Setting out the Halved Joint.—Although at first sight the halved joint may appear to be a very easy item of construction, it requires much care and attention in marking out and sawing. [Fig. 62] shows the two pieces which form the joint separated, and it will be noticed that each piece of wood has half its thickness cut away, so as to accommodate the other piece. This type of joint is used where two pieces of wood cross each other at right angles, or at an angle as shown in [Fig. 51]. The halving joint is used also for joining two pieces of wood at their ends, as, for instance, the corner of a frame, one half of this joint being shown at [Fig. 65 (B)].
Fig. 63.—How the Timber is Marked.
Fig. 64.—Marking the Joint with Try Square.
To make the joint, the timber should be carefully planed to its exact width and thickness. The two pieces may then be placed upon the bench (as shown at [Fig. 63]) or fixed in the vice.
Find the centre of the timber, C, [Fig. 63], and set out half the width of the wood on each side of the dotted centre line. Thus, suppose the wood (W) to be 2 ins. wide, then set 1 in. on each side of the centre line. Take a square as at [Fig. 64], and with a sharp penknife blade score or cut a line all round each piece of timber.