• use various methods of fabrication and fitting to join parts of products, permanently or temporarily

• understand the processes of soldering, brazing, welding, riveting/pop riveting

• understand methods of carcase, stool and frame construction using permanent and temporary joints

• use holding devices, formers and jigs (for sawing, drilling and bending) to assist joining and assembly

• understand the use of knock-down (KD) fittings for use with manufactured boards such as chipboard, including one-piece and two-piece corner blocks, scan fittings, cam lock and leg fastenings

• understand where to use a wide range of pre-manufactured components, including screws, nails, nuts, bolts, hinges and catches

• understand how sizes of screws, nails, nuts and bolts are specified

• be aware of a range of different adhesives to join a variety of materials and any special considerations related to preparation, application, drying times and health and safety

Metals joints are made by brazing, soldering, welding or rivets.

Brazing is a way of bonding materials by melting a filler metal or alloy between the components (always metals). The filler metals used in brazing must have a lower melting point than that of the material being joined. Brazing forms very strong, permanent joints. Copper is a common metal that uses brazing to join pieces together. 

Soldering is a type of brazing which works at lower temperatures. Electronics components are soldered onto a circuit board. Some metal tubes are also soldered.

Welding works when two pieces of metal are melted along the joints, the metals fuse together as they cool. Common metals that are welded are Mild Steel, Aluminium, Titanium.

Rivets can be used to join metals, plastics and plywood. The rivet is placed in a hole drilled through both pieces of material. The end of the rivet is then beaten into a dome.  A tool called rivet set is then used to 'finish off' the joint. Some rivets are countersunk. Rivets are clearly identifiable as a round dome / disc on the outside of materials.

Carcase, stool, and frame construction can utilize both permanent and temporary joints. Permanent joints, like those made with adhesives or welding, are designed for lasting strength and are difficult to disassemble. Temporary joints, such as screws or bolts, allow for easy disassembly and reassembly without damaging the parts. 

• Permanent Joints: Adhesives are commonly used to join carcase components for a strong, permanent bond.

• Temporary Joints: Screws or dowels can be used for initial assembly before adhesives are applied, or for adjustments.

• Examples: Butt joints with glue and pins, Comb joint, corner housing, and through housing.

Permanent Joints:
Mortise and tenon joints, often used with dowels, provide a strong, permanent frame connection. 

Temporary Joints:
Screws or nails can be used for initial assembly or for adding decorative elements that need to be easily removed. 

Permanent Joints:
Adhesives and fasteners (screws, nails) can be used for attaching trim and decorative elements. 

Temporary Joints:
Screws and dowels are often used for initial assembly, particularly when precise alignment is needed before applying permanent joints. 

Examples: Corner halving, mortise and tenon, and bridle joints can be used for frame construction. 

Strength and Durability: Permanent joints are chosen when strength and durability are paramount. 

Disassembly and Reassembly: Temporary joints are preferred when frequent disassembly or adjustments are required.

Aesthetic Appeal: The choice of joint can also be influenced by the desired aesthetic, as some joints are more visually appealing.

Fasteners like screws, nails, nuts, and bolts are sized by their diameter, length, and thread pitch (for threaded fasteners like screws and bolts). Diameter is the width of the fastener's threaded portion, length is the distance from the fastener head to the tip, and thread pitch describes how many threads are per millimetre. 

Diameter: Measured as the diameter of the screw's thread, often using a number gauge (e.g., #8) or a direct measurement in millimeters. Lower numbers in the gauge system indicate larger diameters. 

Length: Measured from the flat surface of the head to the tip of the screw. 

Thread Pitch: In the metric system, it's the distance between threads in millimeters. 

Diameter: Similar to screws, measured as the diameter of the threaded portion. 

Length: Measured from the head to the end of the bolt. 

Thread Pitch: In the metric system, it's the distance between threads in millimeters. 

Typically specified by gauge (a number) and length, with gauge indicating the diameter and length indicating how long the nail is. 

• Size: Primarily specified by the diameter of the bolt they are designed to fit, often using a "M" prefix (e.g., M5, M8) in the metric system.

• Thread Pitch: Also related to the bolt's thread pitch, ensuring proper mating. 

A wide variety of adhesives are available, each with unique properties for joining different materials. The choice of adhesive depends on the materials being joined, the desired bond strength, environmental conditions, and application requirements

Known for their strength, durability, and versatility in bonding various materials like metals, plastics, and ceramics. Expoxy is two different parts of the glue that are stable on their own but when mixed have a chemical reaction to make a very strong and flexible glue. Brand names are Araldite and Gorilla. 

Offer high strength bonding and permanent elasticity, suitable for constructions involving different materials. 

Fast-drying and suitable for repairs and crafts, bonding various materials like metal, plastic, and rubber. Now also available as a gel. Superglue dries very quickly and bonds most materials (including fingers... many times!)

Solid at room temperature but turn liquid when heated, bonding materials like wood, plastics, and textiles. Hot glue guns are the best known example.

Bond when pressure is applied, making them suitable for various applications like labels and tapes. A really good example of these are double sided tape, Duct tape / Gaffer tape and Foam double sided tape. 

A water-based glue, commonly used for wood and other porous materials. Takes a few hours to set fully but very strong adhesive mainly for woods.

Offer strong bonds with various materials, including metals, plastics, and glass. It is a very strong smelling glue; gloves and eye protection should be worn as it is a skin irritant and can burn eyes. It dries clear and joins plastics very well.

Applied to both surfaces to be joined, allowing for a strong and durable bond. Usually applied to both surfaces of any materials and then typically you wait for about 5 minutes before compressing the surfaces to be joined.

Formers are used to bend materials around a shape to 'form' the material into the desired shape. The material is most often heated to soften it and then it is placed onto a former and held in place to cool. A common material in school that is formed is Acrylic. It is heated in a plastics oven and then formed over a shape (often MDF) and held in place until cool. Formers are also used for bending veneers to a shape (skateboards) or even steam bent (softened) timber.

Knock-down fittings are those that can be put together easily, normally using only a screw driver, a drill, a mallet / hammer and other basic tools. They are temporary joints although many are used to permanently join together items such as cabinets and other pieces of furniture that are purchased in a flat pack. Companies such as IKEA and Index living use Knock Down (KD) fittings to join furniture items together. 

Made from Polyethylene and commonly available in dark brown or white, these are used for joining sheet materials and attaching kitchen units to the underside of the worktop.

Typical applications include cabinets, chairs, desks, shop equipment and tables. Furniture Connector Bolts are for use with Joint Connector Nuts or Cross Dowels. They are designed for use with self-assembly furniture, and are easily applied with an Allen key.