Regardless of what type of woodworking you do, unless you are specializing in carving, joining two boards will be the most basic task that you will have to do in your projects.
Oftentimes, you will be doing so using screws or nails. After all, when most people imagine putting two boards together, that’s what they imagine. Depending on your application, however, you will also be doing so without screws, for example, using dowels.
In this article, I will take you step-by-step through each of the two methods.
How to Join Two Pieces of Wood with Screws
While there are dozens of ways to join together two pieces of wood, many rely on screws to hold them together. One method is to directly screw them together, while another method involves using brackets to do so.
Here, I’ll look at joining two pieces of wood with screws directly.
What You Will Need
- An impact driver or a drill with bits of different sizes
- A screwdriver bit or a screwdriver
- Screws of the size and length suitable for your project
Step-by-Step Process
Step 1: Using a pencil, mark a cross at the point where you want to screw and fix the two pieces of wood together.
Step 2: Using a drill bit that’s of a similar width to the screw, drill right through the upper piece, starting from the point which you’ve marked with the pencil in Step 1.
Step 3: Next, drill a narrow pilot hole in the lower piece using a smaller drill bit. This pilot hole should not be too deep, and just long enough to start the screw.
Step 4: if using a countersunk screw with a shaped top, use a countersink drill bit to give a space that can fit the screw head.
Step 5: Start tightening the screw with a screwdriver or an impact driver. If using multiple screws, tighten all of them together, little at a time, to avoid twisting or gaps being formed.
Tips & Tricks
- Countersunk screws are the most commonly used screws for wood projects and these can be concealed after being completely screwed in.
- Pozidrive screws are a good option as they are specially hardened and prevent screwdrivers from slipping and damaging the head. Alternatively, consider Phillips screws.
- For hardwood, create pilot holes equal in size to the thread of the screw.
- If using wood screws, coating them in beeswax or soap helps them go into the wood smoother and faster.
- If the screw is bigger than size 6, you’ll need a drill bit to make the pilot hole.
How to Join Two Pieces of Wood Without Screws
When joining two pieces of wood without screws, woodworkers have myriad options, ranging from gluing them together, using dowels, Japanese joints, tabled lap joints, miter-cut scarf joints, and many more.
Dowels are an effective, yet simple way to make glued joints stronger by using small wooden pegs to keep things together. That’s why we’ll focus on that method below.
What You Will Need
- A drill with the right sized bit
- A square
- Wood glue
- Dowels
- Clamps
- Dowel jig (optional)
- Dowel centers (optional)
You can either buy the items separately or get a set like this one.
Step-by-Step Process
Step 1: Align the boards by clamping them together with the sides that will have the holes facing out.
Step 2: Mark the center alignment of where you need the dowels on each board, then mark the center of each dowel on both boards using a square.
Another, easier way to do this is more easily is by using a dowel jig. A dowel jig clamps on to the boards and moves vertically between them, ensuring that the dowel holes are aligned between the boards.
Step 3: Drill holes for the dowels by using the dowel jig’s stop to set the depth of the hole or a drill with a bit of tape wrapped around the upper part of the drill bit.
Step 4: Once you’ve drilled the holes in one board, put the dowel center in the hole and align and press the two boards together. The dowel center will leave a mark at the exact point where you need to drill on the other board. Complete drilling the holes in the second board.
Step 5: Check that the holes are the right size by placing the dowels in the holes and fitting the two boards together without glue. If they fit perfectly, apply glue to the ends of the dowels and insert them into the holes of one board. Then apply some glue along the entire length of the joint on the second board.
Step 6: Once the boards have been attached, clamp them together overnight for the glue to set.
Tips & Tricks
- The depth of the hole should be half the length of the dowel, plus a little extra for glue.
- A jig will help keep your drill bit perpendicular to the board when drilling. This is essential when making dowel joints.
- Selecting the right glue for your project is important as each glue can have varying results, such as drying time and strength.
Summary
Whether you will be joining boards with or without screws, making sure that you follow the right process will be key to forming a solid joint that will last.
If you decide to use screws, the main thing to keep in mind is that before putting your screws in, you should drill pilot holes to protect the wood. In an ideal case, you will want to drill a larger hole in the top piece to avoid the screw from gripping into it, and a smaller hole in the bottom piece. You should also make sure you are using the right type of screw.
Separately, before even committing to screws, you will also want to make sure that nails are not better for your application.
If you decide to join the boards using dowels, make sure that you are using the right-sized ones. Also, do not forget to apply wood glue before finalizing your joint.
Finally, before committing to either of the two, make sure to also consider other methods of joining two boards including Japanese joints and so on.