Tongue and Groove Joinery

After verifying that all of the tongue and groove joints fit to your satisfaction, it's time for some assembly.

Apply a thin layer of glue to all edges of the first groove before sliding the tongue into place. Immediately clean off any glue that squeezes out of the joint, to prevent any finishing issues later on. Repeat the procedure with the second groove, and so on, until all tongues are fitting within their appropriate grooves.

Next, place the entire assembly into a few clamps to hold the joints closed tightly. Be sure not to tighten the clamps so tightly that you squeeze all of the glue out of the joints or cause the joints to mis-align. You want to use only enough pressure to hold the joints closed completely, but no more.

Allow the assembly to dry completely, typically at least 24 hours.