Joining

A product is rarely made from a single piece of material. Sooner or later parts must be held together, and how they are joined decides whether the product is strong, whether it can be taken apart for repair, and how it looks. Joining is the craft of bringing materials together permanently or temporarily using the right joint, fastener, adhesive or heat process for the materials and the demands placed on them.

This note covers joining across woods, metals and polymers: framing and carcase joints in wood; the difference between permanent and temporary joints; pre-manufactured components and fasteners such as screws, bolts, rivets and knock-down fittings; adhesives matched to each material; and the heat processes of soldering, brazing and welding. It explains how to choose, because a join that is strong in one situation is wrong in another.