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Tongue and groove is a method of fitting similar objects together, edge to edge, used mainly withwood, inflooring,parquetry,panelling, and similar constructions. A strong joint, it allows two flat pieces to be joined strongly together to make a single flat surface. Beforeplywood became common, tongue-and-groove boards were also used forsheathing buildings and to constructconcreteformwork.
Each piece has a slot (thegroove ordado) cut all along one edge or along two adjacent edges, and a thin, deep ridge (thetongue) on the opposite edge or edges. The tongue projects a little less than the depth of the groove. Two or more pieces thus fit together closely. Thejoint is not normallyglued, as shrinkage would then pull the tongue off. The effect of wood shrinkage is concealed when the joint is beaded or otherwise moulded.[1] In another assembly method, the pieces are end-matched. This method eliminates the need formitre joints, facenailing, and the use of joints on 16-inch (410 mm) or 24-inch (610 mm) centres of conventionalframing. For joining thicker materials, several tongue-and-groove joints may be used one above the other. In finewoodworking such ascabinet making, both glueddovetail joints and tongue-and-groove joints are used.
For many uses, tongue-and-groove boards have been rendered obsolete by the introduction of plywood and latercomposite wood boards, but the method is still used in higher-quality boards. Plywood may also be tongued all round to fit flush into a framed structure, and plywood for sub-floors used inplatform framing is often supplied with tongue-and-groove edges.
In old sailor slang vernacular, atonguin (pronounced/təŋɪn/) refers to a small boat or raft of tongue-and-groove construction or to repairs made to such a craft.
One of the following woodworking tools may be used to produce the tongue and groove:
Tongue in groove is similar to tongue and groove, but instead of the tongue forming part of one of the edges, it is a separate, loose piece, called aslip tongue orspline,[2] that fits between two identically grooved edges. The tongue may or may not be of the same material as the grooved pieces joined by the tongue. For example, plywood flooring is commonly grooved at the edges, and plastic tongues are used to form the joint.
