“Fundamentals of Hand Tool Joinery” covers three essential families of joints: the workhorse housing joints — rabbets, grooves, dadoes, and sliding dovetails — which are the backbone of frame-and-panel and casework construction; the mortise-and-tenon family in its many variations, from basic through-tenons to bridle joints and wedged tenons; and the dovetail in its full range, including the half-blind dovetail that defines drawer construction in period furniture. Along the way, Bill shares the fitting sequences, troubleshooting approaches, and shop-floor judgment that only come from cutting these joints day in and day out.

Whether you're new to hand tools or looking to deepen your understanding of how furniture actually goes together, this course offers a rare window into a living craft tradition.

What You'll Learn

•  How to lay out and cut rabbets, grooves, and through and stopped dadoes
•  The mechanics of sliding dovetails — both through and tapered — and how to fit them for a precise, no-play connection
•  How to chop clean mortises and saw consistent tenons, and the fitting sequence that brings the two together
•  The logic behind bridle joints, half-laps, double tenons, and angled tenons — when to reach for each and how to execute them
•  How to approach wedged and through tenons for both structural and decorative effect
•  How to cut through and half-blind dovetails.

 
Approximate running time: 3 hours