

[@harrison298]

@@nicosgeo They're called "cam lock screws." Do a search for that in google images and you'll recognize them if you've built anything from IKEA.

[@prafullarwade]

Miter joints are my favourite ones... Splined miter joints which you showed are one level up... Great stuff dude... Superlike 👍🏻

[@unitwoodworking5403]

It's summary of really essential, necessary and useful tips. Great and nice~

[@AIMBOTKATFISH]

would have liked to know the advantages and disadvantages of each.

[@matthewsnowdon8530]

Sadly these machines cost lots of money that most of us don’t have

[@jjvaliquette1]

Uu