A finger joint on a door is a type of wood joint where pieces of wood are interlocked together using a series of cuts that resemble interlaced fingers. This technique is used to join shorter pieces of wood to create longer, more stable pieces.
Understanding Finger Joints
How They Look
As the provided video reference explains, a finger joint gets its name from its appearance. When the joint is formed, the wood sections look like "someone's fingers intertwined right next to their other fingers" (0:02).
Purpose
- Extending Wood Length: Finger joints primarily allow manufacturers to use shorter lengths of wood, which would otherwise be discarded, to create long pieces necessary for door frames and other building components.
- Increased Strength: These joints create a strong bond between the wood pieces, making the resulting piece as strong, if not stronger, than a solid piece of lumber.
- Reducing Waste: This process minimizes wood waste and helps make more sustainable use of timber resources.
- Cost-Effectiveness: Utilizing smaller pieces of wood reduces overall material costs.
Advantages
- Strength and Stability: The interlocking finger design provides a strong and stable joint, resistant to bending and warping.
- Longer Lumber from Short Pieces: Finger joints are the most effective method of using shorter pieces to produce a longer piece of lumber.
- Economical: By using smaller wood remnants, finger joints make wood products more cost-effective.
Where You Might Find Finger Joints
Finger joints are common in a variety of wood products, including:
- Door frames and door components
- Window frames
- Mouldings
- Laminated beams
Summary
In essence, a finger joint on a door is a method of joining wood pieces that resembles interlocked fingers, increasing the length, strength and sustainability of the resulting piece. This method is used to create door components, frames and other wood structures.
