The Impact of Dovetail Angle in Single Dovetail Joints on Diagonal Compression Strength of Corner Joints for Box-Type Furniture

Abstract

AbstractThis study aims to determine the impacts of dovetail angle for dovetail joints on the diagonal compression strength of box-type furniture corner joints prepared in different woods, with different dovetail angles, and with different adhesives. For this reason, after drilling joints of 75°, 78°, 81°, 84°, and 87° on Oriental beech, European oak, Scotch pine, and medium-density fiberboard (MDF) samples, a diagonal compression test was applied on corners glued with polyvinyl acetate (PVAc) and polyurethane (Desmodur-vinyl trieketonol acetate [D-VTKA]) according to the ASTM D1037 standard. The highest result for dovetail diagonal compression strength was observed in the samples of Oriental beech (0.321 N mm−2), while the lowest was found in the samples of MDF (0.154 N mm−2) for wood types. With respect to adhesives, D-VTKA yielded the best results (0.268 N mm−2), while PVAc gave the worst results (0.252 N mm−2). Regarding angle types, the best result was obtained from the samples at 84° (0.302 N mm−2) and the worst from the samples at 75° (0.207 N mm−2) for dovetail joints. For the interaction of wood type, adhesive, and dovetail angle, the highest diagonal compression strength was found in the samples of Oriental beech + 81° + D-VTKA (0.445 N mm−2), while the lowest value was observed in MDF + 78° + D-VTKA (0.128 N mm−2). In conclusion, the angles and adhesives have significant effects on the corner joints of box-type furniture.