*that all woodworkers need to know. 

I hope you read this: I'm a 46 year old dude from Amsterdam the Netherlands. I never touched woodworking because of my father. Who was a woodworker! But his gruff way of "non-explaining" how to do things made me hate the whole thing. Watching you, learning from you, is filling in the gaps my late father left behind. And now I'm starting to understand what he was trying to teach me, and why he was doing things the way he wanted me to do it. So, without a doubt, you are helping me understand my father better even when he is no longer around. And I thank you for it... It's meaningful to me.

I'm very much a casual wood worker and I think an idea people need to keep in mind is to creep up to your lines. Once you master this skill most joints become much easier because I think that's where most people's problems come in.

I've been using the half dovetail joint for 50 years making reproduction furniture and cabinetry and never had one to fail me. I also make a reproduction 1774 tavern step stool with thru dovetails on the top and the sides and then a half dovetail joint brace between the sides. Sold 100's of them and never had a failure. Anyone getting into woodworking and joinery should watch this video. Simple and straight forward. Thanks for sharing.

Your commitment to detail in discussing this "basic joint" was both refreshing and welcome. I really appreciated this video and hope to see more just like it.

This brought back memories working with my dad on a popsicle stick bridge back in my youth. We had 100 popsicle sticks to build with and my dad being a carpenter had lots of wood glue. We built a bridge that could stand 400lbs of weight as well as 2 grown men standing on the weight pulling down. The bridge only broke when they started jumping on the weight. Needless to say I earned my plaque on the trophy that year and learned the strength of glued sticks and clamps. One of, if not my favorite memory growing up.

Monkeys, wasps and spiders can cut straighter than me ... but Rex, I'll give this a go😊

Reminds me of how my woodshop teacher 40 years ago worked and taught us monkeys. Thanks for keeping the craftmanship alive.

The workshop, lighting, videography, and editing look great. We noticed.

The dovetail could well be weaker than the plain half lap. The compressive forces concentrate at the inside lower corner, causing the upper inside corner to pry apart. Wood is weak in tension across the grain. The plain half lap distributes the compressive forces more evenly. There is less twist exerted on the upper inside corner. Flipping the dovetail edge to the top might make it more resistant to downward force. The occurrence up upward shock would be mighty rare. Yes, the joint survived, even though there was a wood failure that would make it more susceptible to a second shock. But in a controlled test I suspect that the plain half lap would require much more force to fail regardless of orientation. I was really glad to see this test!!

18:55 There’s an alternative to this, which I learned from watching a Japanese RU-vidr. It’s called kigoroshi, and the technique is to use repeated, careful mallet blows to actually compress the wood of the tenon (or equivalent) so that it will fit without being trimmed to the exact size right size. (It does have to be close, though.) After compression, water or glue is applied and the joint is assembled. The water (or water from the glue) will then be absorbed by the compressed part, causing it to expand and lock the joint together. I’m eager to try this myself, because it seems like it would make a *really* strong joint.

Damn, the angled halflap dovetail joint looks doable and still 100% rock solid. This is a joy to watch.

You're an awesome instructor. This requires not only mastery of the skills you are teaching, but also mastery of the language you teach in. Everything is articulated so well.

I am building a pre-war timber framed car. Had no idea how before I started (and information on traditional coachbuilding is hard to find) so I thought I better learn some woodworking which is how I found your channel. Ended up all I needed was fairly simple half lap and spline joints. But these sort of 'simple' films are super useful for even basic woodwork. They've definitely helped me be a better minimal woodworker!

As someone who has been doing this sort of work recently to make shop/garage furniture I say: The most important part of this video is the initial planing of a face and truing of an edge. Also, notice rex is using a big marking gauge, unlike those smaller wheel ones, as those will wobble and not give good results on raw construction lumber because of the rounded corners. If your marks are not accurate it doesn't matter how accurate your cuts are.

This is more important than people may think starting out. Secretly hidden in the value of a half-lap are detailed examples of how to prep, how to mark, how to saw and how to clean up a joint. I think it's good you left out measuring because that's a whole skill set by itself.

I love how natural the recording is. Even with mic failure and single camera view this video is interesting to watch. And thank you for showing this options. I'm not even in woodworking and enjoyed whole part.

You are clearly a student of Paul Sellers, using many of his tools and techniques and phrases like 'knife wall'. He would be proud of your flattery.

Rex, this was really nicely done. All of this stuff seems completely obvious, but it really isn’t. There are a lot of little details that you did a masterful job of covering.

Wow I've been making half lap joints when I started framing houses at 14. I had to build saw horses with no help from anyone part of the new guys job. They're not hard If you're having trouble making a half lap joint you need to step back and figure out what you're doing wrong. Slow down and just get the job done. Remember, slow down to go fast That's how it all works slow down means you learn. To go fast means you have been doing it for a while. Now I know somebody's going to read this comment and think I'm an ass. But where I come from. That's a compliment. Thank you. Bring it.

I recently made 2 pocket joints with nothing but a coping saw and a chisel. I'm not a carpenter. But they were tight, very precise and easy to make. I got my inspiration from Crimson Guitars.

Rex, you’ve done many fine videos over the years but this one is your best work yet! It’s exactly what I need and I’m sure others will agree. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience.

Oh man I ve missed these sort of videos from you Rex!

"Thank you!", Mr. Krueger! So good to know, & not so hard a monkey like me can't do it. Or, as some say, "you can do it!" Have a GREAT day, Neighbor!

Even if you are not building anything that requires a half lap creating this joint is a great way to relieve stress. I do it all the time

Paul Sellers also recomends filing joinery saws rip. That always seemed awkward to me, until I started working with hardwoods. Small crosscut saws are onyl really useful for softwood I discovered.

You’ve taken me back to the very little woodwork I “learned” in school! I so wish I’d paid more attention… I’ve come back into woodworking solely from the aim of making electric guitars, but the ‘orthodox’ side of the craft is very useful indeed! I’ve spent a year off with a broken arm that won’t heal - I’m getting a plate finally put in next month, so a bit of rehab and I’ll be back to work… at last!

I did not think I needed to watch this video (seemed to simple), but I was wrong, and I was doing things that were not the best way to do it. I have learn quite a bit. Thanks Rex

Best WOodworker on youtube..

Yea, I built your English Joiner's bench during the first lockdown. I built it on the kitchen table and assembled it in the spare room down the hall after removing the carpet. Bought an old Record 52 on eBay for €25 and I was all set. It's definitely a great option for beginners, and it's held up fantasticly so far.

Thanks I learned several things, including on how to use my marking tool etc.! It really helps to "see" your attitude, planning and example as you work.

such a solid video of essential fundamentals, good job man, I never get tired of seeing someone do great work

My favourite joint. I made a huge garden gate last week with 6 halflap joints. Yay

I find it funny you uploaded this now. I just watched the original bench video yesterday and am really considering building it! Would you be will to do a video where you analyze some joints and see which might be good or bad for a workbench? I built a bench using a castle joint just because I thought the joint looks cool but not sure if its a bad joint for a work bench.

I love your videos like this where you break it down so simply and into easy steps! In my experience in working with woodworkers less experienced than me (and memories of my early woodworking) they see us do these cuts and joints and it just looks so easy. They think they should be able to be successful first try! But they forget they need to get some cheap wood and make a bunch of practice cuts and improve their saw techniques.

Monkey see, monkey do - thank you for this! :) 👍

Great in-depth video and explanation!!! The only thing is to keep in mind that the operations require a certain amount of patience!! I always fight against the urge to get things done too quickly, doesn’t always work!!!

Rex, I like your style. Explaining very well, without any Bravado. I also see that you are aquatinted with Paul Sellers, another of my woodworking mentors. Thank You!

hey cool channel. appreciate the hand tool usage, helps those of us with less expensive equipment and smaller workshop get some projects done 👍

this is why i watch your videos.. truly excellent foundational information.. yes, I can build fancy things occasionally, and yes I know how to use my tools, but damn, there's so many things I dont know, and this video has a bunch of gold

Your videos are always a breath of fresh air. No over-priced machinery, all common sense and instructions based on actual experience. I bought the Compass Rose router plane kit several months ago. I was in the market, but didn't want a plane that looked like it was from outer space nor did I want a cheap plane from an unknown entity. I got frustrated looking for an older model. It's beautiful and works perfectly. I used a simple tung oil/wax finish on it. Thx.

Such a well executed presetation Rex! Very enjoyable to watch that refreshes way back when I was at colledge of furniture in the 70's London. UK 😀

I love your videos, I am just getting into woodworking, so I am hungry to get info,I am on the tools purchase mission,so your advice is appreciated. What I like about your videos is that you have not forgotten we were all beginners once

As a former software engineer, what I've noticed in cutting that exact halflap for a trailer fence is that the muscle memory, strength, and the practice of using the saw is far different for us newblet schlubs than it is when a professional like Rex or Paul do the exact same thing, it's like watching the Olympics of wood cutting and then trying to match it. I know Rex has had his editor(?) do a cut before to show that even newbs can do it, and I also know Rex has shown stuff being done with a commodity saw as well, but in the end what I find makes my joints a bit better is not just doing a knife wall to start my saw cut, but also having a knife wall going down both sides of my cut helps keep the saw on track as well. Even then muscle tracking for me isn't as straight, nor is my chisel work, and when you're relying on 5 surfaces to all be accurate as in the non-dovetail halflap, then your opportunity for error quintuples. All that being said, my trailer fences on my second set of them are holding up remarkably better than the first set I made... but the wood filler is definitely chipping out, and if I hadn't driven in two 1 3/4" screws I'm sure they'd have failed.

Excellent tuition

Love the premise "I should not tell you its easy, I should make it easy" and also rest of the video is also great.

Oh god I dove again for 30+minutes into one of your videos without realizing it ! Damn !

I used the wedge joint on my first bench.... excellent result!.... thank you for sharing

I had this Video Pop Up on RU-vid and decided to watch it. I’m glad I did. I don’t do any Woodworking unless I just need to repair a Bench or something made out of Wood. I have been wanting to build a nice Workbench, some Shelving, Carts and other things. I just didn’t really Trust the sturdiness if it wasn’t done correctly. I Subscribed and plan on joining your Patreon Channel. I like how you take your Time to show how you make the Cuts, the marking of the Cuts, and Trimming to Fit. This was a very well put together Video, and I feel like following your advice on things that I will be able to do it. You really got my interest in Woodworking Peaked.👍👍

I made Rex's English Joiner's bench years ago and it's still one of my favorite things on Earth. Get the plans, build the bench.

I built my first workbench a year ago, a kind of hybrid design that is mostly a Nicholson bench. I did half-lap joints for most of the joinery (the full version, with the interlocking components) and I made every mistake a monkey could make. For instance, the trick of making the joint deliberately too tight and then planing the intersecting surface did not occur to me, obvious though it may be, so instead I made the joints too tight and then tried to trim down the shoulder a micron at a time (by cross-cutting on my table saw). Of course I overdid it once or twice and had to re-cut a piece. Also, I didn't have a router plane (still don't), so getting the cheeks perfectly flat was pretty much impossible; I had to settle for 'flat enough.' Doing through-tenons for the stretchers seemed too ambitious, so I did the poor-workman's version: cut half-laps in each half of a leg, creating a rectangular tenon when I glued the halves together. The resulting bench definitely looks amateurish when I compare it to a lot of the workbench porn here on RU-vid, but I'm still very happy with it. It is absolutely rock-solid, I cannot rock it or twist it in any direction by any perceptible amount at all. Oh, and I checked out an old workbench at the North Haven (Maine) historical society museum, the bench was used for 80 years to build wooden boats Back In The Day...and it was beat all to hell by the end of its days but was still doing its job long after the man who built it was dead and gone, so who cares if mine doesn't look great? I mention all of this because: (1) Thank you, Rex, for saying in an earlier video that if you need a workbench just go ahead and get started, don't keep dithering about what kind and don't worry about making it perfect because I don't have the skills yet to make it perfect. All of that was great advice. (You also said to expect to build another one someday when you have better skills, but I don't think I'll have to. I think this bench will last the rest of my life, and that whoever ends up with it after me will be able to use it for several more decades, if they don't mind how it looks). Also (2) anyone else who has read this far: you can do it. You don't have to just use hand tools like Rex does, use whatever works. But think it through. You know that thing about 'measure twice, cut once'? Terrible advice. 'Think three times, measure twice, sneak up on the cut', that's my version. Thinking is the key. Most of my mistakes were not physical ones, they were conceptual...including boneheaded things like cutting the wrong face of a workpiece. (3) As long as I'm giving advice, here's one more for newbies like me: don't be in a hurry. If you only have fifteen minutes and you want to make some progress, sharpen a chisel or lay out something but don't actually make the cut. At my level and probably yours, you need more time than you think to even do simple stuff.

I don't know if I'll ever make joints like this by hand, but this was very well done. Step by little step. Everything clearly explained.

Long time viewer, infrequent commenter here: I love your channel! It inspires me to get out there and MAKE stuff. And you teach me how to do it, as well. Thank you, much love!

ha! too late for me rex! I just did this last week and did my half laps with table saw, they needed a good amount of construction adhesive :)

Nothing at all wrong with half lap joints. Especially the full (2 sided) half laps as shown. And the perfect companion for half laps or even full tenons is a large'ish sole router plane. After I made and used my first router plane I wondered why I had not gotten one a couple of decades earlier. Just SOO much easier and accurate. Anyway, a great video on a basic but totally useable joint

A nifty trick I found for making sure you stay perpendicular @11:30 in your cut: Look at the reflection of the wood on the plate of the saw. If a strait board looks kinked where it meets your saw, you aren't perpendicular!

Beginner tip to accompany this video: if you notice how he grips his saw he keeps his index finger straight as opposed to wrapping it around the handle. This is key for maintaining control of the cut. For whatever reason if you wrap the index finger your cuts can get off track much easier. If he said this in the video I missed it, but it’s a good tip for keeping a straight cut.

The half-lap joint in furniture is often concealed under the top on tables with drawers in the front. The apron may be composed of up to four pieces. The upper piece spans the distance across the legs and may be set into the top of the leg using a dove tail. It's odd because it is a face-grain tail set into an end-grain mortise cut in the upper end of the leg.

Glad to see you doing better Rex. Thanks for your time and wisdom.

Rex, this is really a great instructional video. Keep up the excellent work sir.

For #4, what you have is actually better in resisting downward force. You will effective the same cross section as if nothing was cut away since the dove tail shoulder is in compression with the wood. If you flip it, your cross section is smaller because you are relying on the glue to make up for the cross section. Wedging action is the same (mechanically) on both sides. It’s also important to note that the material removed to make the dove tail create a stress concentration at the 90° angle if you flip it. It’s less of an issue the way you had it because the shoulder is in compression.

I'm mounting a motor to a cider press grinder via a worm gear speed reducer. The motor will be mounted 90° off-axis from the grinder. I made a 45° tongue and groove test miter, and couldn't break it. I can apply what I learned from this video to make the joinery more precise. Thank you!

Hadn’t seen the half dovetail. Interesting that the direction makes a difference.

I've seen several of your videos but haven't for a few months. I don't know what it is but the whole production value and your presentation on this video is so much better. Keep it up.

I used carriage bolts on the half lap joints of my workbench that lives in my unheated garage in northern Vermont. Each spring I tighten the nuts, and they are good for the season.

I have done some simple diy deck and shed construction with some timber framing methods that used half laps to connect posts to beams. What I learned was that joints can become quite inaccurate if your lumber isn’t square. If you have twists or bows or if you have knots in your wood that result in inconsistent thickness in your lumber, using squares to mark layouts will not result in square cuts. So when you need to cut any kind of lap joints - half lap or cross lap- or even if you want to mark and cut square, You should at least check if your lumber dimensions are irregular. You probably don’t need to plane an entire piece, but sometimes it helps to plane or use other methods to prepare the dimensions and faces of your lumber around the cut areas so you can get properly fitting joints.

Just finished my first project, it had a few of these. Didn't know what they were called but let me tell you, the first few that I cut were a travesty haha. Definitely got easier by the the time i got to the 4th one

Comes at a right time as I was wondering about the best joint for a frame for a screen. This overlap fits the job, strong enough, less skill intensive. I see that you also has your own way to saw. I think that praticing sawing is the key to find what suits someone. After trying quite different techniques, I was able to feel that sawing from the sitting position with a japanese saw is the way for me. Just feels natural and more stable, even without a workbench. Most important thing to remember : let the saw follows its track with gentle touch. Brute force is useless. I also found that the blade of a japanese saw doesn't really follow its track once I take a break. So sawing in one go is key apparently. Well, just pratice like you mentioned again.

My wild Friday night. Daughter/SIL gave baby a bath, we did take out and now, Rex!! WHOOT WHOOT

Used a lapped dovetail on a brace under the plywood top of my model railroad framing along with other joinery. It is/was my first project with joinery and I dedicated it to my joiner/builder/cratemaker ancestors and my father.

One thought on trimming either side of the half lap so it fits into the other is taking the fine shavings off of one side and then the other. I realize it’s so fine that it wouldn’t be noticeable but just a nice practice in keeping the piece symmetrical. Small issue in that we’re talking about a 1/1000 of an inch.

Half lap joints are great. Easy, simple and quick and perfect for when all the force is going to be against the shoulders and you don’t expect there to be any twisting. Like a shelf support.

@RexKrueger Why is woodwork so calming and fulfilling?

You seem to have a very neat set of basic tools behind you. Wish I could arrange my shed like that it’s 6ftx8ft

Practice is key. Now I'm still young and lack a true workshop setup which is sacrificing a lot of accuracy on my projects because of the lack of room, but that's why I do little projects to help improve my skills. I got knowledge all across the trades, but that experience makes all the difference and doing little projects still improves your skills

Add angled dowels and you may forget about glue ;) It will become self-locking mechanical joint!

“This joint came together so tightly, it didn’t even need a clamp. But I put one on anyway because I’m insecure.” I too have messed up so many times that I won’t be tricked even when it looks perfect.

This video gives Paul Sellers vibes, in sum, great video!!

I use the dovetailed half lap all the time it holds good I just use 2 to 3 dowls and glue to finish it off to add to the appeal 👍 I allso bevle bolth sides and bevle them a little less thanks again

I just built the joiners bench and I'm loving it. I still need to add the half lap crosses so this is perfect for me :) I made some modifications to the original design as well and just did it by watching the videos. I'm thinking for fun I should try doing the sunk half lap joint and adding it to the back beam as well. Though I was wondering about adding a shelf to the bench too. Fun stuff thanks Rex.

Another great video. A lot of useful details as usual. Thanks!

There are clever little details usefull for other things.Even if I knew how to / made this type of joints before.

I think Rex really just wanted to show his new bad axe saw.

I used half laps when i built my bookbinding bench on your recommendation from the English bench video. I didnt even use glue, just screws, because i needed it to come apart for a move. Its really solid, no movement at all even with my iffy joinery and cheap lumber.

these videos are just getting better and better. I've learned so much. thank you

You mentioned adding two screws and you re correct, while I’m sitting here thinking three dowels all the way through are aesthetically appealing and likely stronger yet. Cheers.

Thanks Rex, you're a great instructor, offering tons of detailed explanations and encouragement in a judgement free style.

You have a real gift for making these sorts of videos. Very clear and easy to understand and enjoyable to watch!

Good call on the acoustic panels. Your audio is great :D

Thanks for all your time and effort.

This is a wonderfully executed master class on the half lap joint! I really hope you make this a series on different joints and their strengths and weaknesses. I very much enjoy your work and look forward to seeing your videos when they drop.

New shop is looking good. Always glad to see new content from you. Cheers!

The wood at the end getting damaged takes a LOT of acceleration off the joint when you hit it with a hammer. It's basically like the crush zone of a car. Even just taking that impact over a tiny fraction of a second drastically reduces acceleration.

Damn that's clean. I am currently struggling with even cutting straight, so I'm working on that now and hoping I can get to your level one day

An easier way is to use 2 1x4 pieces & glue them together with the notch provide you need. No need to use handsaw to cut the notch, and usually 1x4 do not have rounded edges like standard 2x4's do. For glue just use Titebond 2 or Titebond 3 which will bond the pieces stronger than the wood itself. You can also add some fastners (wood screws, brad nails) to hold the two pieces together while the dry. You can also make box joints by stacking 3 or more 1x4 if you need super strong joints. Your welcome!

not interested in the content but have to give a positive comment about the formatting of the thumbnail/video title with the asterisk - genius

Rex does us all a great service. Your videos are much appreciated Rex thanks

Thank you for a nice detailed video

I haven't used winding sticks since i was in school woodwork lessons 50 years ago.

I kept thinking, just take the 2x4 over to the tablesaw! Thanks for the lesson, I learned of better tools for marking cut lines.

Very informative video, Rex. Thank you for sharing.