Butt Joint
From DT Online
A Butt Joint is a simple coming together of two edges or faces. The joints can be fixed by simply gluing but more often is reinforced or strengthened before doing so. Butt Joints can be used to widen boards, make frames and create carcasses.
Note:
When used to widen boards, Butt Joints are quite often simply glued and this is known as a Rubbed Joint.
Reinforcing Butt Joints
- Nails and Screws
The most common way to reinforce a Butt Joint is simply to nail or screw the two pieces together.
Note:
Nails should be angled or 'Dovetailed' for additional grip and screws should be chosen which are twice the length and a thinner gauge when screwing into End Grain
Where it is not possible to screw directly through one part of the joint to the other (e.g. need to conceal screw heads or lack of access), screws can be sunk into 'Pockets'. These are holes drilled at an angle to the work surface to receive the screw head as shown.
These provide a low cost and quick means of joining together a Butt Jointed frame. They are suitable for coarse joinery work and for assembling frames which are later skinned with Ply, Hardboard, or MDF for example.
Note: Additionally Mitre Joints and some Widening Joints can be categorised as Butt Joints and, as with all others, can also be reinforced with Dowels, Biscuits and Keys.