Joints

A telltale sign of quality furniture is what kind of joints are used to combine the different wood elements. Avoid furniture that uses simple butt joints, where two pieces of wood are glued or nailed edge to edge without overlapping. These joints will not stand the test of time, let alone the rigors of everyday use. Look for these 5 basic joints when shopping for wood furniture:

• Dovetail or English dovetail joints are widely considered the mark of quality drawer construction. When done properly, this joint "locks" drawer fronts in place, preventing loosening through many years of use.
• Mortise-and-tenon joints are often used to join rails to side members in chests and dressers. This strong joint is also used to join key pieces of chair frames.
• Dowel joints are very common in furniture construction. This joint involves gluing a dowel or peg, usually made of hardwood, into a pre-drilled hole to connect two pieces of wood.
• Tongue-and-groove joints are often used to make a strong flat surface as well as to attach drawer fronts. When glued properly, these joints are very strong.
• Corner blocks are used to help hold together joints at the greatest point of strain. An example of this is where seat rails of chairs join the posts.