Bench work & joints · National 5
Carcase joints
7 cards · 4 quiz · 0 exam
Practical Woodworking · National 5 · mrkellydt.co.uk
What you're learning in this topic
Learning intention WALT
We are learning about carcase joints, specifically to:
know
- butt, corner rebate, through housing, stopped housing and dowel joints
understand
- the stages in cutting a stopped housing
be able to
- choose a carcase joint for a situation
Success criteria WILF
- I can identify butt, corner rebate, through housing, stopped housing and dowel joints
- I can describe the stages in cutting a stopped housing
- I can choose a carcase joint for a situation
What is a carcase?
A carcase is a box-like construction made from wide boards, like a cabinet, bookcase, drawer or storage box. Joints must hold the boards square and carry shelves.
Carcase joints
| Joint | Notes |
|---|---|
| Butt | Simple but weak; needs nails, screws, dowels or blocks |
| Corner rebate (lap) | A rebate in one board takes the end of the other: better glue area, hides some end grain, quick to cut |
| Through housing | A groove across one board takes a shelf; the joint shows at the front |
| Stopped housing | The groove stops short of the front edge, so the joint is hidden: neater, more work |
| Dowel | Dowels in the edge and face; strong and hidden; needs accurate drilling |
Cutting a stopped housing (stages)
- Mark the shelf position across the board with a try square and marking knife, using the shelf to get the width.
- Gauge the depth (about one third of the board thickness) and the stop on the front.
- Chop out a small recess at the stopped end with a chisel so the saw has room to move.
- Saw down both sides of the housing to the depth line with a tenon saw.
- Remove the waste with a chisel, then level the bottom with a hand router.
- Cut a notch in the front of the shelf to fit the stop, and test the fit.
Choosing a carcase joint
- Shelves: through housing (quick) or stopped housing (hidden).
- Corners of a box: corner rebate or dowel.
- Manufactured boards (chipboard, MDF) suit dowels and knock-down fittings better than traditional joints, because their edges crumble.
Key terms
| Carcase | A box-like construction made from wide boards |
|---|---|
| Through housing | Groove across a board for a shelf; shows at the front |
| Stopped housing | Groove stops short of the front, so it's hidden |
| Corner rebate | A rebate in one board takes the end of the other |
| Tool to level the bottom of a housing | Hand router |
| Housing depth | About one third of the board thickness |
| Joint suited to chipboard | Dowels or knock-down fittings |
Quick check
1. Which housing joint can't be seen from the front?
- Stopped housing
- Through housing
- Corner rebate
- Butt
Show answer
A: Stopped housing. The groove stops short of the front edge.
2. Why chop a recess at the end of a stopped housing first?
- To make the housing deeper
- To give the saw room to move
- To hold extra glue in the joint
- To decorate the end of the joint
Show answer
B: To give the saw room to move. The saw can't run out of the stopped end.
3. Which joint is best for the corners of a simple box?
- Mortise and tenon
- Cross halving
- Corner rebate
- Bridle
Show answer
C: Corner rebate. Corner rebate is a carcase corner joint.
4. Which board joins best with dowels rather than housings?
- Pine
- Oak
- Beech
- Chipboard
Show answer
D: Chipboard. Chipboard edges crumble when cut into joints.
Printable worksheet
An I do, we do, you do worksheet for this topic, with a separate answer sheet.