Amateur mechanics who nail and screw together their woodwork without any pretense at joinery are missing half the fun of woodworking. To make a workmanlike joint - even so simple a joint as a plain rabbeted joint - gives real delight.

You will find many uses for rabbeted joints in making furniture, and, indeed, in all sorts of woodwork. Drawer fronts, for instance, are often rabbeted to take the side pieces, instead of being dovetailed. Sometimes this is called an end-lap joint.

After face-marking the pieces, place one member on the other and even at the end and edges, and make a mark in the inner corner as shown in Fig. 27 at A. Both pieces, it might be well to remind the beginner, should have carefully squared ends.

Remove the vertical member and place the knife in the mark previously made. Then move a try-square against the knife and draw a line across the surface as at B. Continue the line halfway down each edge. On rough work a pencil is used instead of a knife, but it is easier to work accurately to a knife line.

Set a marking gage for whatever amount of end grain is to remain visible in the rabbeted member as at C - this may be one half the thickness, but usually is less. Gage along the end and down to the knife lines along the edges. Place the piece in a vise and cut down on the gage lines with a ripsaw, beginning the cut on the nearer corner as at D. As you proceed with the cutting, bring the saw level.

Lay the piece flat on a bench hook or fasten it in the vise and cut away the surplus wood with a crosscut or backsaw as at E. Beginners usually find it best, and it is always safest, to cut a V-groove with a knife or chisel before making a saw cut of this kind.

Fig. 27. - Rabbeted joints. How to measure and mark the width and depth of the rabbet, saw out the surplus wood, and nail the boards together.

Glue the joint and fasten with plenty of finishing nails or screws as at F, at the same time testing for squareness.