joinerywas

Joinerywas is a term that appears in some contemporary woodworking writing to describe a particular approach to joinery that emphasizes traditional interlocking joints and a minimal use of fasteners. The term functions as both a technique and a design ethos, commonly associated with hand-cut methods, precise dry-fitting, and a preference for joints that reveal craft. Origins of the term are unclear; it appears in online forums and small-press woodworking journals from the early 21st century, sometimes as a playful label for projects that foreground joinery.

Common techniques attributed to joinerywas include mortise-and-tenon, dovetails, and finger joints, executed with sharp hand tools and tested by dry-fit assembly before gluing or final assembly. Proponents emphasize reversible joints, visible craftsmanship, and repairs that preserve the original joinery, with glue used sparingly and finishes chosen to highlight natural wood texture.

In practice, joinerywas informs furniture and cabinetmaking projects, and it is discussed in maker-space curricula as an antidote to over-fastened construction. See also joinery, furniture making, woodworking.