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Lock joints are a simple way to join two perpendicular pieces of wood, often used in drawer construction. A special router bit is used to cut grooves in each piece, providing good tensile strength. They are easier to create than dovetail joints, but may be less aesthetically pleasing.
A lock joint is a way that two perpendicular pieces of wood can be joined together. It is typically achieved by using a special router bit for locking joints to cut corresponding grooves in each piece of wood involved. This type of joint is often used in drawer construction, where it can provide good tensile strength along the opening axis of the drawer. While a locking joint may provide substantially less structural integrity in side-to-side movement, this is typically not a problem in drawer construction. The lock joint can be contrasted with the dovetail joint, which can be stronger and at the same time more difficult to manufacture.
Lock joints can be relatively simple to create. After the correct router bit has been acquired and installed, it is usually just a matter of running pieces of wood over it correctly. Typically, the pieces that will become the front and back sections of a drawer will be passed horizontally across the router table. This can allow the tip to create the negative space in which to clamp the side pieces.
After the front and back have been cut, the same point can be used on the side pieces. The difference is that the side pieces are slid over the router table either vertically or perpendicular to the surface. This allows the cutter to carve hooks that can lock into grooves on the front and back pieces. In addition to locking well, these cuts can provide a large surface area for applying wood glue.
The oblique locking joint is a variant that combines the oblique joint with the strength of the locking joints. This type of joint involves using a specialized router bit to make 45° miter cuts on each end of the side, front, and back drawer pieces. Like a locking joint, the front and back pieces will have a groove, while the side pieces will have a tongue, so they can be locked together. This can also provide a good bonding surface, similar to other locking joints.
Locking joints may be considered less aesthetically pleasing than dovetail joints, which are also commonly used in drawer construction. Both types of joints can provide good front-to-back strength, while lacking side-to-side integrity. Dovetail joints may be stronger, while lock joints are typically easier to install and take less time to complete.
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