Beginner's Illustrated Guide to Strong Basic Wood Joinery
The user is a bit unsure about the best way to place screws when joining two 2x4s at a 90-degree angle for table legs or brackets. This is a common question for those just starting out in woodworking.
Product/Service Opportunity: A resource like a well-illustrated guide or video tutorial series that focuses on basic but strong wood joinery techniques for beginners.
Specific Content:
- Proper screw placement for butt joints (as in the user's scenario), with tips on avoiding edges to prevent splitting.
- The importance and technique of drilling pilot holes.
- The benefit and technique of countersinking screw heads.
- Simple alternative joints for beginners that offer more strength (e.g., basic lap joints, pocket holes if suitable for the target skill level).
- Visual aids (diagrams, photos, slow-motion video) are essential.
Expected Benefit:
- Ad revenue from a blog or YouTube channel hosting this content.
- Sales of a more comprehensive woodworking e-book or a beginner's online course that includes this module.
- Affiliate marketing revenue from links to recommended beginner-friendly tools (drills, bits, clamps, screws).
- Could serve as a lead magnet (free guide) to build an email list for future woodworking product/course launches.
Origin Reddit Post
r/beginnerwoodworking
Would you screw on the x or the o?
Posted by u/InteractionInternal•06/02/2025
I feel silly asking this but I’m trying to join two 2x4s at a 90 degree angle. Is it more advisable to screw on the x (corners) or the os? Horizontally?
This will be the legs and upper bracke
Top Comments
u/series-hybrid
X is better. The other two are in-line on the grain of the wood. Its better for the two screws to be on separate grain-lines. Although, I agree with DismalCode6627, they need to be closer to
u/marcusriluvus
You could also use a lighter to heat up the screw before driving it. Another way to spare the splits.
u/Star_BurstPS4
I do four X's but closer in from the edge
u/bigbugga86
Make sure you predrill too to avoid splitting the end
u/Diligent_Ad6133
If youre up for it though, a lap joint would be really clean and still be a strong joint for this application without too much difficulty
u/disjointedspliff
The full send
u/Duder211
Move them further inside and definitely consider countersinking holes.
u/BlockyBlook
These are the kinds of beginner questions I need answers to so thank you.
u/DismalCode6627
Neither. They're too close to the edge of the timber (especially the x and o on the left).
The two os are in-line with each other in relation to the grain of the top piece of timber, so tha
u/No_Understanding2021
And pre-drill the holes to prevent splitting.
u/InteractionInternal
Thanks!!
u/OverallMakerworks
https://preview.redd.it/p2t69r8i7f4f1.jpeg?width=699&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3c456a20fb73aec4d0d8f361d4ceca0ba124e350
Evenly divide the yellow squares into thirds, and screw or n
u/Opening_Hedgehog_671
Center but first use a drill bit and make a small hole or else you risk splitting close to the edge like that.
u/InteractionInternal
Thanks!!
u/JonInfect
Excellent diagram! This will forever be great advice to anyone that's new to wood working.
u/ReturnOfSeq
Pilot holes, but for screwing in at the end of a board like this I highly recommend also doing countersink holes so the head doesn’t split the board open
u/InteractionInternal
Thanks!!
u/chilldabpanda
I'd do 4 x's
u/musun1982
I think 1 in each corner. Also 5 in a cross pattern in the middle as well. /s
u/InteractionInternal
Thanks a for such quick advice!
u/mikejnsx
agreed, two in line with the same wood fiber/grain is just asking to split the end of that top board. using the offset Xs moved closer to center will hold much better, not great, but better
u/OverallMakerworks
https://preview.redd.it/p2t69r8i7f4f1.jpeg?width=699&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3c456a20fb73aec4d0d8f361d4ceca0ba124e350
Evenly divide the yellow squares into thirds, and screw or n
u/tn-dave
Pilot holes..! I've drilled so many the past week working on my steps
u/DismalCode6627
Neither. They're too close to the edge of the timber (especially the x and o on the left).
The two os are in-line with each other in relation to the grain of the top piece of timber, so tha
u/IIlIlIlIlIlIIIlIlIlI
u sunk my battleship
u/froginbog
Gottem
u/Opening_Hedgehog_671
Center but first use a drill bit and make a small hole or else you risk splitting close to the edge like that.
u/Joshuamark21
https://preview.redd.it/lmkkofsadf4f1.jpeg?width=2792&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9478835d40ffd70b8b1a6d4795b3a1c85eea88ad
u/VitalNumber
Carpenters hate this one simple trick
u/RunningPirate
The line on the X’s is good, you just need to move them inward (the top one down slope, the bottom upslope) maybe…1/2” or so?
u/OkUnderstanding5343
Yep, you’re right. I’m glad someone else caught that.
u/Diligent_Ad6133
I would do the x but move em closer to the center in case the construction pine wants to split out with a bad knock. Hopefully it wont be taking on much sideways load though, otherwise id wan
u/gschwendt
https://preview.redd.it/vrobtnf4ef4f1.jpeg?width=699&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=50fd55e4a3d7e12f055daa1b7d74d1dcaa99f16e
I win
u/randomvandal
I think I fucked up.
https://preview.redd.it/wwx304bzrg4f1.jpeg?width=2008&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1fb1cf9cf91c0171b381d2d5db69cb60d1b580b3
u/No_Understanding2021
And pre-drill the holes to prevent splitting.
u/Diligent_Ad6133
If youre up for it though, a lap joint would be really clean and still be a strong joint for this application without too much difficulty
u/gschwendt
https://preview.redd.it/vrobtnf4ef4f1.jpeg?width=699&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=50fd55e4a3d7e12f055daa1b7d74d1dcaa99f16e
I win
u/ReturnOfSeq
Pilot holes, but for screwing in at the end of a board like this I highly recommend also doing countersink holes so the head doesn’t split the board open
u/InteractionInternal
Thanks a for such quick advice!
u/InteractionInternal
Thanks!!
u/chilldabpanda
I'd do 4 x's
u/chilldabpanda
And move em in a 1/4 "
u/series-hybrid
X is better. The other two are in-line on the grain of the wood. Its better for the two screws to be on separate grain-lines. Although, I agree with DismalCode6627, they need to be closer to
u/AllGreatAllTheTime
Thought this was a tic tac toe joke at first
u/tn-dave
Pilot holes..! I've drilled so many the past week working on my steps
u/Plastic_Ad_8619
X
u/RunningPirate
The line on the X’s is good, you just need to move them inward (the top one down slope, the bottom upslope) maybe…1/2” or so?
u/Diligent_Ad6133
I would do the x but move em closer to the center in case the construction pine wants to split out with a bad knock. Hopefully it wont be taking on much sideways load though, otherwise id wan
u/Joshuamark21
https://preview.redd.it/lmkkofsadf4f1.jpeg?width=2792&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9478835d40ffd70b8b1a6d4795b3a1c85eea88ad
u/bigbugga86
Make sure you predrill too to avoid splitting the end