Rule Joint Question

[JohnM Martin]

I was hoping for some advice about making a rule joint for a drop leaf table. I have never made this kind of joint before, and in looking around (https://www.pbs.org/video/woodwrights-shop-table-joints-rule/), I see that you can make this joint with either a dedicated set of 'table joint' planes or with hollows and rounds. This is my first project to involve molding planes of any kind and I have no experience with them at all. Given that, it is a little hard for me to gauge which option would be best. From the video, it seems that the hollows and rounds leaves more room for error but would be useful for other projects? Any suggestions from those that have used either (or both) methods?

[David Bassett]

Matthew Bickford literally wrote the BOOK (https://lostartpress.com/collections/books/products/mouldings-in-practice) on using hollows and rounds to create profiles. From reading it, a rule joint is much simpler than many patterns that he describes. That said, I wouldn't want to try it on something like a table which is both large and somewhat of a show piece. (One thing he describes extensively, and Roy glosses over in his shows, is using a Rabbet plane (which is simpler to sharpen) to remove most of the waste and to create registration surfaces to help keep the curves lined up properly over the length.

[Bob Glenn]

Make sure you start out with perfectly straight edges or your joint will never close up properly. Also, you need a special pair of hinges for a rule joint. Also critical, is the placement of the hinge mortises. If you order the hinges from Horton Brasses, I think mounting instructions come with the hinges if you so request. I cheated and used a router with a cove and bull nose bit. They turned out perfect.

[Charles Guest]

I was hoping for some advice about making a rule joint for a drop leaf table. I have never made this kind of joint before, and in looking around (https://www.pbs.org/video/woodwrights-shop-table-joints-rule/), I see that you can make this joint with either a dedicated set of 'table joint' planes or with hollows and rounds. This is my first project to involve molding planes of any kind and I have no experience with them at all. Given that, it is a little hard for me to gauge which option would be best. From the video, it seems that the hollows and rounds leaves more room for error but would be useful for other projects? Any suggestions from those that have used either (or both) methods?

The definitive article on making the joint by hand, IMO. From Fine Woodworking (1979). Online membership is required; a 14 day free trial is offered:

https://www.finewoodworking.com/1979/10/01/making-the-rule-joint

[JohnM Martin]

The definitive article on making the joint by hand, IMO. From Fine Woodworking (1979). Online membership is required; a 14 day free trial is offered:

https://www.finewoodworking.com/1979/10/01/making-the-rule-joint


Thank you, Charles. I have a subscription so I'll check it out!