Pinbuilt

Pinbuilt refers to a method of wood joinery and construction that uses wooden pins or pegs to secure components, rather than metal nails, screws, or adhesives. The term is most often associated with traditional timber framing, furniture making, and small-boat carpentry, where pins provide mechanical interlock and allow for seasonal wood movement.

Technique: Pins may be cylindrical dowels or tapered wedges driven through aligned holes or mortises. Common pinbuilt joints include pegged mortise-and-tenon, bridle joints secured with through pins, and various scarf joints augmented by pins. In some practices, holes are drilled slightly undersize and pegs are driven to friction-fit; in others, holes are bored to accommodate a loose fit followed by wedging to lock the joint.

Variations and practicality: Pinbuilt methods are compatible with traditional tools and finished without metal fasteners. They can be used in furniture and timber frames where the appearance of pegs is desirable. Through pegs can be decorative, while drawboring techniques help keep joints tight as wood expands or contracts.

Assessment: Advantages include reversibility, absence of metal corrosion, and compatibility with wood movement. The approach often requires high craftsmanship and precise tolerances, making it more labor-intensive than modern joinery. In high-moisture environments or heavy-load applications, pins may loosen without maintenance, requiring periodic tightening or pin replacement.

See also: pegged joinery, dowel joinery, mortise and tenon, timber framing.