Tongue and groove
197667
220657241
2008-06-20T22:47:52Z
TerriersFan
1611404
Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/24.209.181.220|24.209.181.220]] ([[User talk:24.209.181.220|talk]]) to last version by Avnjay
{{Unreferenced|date=May 2007}}
[[Image:Dusheme.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Solid parquet boards with tongues on the right sides of the boards and grooves on the left sides. Grooves are also visible on the near ends; the far ends are tongued.]]
'''Tongue and groove''' or '''T&G''' is a method of fitting similar objects together, edge to edge, used mainly with [[wood]]: [[flooring]], [[parquetry]], panelling, and similar constructions. Tongue and groove joints allow two flat pieces to be joined strongly together to make a single flat surface. Before plywood became common, tongue and groove [[board]]s were also used for [[sheathing]] buildings and to construct [[concrete]] [[formwork]].
Each piece has a slot (the ''groove'') cut all along one edge, and a thin, deep ridge (the ''tongue'') on the opposite edge. The tongue projects a little less than the groove is deep. Two or more pieces thus fit together closely. The joint is not normally glued, as shrinkage would then pull the tongue off.
For many uses, tongue and groove boards have been rendered obsolete by the introduction of [[plywood]] and later [[composite wood]] boards, but the method is still used in good-quality flooring. Plywood may also be tongued all round to fit it flush into a framed structure, and plywood for sub-floors used in [[platform framing]] is often supplied with tongue and groove edges.
When joining thicker materials, several tongue and groove joints may be used one above the other.
==Methods==
The tongue and groove may be cut in a number of ways, including:
* A four- or six-head planer (for large quantities)
* A spindle moulder (wood shaper)
* A circular saw bench
* Suitable hand planes: a plough plane for the groove and a tongue plane for the tongue, or a combination plane
* A spindle router
==Tongue-in-groove==
Tongue-in-groove is similar to tongue and groove, but instead of the tongue forming part of one of the edges, it is loose, fitting between two identical grooved edges. The tongue material may be the same as the pieces either side, or not. For example, plywood flooring is commonly grooved at the edges, and plastic tongues are used to form the joint.
==See also==
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* [[Cabinet making]]
* [[Carpentry]]
* [[Fluting (architecture)]]
* [[Gland (engineering)]]
* [[Groove (joinery)]]
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* [[Groove]]
* [[Nipple (disambiguation)]]
* [[Parquetry]]
* [[Slot]]
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* [[Tongue (disambiguation)]]
* [[Wood router]]
* [[Woodworking]]
* [[Woodworking joints]]
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{{Wiktionary}}
[[Category:Joinery]]
[[Category:Woodworking]]
{{carpentry-stub}}
[[de:Nut-Feder-Verbindung]]
[[eo:Foldo]]
[[nl:Messing en groefverbinding]]