Uploaded June 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
A butt joint is basically one board pushed up against another.This is a butt joint. And this is a butt joint.The secret is where the grain lies.
Butt joints are some of the easiest joints you can put together in woodworking. There’s no cutting needed, and you can even build them without glue.
But the real kicker? It’s considered one of the strongest—or one of the weakest—joints, depending entirely on how the boards are joined.
With Butt Joint A, both grains run in the same direction. Gluing or screwing these two pieces together is just like building a tabletop. The boards expand and contract together during seasonal changes. And when it’s glued? That long grain bond is so strong, the wood will usually break before the joint does. This joint is incredibly solid.
With Butt Joint B, everything changes. Now you’re fighting end grain—open pores that soak up glue and offer little holding power for screws. But even worse, the grain directions fight each other. When the wood moves, one board tries to shift while the other holds firm. A glued joint here doesn’t flex—it resists. That tension can lead to cracks, splits, or outright failure over time. This kind of butt joint needs glue sizing.
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A butt joint is basically one board pushed up against another.This is a butt joint. And this is a butt joint.The secret is where the grain lies.
Butt joints are some of the easiest joints you can put together in woodworking. There’s no cutting needed, and you can even build them without glue.
But the real kicker? It’s considered one of the strongest—or one of the weakest—joints, depending entirely on how the boards are joined.
With Butt Joint A, both grains run in the same direction. Gluing or screwing these two pieces together is just like building a tabletop. The boards expand and contract together during seasonal changes. And when it’s glued? That long grain bond is so strong, the wood will usually break before the joint does. This joint is incredibly solid.
With Butt Joint B, everything changes. Now you’re fighting end grain—open pores that soak up glue and offer little holding power for screws. But even worse, the grain directions fight each other. When the wood moves, one board tries to shift while the other holds firm. A glued joint here doesn’t flex—it resists. That tension can lead to cracks, splits, or outright failure over time. This kind of butt joint needs glue sizing.
Check out my other channel! → @makethingswithrob
Become a patron! → patreon.com/makethings ←
Huge thank you to my patrons that keep this thing going!
*MAKER TEAM*
Michelle B
Keith Current
William L McNally
Rich Lightfoot
Tutor the Barbarian
Aubrey G.
Nukebert
Sam W.
Aaron Knows DIY
G. Salazar
David B.
Make Things
#MakeThings #mtbitesize
