Best use of a tongue and groove joint

They are sometimes used in the backs of cabinets…

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

I used tongue and groove for the bottom of this serving tray because it was only 3/8” thick. Too thin for bisquits, dowels or just edge glueing.

-- I have metal in my neck but wood in my blood!!

either that or a loose spline along the length every time you want to make
a wider board than you have avable
the comerciel factory´s even use a zig-zag gluing to lenghten boards with

Dennis

niice tray Tim :-)

I like them because they allow for some movement of the wood and are usually quite cheap. If you use biscuits there’s usually glue involved. No movement within that joint. Another advantage is that you don’t have to handle giant sheet good.

From a what’s-best-point-of-view I’d say it’s (veneered) plywood and tons of glue.

Haha … just checked Wikipedia: “For many uses, tongue and groove boards have been rendered obsolete by the introduction of plywood and later composite wood boards …”

Best use I ever put T&G to was for concealing an unneeded door from the back. I turned the whole oversize doorframe into a shoe cabinet for my beloved wife …...... I know I asked for it … No way you could have made that with a sheet of ply, well, you could … but I didn’t want that hurricane emergency style in my living-room. I like it for looks :-)

-- Alex ----- Bavaria in Germany

My dad used it for siding on his barn, but that was before plywood was commonly used.

-- "some old things are lovely, warm still with life ... of the forgotten men who made them." - D.H. Lawrence

Thanks a lot everyone! I really appreciate your responses.

I have been “allowed” a new router bit(s) so was contemplating the t&g and trying to think what I’d possibly use it for but I think I’ll go with a rail and style pair so I have it when I make some cabinets.

You guys are great as always!

BTW: Tim that’s a beautiful tray. What’s the wood?

-- Chris ~~Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past."

Thanks Dennis and Chris!!! I have it listed in my projects as “Spalted Pecan Serving Tray”. I need to add better pics, like this one, to that project page but haven’t got around to it. Thanks again!!!

-- I have metal in my neck but wood in my blood!!

Chris, save yourself some money and don’t buy a T&G set. It’s not really needed unless you’re doing production work like flooring. You can do T&G with a straight bit very easily. Spend that money on a good rail and style set instead!!!

-- I have metal in my neck but wood in my blood!!

Chris,

I occasionaly make lazy susans (when I have a gift that needs to be special) and I use t&g joints to join the 4 pieces of the bottom because they make glueing 4 pie-shaped wedges so easy I don’t have to use clamps. Done well, they make an interesting feature on the edge. Tim’s right. Use a straight bit and save money. Stunning tray, Tim.

Steve

-- Steve in KY. 44 years so far with my lovely bride. Think I'll keep her.

I don’t have a biscuit joiner but I do have a straight bit, so when others might use a biscuit I use T&G.

-- Shameless - Winner of two Stumpy Nubs Awards

One other thing, a well made t&g joint will perfectly align the faces, and add a lot of extra glue area. They’re a little fiddly to set up, but when right, you can do them all day long and they make things so much simpler.

Steve

-- Steve in KY. 44 years so far with my lovely bride. Think I'll keep her.

Steve – Good idea as a present. Do you use any hardware for the rotating mechanism? Marbles? Dowel in hole?

I don’t understand what you would need any pie-shaped wedges with T&G for … any photos?

-- Alex ----- Bavaria in Germany

Not my favourite topic at the moment as I have been replacing rotten tongue & groove floorboards all week. Great idea when you’re laying a new floor, not so great to pull out and replace individual boards, grrr.

I like tongue and groove because you can execute them with cool tongue and groove planes. :)

-- My dad and I built a 65 chev pick up.I killed trannys in that thing for some reason-Hog