Sovereignty Module: Join the Timbers
Complete Carpentry and Joinery: From Rough Lumber to Fine Furniture
Carpentry creates shelter, furniture, tools, vehicles, and infrastructure. This campaign covers wood selection, hand tool use, joinery methods, furniture construction, and finishing techniques.
Chapter 1: Wood Selection
| Wood | Hardness | Workability | Rot Resistance | Weight | Best Uses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oak (white) | Very hard | Moderate | Excellent | Heavy | Furniture, boats, barrels, timber frame |
| Oak (red) | Hard | Moderate | Poor | Heavy | Interior furniture, flooring |
| Pine (white) | Soft | Excellent | Poor | Light | Interior trim, shelving, boxes |
| Cedar (red) | Soft-medium | Good | Excellent | Light | Exterior, shingles, chests |
| Walnut | Hard | Good | Good | Medium-heavy | Fine furniture, gunstocks |
| Maple | Very hard | Difficult | Poor | Heavy | Cutting boards, tool handles, flooring |
| Cherry | Medium-hard | Excellent | Moderate | Medium | Fine furniture, turning |
| Ash | Hard | Good | Poor | Medium | Tool handles, bending, sports equipment |
| Hickory | Very hard | Difficult | Poor | Heavy | Tool handles, bows, spokes |
| Poplar/tulip | Soft | Excellent | Poor | Light | Paint-grade furniture, interior |
Wood moisture: Fresh-cut (green) wood is 30-80% moisture. Air-dried wood reaches 12-15% (6-12 months per inch of thickness). Kiln-dried reaches 6-8%. Wood moves (expands/contracts) across the grain with moisture changes. Design must accommodate movement or joints will fail. Quartersawn lumber moves less than flatsawn.
Chapter 2: Essential Hand Tools
| Tool | Purpose | Priority | Substitute | Maintenance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Handsaw (crosscut) | Cut across grain | Critical | Bow saw, frame saw | Sharpen, set teeth |
| Handsaw (rip) | Cut with grain | Critical | Pit saw (two-person) | Sharpen, set teeth |
| Jack plane | Flatten, smooth, dimension | Critical | Drawknife + scraper | Sharpen iron frequently |
| Chisels (set of 4) | Joinery, mortises, detail | Critical | Single chisel + mallet | Sharpen before each use |
| Mallet | Drive chisels, assemble | High | Wooden club, hammer + block | Replace when worn |
| Marking gauge | Consistent lines parallel to edge | High | Knife + straightedge | Keep cutter sharp |
| Square (try square) | Check 90° angles | Critical | 3-4-5 triangle method | Verify accuracy regularly |
| Brace and bits | Drill holes | High | Bow drill, pump drill | Keep bits sharp |
| Spokeshave | Shape curves | Moderate | Knife, rasp | Sharpen iron |
| Clamps | Hold work, glue-ups | High | Wedges, rope + tourniquet | Keep clean, oiled |
Chapter 3: Fundamental Joints
| Joint | Strength | Difficulty | Tools Needed | Best Application |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Butt joint (nailed/screwed) | Low | Very low | Saw, hammer | Rough construction, temporary |
| Dado/housing | Moderate | Low | Saw, chisel | Shelving, case construction |
| Rabbet | Moderate | Low | Saw, plane or chisel | Box corners, back panels |
| Mortise and tenon | Very high | Moderate-high | Chisel, mallet, saw | Furniture frames, timber frames |
| Dovetail | Very high | High | Saw, chisel, marking tools | Drawer construction, boxes |
| Tongue and groove | Moderate | Moderate | Plane (match planes) | Flooring, paneling, tabletops |
| Lap joint (half-lap) | Moderate | Low | Saw, chisel | Frames, simple furniture |
| Bridle joint | High | Moderate | Saw, chisel | Frame corners, gates |
| Dowel joint | Moderate-high | Moderate | Drill, dowels | Edge joining, alignment |
| Wedged tenon | Very high | Moderate | Chisel, saw, wedge | Through-tenons, tightening |
Mortise and tenon (king of joints): 1) Mark tenon on rail (1/3 thickness of wood, centered). 2) Cut tenon cheeks with saw (cut to shoulder line). 3) Cut tenon shoulders (define clean joint line). 4) Mark mortise on stile (same dimensions as tenon). 5) Drill out waste (series of holes within mortise lines). 6) Chop to lines with chisel (pare walls flat and square). 7) Test fit (should slide in with hand pressure, no gaps). 8) Glue and clamp (or pin with wooden dowel for no-glue joint).
Chapter 4: Project: Basic Table
| Component | Dimensions | Joinery | Wood | Quantity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top boards | 3/4" × 6-8" × 48" | Tongue & groove or doweled | Any hardwood | 4-6 boards |
| Breadboard ends | 3/4" × 2" × width of top | Tongue in groove, pinned | Same as top | 2 |
| Legs | 2" × 2" × 29" | Mortise (receive apron tenons) | Hardwood | 4 |
| Aprons (long) | 3/4" × 4" × 36" | Tenon into leg mortise | Hardwood | 2 |
| Aprons (short) | 3/4" × 4" × 20" | Tenon into leg mortise | Hardwood | 2 |
| Stretchers (optional) | 1" × 1.5" × matching aprons | Tenon into leg mortise | Hardwood | 4 |
| Tabletop fasteners | Wood buttons or metal clips | Slot in apron | — | 8-10 |
Construction sequence: 1) Mill all lumber to dimension (flat, square, consistent thickness). 2) Cut all joinery (mortises in legs, tenons on aprons). 3) Dry-fit base assembly (verify square, adjust if needed). 4) Glue up base (legs + aprons, check for square, clamp). 5) Glue up tabletop (edge-join boards, clamp flat). 6) Flatten tabletop (plane across, then with grain). 7) Attach top to base with buttons (allows wood movement). 8) Apply finish.
Chapter 5: Wood Finishing
| Finish | Protection | Appearance | Application | Dry Time | Food Safe |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boiled linseed oil | Moderate | Warm, natural | Wipe on, wipe off | 24-48 hours/coat | Yes (once cured) |
| Tung oil | Good | Natural, slight sheen | Wipe on, wipe off | 24-48 hours/coat | Yes (pure) |
| Beeswax | Low (surface) | Soft sheen | Rub on, buff | Immediate | Yes |
| Shellac | Good | High gloss, amber | Brush or pad | 30-60 minutes/coat | Yes (food grade) |
| Milk paint | Moderate | Matte, opaque colors | Brush | 1-2 hours | Yes |
| Oil + wax blend | Moderate-good | Satin, natural | Wipe on, buff | 24 hours | Yes |
Oil finish application: 1) Sand to 180-220 grit (remove all tool marks). 2) Raise grain (wipe with damp cloth, let dry, sand lightly with 220). 3) Apply oil liberally (flood surface). 4) Let soak 15-30 minutes. 5) Wipe off ALL excess (leaving oil on surface = sticky mess). 6) Let dry 24-48 hours. 7) Lightly sand with 320 grit (smooth nibs). 8) Apply second coat (repeat 3-5 coats total). 9) Final coat: oil + wax blend for smooth feel.
Reference Card
- Measure twice, cut once (mistakes in wood cannot be undone — verify every measurement). 2. Sharp tools are safe tools (dull tools require force, force causes slips, slips cause injuries). 3. Grain direction matters (plane and chisel WITH the grain — against it tears and splinters). 4. Wood moves forever (design for seasonal expansion/contraction or joints will self-destruct). 5. Mortise and tenon is king (strongest joint in woodworking — learn it first, use it most). 6. Flat is foundation (if your workpiece isn't flat, nothing else will be accurate — flatten first). 7. Glue needs contact (joints must fit tightly — glue fills nothing; it bonds surfaces in contact). 8. Finish protects investment (hours of work destroyed by water stain — always finish your projects).