two types of joint

Any simple thing can be done in a variety of ways, so there is no shortage of opportunity for making things different, in a personal style and in a manner comfortable to your own working conditions. I am working on a new book about making small cabinets and the photo above shows two types of joint that do exactly the same thing. One is done using a biscuit joiner and the other, a blind mortise and tenon joint, is formed using table saw and router table. Each is equally effective. I am currently adding a third joint to the mix, a through wedged joint. The woods used here in making small spice cabinets are cherry and basswood, and the woods themselves offer new options for personal expression.

A third type of cabinet joint is shown below, an exposed mortise and tenon, which will be locked in place with walnut wedges in the finished cabinet. I will also do a doweled joint on another cabinet, using this first chapter to set an example for what readers can do with the rest of the book.