Untitled - Wood Tools

OPEN MORTISE &IENON
The ienon slips inf,o on
open-ended mortise,
forming o strong mechonicol
ioint with o lorge glue surfoce
TOCKING RABBET JOINT
A tongue thofs formed by
robbeting one piece
fits into o groove
in the moting piece
3rgH#
BAD\TEATHER
;r egarrd[ess of where you live, building outdoor projects that
* wi$istand the weather can be a challenge.The minute the
ln terlulerature drops below freeztng,that fint rain or snow hib,
$s or ndhlre nrrns up the heat,your woodworking projecs are
under attack from the elements. As wood expands and
contracts with changes in the weather, these joints often
open up - or blow apart completely.
At first, the problem is cosmetic. But if left alone, it
leads to bigger problems that compromise the structural
integriry of the project.
While you cant do much about the weather, you can
build projects that last. The secret is to use joinery that
defies the elements.Three such joints (the very same ones
we used in our porch project on page 38) are presented here.
Specifically, they are a locking rabbetjoint for the cladding
on the posts, an open mortise and tenon joint for the midcaps,
and a scarfjoint for the fascia and skirt boards
(Illustrution,left).Each of these joints is explained in detail
on the following pages.
Of course, no joint is going to stand up to the weather
unless you use the right adhesive. See the Box below for
three great options for holdingjoints together.
2-PART EPOXY
ADHESIVE
TITEBOND III
WOOD GLUE
POTYURETHANE
GtUE
These three odhesivEs qll help.r"ol"
o weotherproof loint
Iirebond lll foantrorJ is the nqrrcst
oftring. lt dries fost iust like pllor
rvood glue - plus il's wobrproof.
Polyurethone glue fngrrt, tokes
longer tc sel, ond fie glue expcnds,
moking cleonup mossy. But this
exponsion fills gops in ioints, ond
the end result is o superrhong hold.
Epolf Mit the gold stondord
for ouldoor odhesives - the only
downside is fie price. For o lorge
proiect, using epo4y on oll he ioints
is on expensive proposition.
46 woRKBENcH fl tuNn 2004