As much as I admire the quality and craftsmanship that goes into building fine wood projects, I think this level of woodworking may be out of reach for beginning woodworkers. The tools can be very expensive, and it takes some time to learn how to use them. That’s why I’m always looking for alternative types of of wood joints, joints that can be made with fewer (and less expensive) shop tools -- and joints that don’t require the skills of a master craftsman. Over the years, I’ve discovered two types of wood joints that meet that requirement: pocket hole joints and a special kind of half-lap joint that I call a “sandwich” joint.
