Square Cuts are Key: The
key to a quality butt joint is to make certain that the ends of the two
boards are cut as square as possible. This is easiest using a
miter saw, although quality results can be obtained by using a
circular saw and a speed square, provided that angle of the blade of the circular saw is set to zero-degrees.
Glue Provides the Strength: The strength of a
butt joint comes from the glue in the joint. However, there are two
problems with using glue as the only means of holding the connection.
First, when glue is applied to the end grain of a board, it
tends to soak into the stock far more than glue applied to the side of
the grain. The end grain is the most porous part of the wood, so you
may need to apply a bit more glue than normal.
Second, the glue will not provide much in the way of lateral strength.
As such, it is advisable to use some screws or nails to strengthen the
joint.
If using hardwood for your project, be certain to pre-drill
the pilot holes before inserting screws into the joint, or you'll split
the stock and have a bigger problem on your hand than a weak butt joint.
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