How would you join three pieces of wood, all at 90 degrees from each other (like 3 axis in 3D)
How would you join three pieces of wood, all at 90 degrees from each other (like 3 axis in 3D)? I was thinking a half-lap for two (making an X) but was stumped by how to join the third piece (practically speaking, it’ll probably be a half-piece going out one direction, and another half-piece going out the other).
See attached for an image.
Replies
This link might help. Not quite what you are after but it shows the sort of proportions you are likely to need to make it robust. This version is also stronger because it allows half the wood to be used.
I would advise making the legs first and testing with an MDF top to ensure they will hold the design load if you want them to be as thin for their length as you have drawn.
Make sure you fix the top to the legs securely or you will certainly break the centre joint as it is at massive mechanical disadvantage otherwise.
https://arivinghome.wordpress.com/tag/tripod-table/
If you do want to have an exact meet, as you have drawn, you could half-lap two of the legs then mortice and tenon the other leg in from both sides in two pieces as fully through tenons. Your joints will need to be very accurate and the wood clean and strong - even so you will be depending on less than 1/3 of each piece to do the job and it will probably fail over time unless the legs are thicker. Cut the tenons so that the inner faces match and touch each-other. This would allow for the glue to strengthen the joint rather than weaken it.
It is also possible to create a compound lap joint that will take all three pieces I think, though I was not able to find a convincing link to show how. This would still suffer from the issue of not having more than 1/3 of each leg being through timber, but would be slightly stronger than mortice and tenon joinery. Probably not enough to be worth it - the total amount of timber in the joint is exactly a cube of the leg stock regardless of how you cut the joinery.
Whatever you choose to do, please post the solution you end up with!
It also depends on what the table will be used for. If it is a dining table, I wouldn't use the leg arrangement you've shown. It will be very apt to tip over.
I could not find the exact joint; doesn't mean that it's undoable or necessarily weak.
Lookup:
http://jmbh.org/Dremel/DIY%20Books/Woodwork%20Joints.pdf
e-book of Woodworking Joints
The joints illustrated (also see page 135 -) may give you an idea of how to approach this joint.
You might also find what you're looking for on the pages of these resources:
The Complete Japanese Joinery ISBN: 978-0-88179-121-1
and
The Art of Japanese Joinery: ISBN: 978-0-8348-1516-2
So, apparently, it's Chinese joinery (according to FWW'ing), I thought it was Japanese. https://www.finewoodworking.com/2017/05/31/interlocking-chinese-joinery
There's def some cool Japanese/Chinese joinery for 3 way joints.
This is the how-to for that joint, https://www.finewoodworking.com/2012/05/31/super-strong-3-way-miter?source=w1722enl&tp=i-H43-BC-3Jb-BTNvg-1o-1Gd8-1c-BTNvf-pflqC&utm_campaign=fine-woodworking-eletter&utm_source=eletter&utm_medium=eletter&utm_content=fw_eletter&cid=12747&mid=169543196.
You could half-lap 2 first, mortise the 3rd on 2 sides so it slides down over the other two. Careful, it's possible to lose track of the length on the 3rd.
Mikaol
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