Traditional Joinery is the foundation of heirloom quality furniture
Spiritcraft Design Furniture, Handcrafted one at a time in Crystal Lake, Illinois.
Spiritcraft Design offers quality handcrafted furniture that is designed and made to last for generations. Our furniture is crafted using the finest tradition joinery including mortise and tenon joints, exquisitely crafted dovetails and other time tested fine furniture joinery. Unlike much of what is available from designers and furniture stores, each piece of our fine furniture is handcrafted using joinery that will ensure longevity, function and eye appeal. Some of the joinery methods we employ are detailed below.
Mortise and Tenon Joinery
The most essential joinery method in quality furniture making: Mortise and tenon joinery is commonly called upon in any frame and panel construction (Tables, Chairs, Beds, Casework etc.)
A mortise is a hollowed out recess that mates with a corresponding tenon.
In a through mortise and tenon joint, the tenon passes directly through an open mortise which allows us to wedge the exposed tenon in place.
The blind mortise and tenon utilizes a hidden tenon concealing the joint.
Mortise and tenon joinery is a foundation of quality furniture and this time tested joint can also become an ornate element.
We use mortise and tenon joinery in all of our frame and panel furniture.
Mortise and tenon joinery is a true heirloom quality joint that will stay stable through decades of natural expansion and contraction.
It is not uncommon for even an end table to require dozens of mortise and tenon joints.
In fact, our New Millennium Sideboard requires precisely cutting and fitting over 60 mortise and tenon joints.
That is heirloom quality and nothing else will ensure generations of useful life.
Dovetail Joinery
Dovetail joints are immensely popular, quite pleasing to the eye and a structurally sound joint that can be traced to ancient Egypt. A set of "tails" on one board locks into a set of "pins" on another, forming a durable 90-degree mechanical joint. We use dovetails for our drawer construction in all of our heirloom quality furniture designs. With through dovetails the ends of each board are exposed, whereas half-blind dovetails hide the joint on one face. We use half blind dovetails on most of our drawers and take great care in their artistry and their fitting. In fact, we have a client who still pulls out a drawer on occasion to marvel at the joinery five years after her sideboard was delivered!
Miter Joints
Splined miter joints: A mitered joint is when two boards are each cut, or beveled, at 45 degree angles, then fixed together to meet at a point. Since endgrain acts as a very poor glue surface, additional support is necessary to keep the joint from splitting apart. A splined miter is an attractive way to achieve this structural strength. Splines are small wooden inserts that fit into a saw cut, or kerf, made in the miter. We do use splined miter joints on casework, cabinetry and some furniture frames as this joint is very solid when splined and adds an interesting detail.
Other Time Tested Joinery Methods
Finger and Bridle Joints
The box joint, sometimes called a finger joint, interlocks two boards at a corner. It is similar to a dovetail (with the grain going in the same direction), however, instead of angled tails and pins, box-joint fingers are straight. We use box joints on occasion as they are very strong and often quite attractive.
A bridle joint is similar to a mortise and tenon except that the mortise is cut on the end of the piece. A tenon is cut on the end of one piece and a mortise into the other piece to accept it. This is the distinguishing feature of this joint and it can be very attractive when done precisely. We use Bridle joints on some seating pieces for the exposed frames below the upholstered seat. This is an attractive joint, similar to a through tenon.
The Seasonal Movement of Solid Wood
Wood expands and contracts with changes in relative humidity so, when the air is damp, wood absorbs moisture and expands and when the air is dry, it releases moisture and contracts. A 9"-wide piece of hardwood can expand or contract as much as 1/8" across its width due to seasonal changes in humidity. This natural movement is accounted for in all of the furniture that we make.
Spiritcraft Design Furniture is handcrafted in Crystal Lake, Illinois, we serve the Barrington, Arlington Heights, Algonquin, Libertyville, Long Grove, Vernon Hills, Dundee, Buffalo Grove, Cary and Glenview areas in the Greater Chicago area. We also proudly serve local clients in Southern Wisconsin and national clients throughout the Continental USA.
