When shopping for secondhand furniture, joinery is one of the best clues to a piece's true craftsmanship and longevity. The joints how parts of furniture are fastened together say more about quality than brand names or surface finish. At Reperch, we encourage mindful furniture buying, and learning to spot solid joinery can help you find pieces that last a lifetime, even when bought used.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the basics of joinery, how to inspect it when shopping secondhand, and why it matters more than you think.

Why Joinery Matters in Used Furniture

Joinery affects how strong, stable, and long-lasting a piece of furniture will be. Good joinery keeps a chair from wobbling, a drawer from falling apart, and a table from sagging under weight. When you’re buying furniture secondhand, examining joints helps you look beyond scratches or scuffs and get to the structural integrity underneath.

Quality joinery is also a telltale sign of craftsmanship. While mass-produced furniture often uses shortcuts like nails, staples, or weak glue, well-made vintage and mid-century pieces use time-tested joints that are designed to hold up for decades.

1. Dovetail Joints: A Sign of True Craftsmanship

Dovetail joints are one of the strongest and most attractive joinery types. These are often found in drawer construction, where the sides interlock like puzzle pieces at an angle. A dovetail joint resists pulling forces, meaning the drawer won’t come apart even with frequent use.

What to look for:

• Interlocking wedge shapes at the corners of drawers

• Tight-fitting joints with no large gaps

• Wood grain that continues from one piece to another

Dovetails are usually found in older or high-quality dressers, desks, and cabinets. At Reperch, we often feature mid-century modern furniture with hand-cut or machine-cut dovetails that reflect the piece’s original build quality.

2. Mortise and Tenon: The Gold Standard for Chairs and Tables

This joinery method dates back centuries and is still one of the most reliable. A mortise and tenon joint connects two pieces of wood by inserting a protruding “tenon” into a matching “mortise” hole. You’ll find it in chair legs, table bases, and bed frames.

Signs of a mortise and tenon joint:

• A clean, flush connection between legs and frames

• No wiggling or shifting when pressure is applied

• Smooth seams without visible screws or nails

If a piece still feels rock-solid after years of use, chances are it was built with this method.

3. Dowels: Strong When Done Right

Dowels are small wooden rods that help join two surfaces together. Doweling is common in 20th-century furniture and can be very strong when executed properly. You’ll often find it in sideboards, cabinets, and tables.

What to inspect:

• Smooth alignment at corners or panel seams

• No gaps or misalignment

• Little to no movement when lightly shaken

Loose or rattling joints may mean dowels have come unglued, which can often be repaired if the piece is otherwise solid.

4. Screws and Nails: The Good, the Bad, and the Wobbly

Not all screws and nails are bad, but they shouldn’t be the main thing holding your furniture together. When used properly, especially alongside wood glue or reinforcements, they can be part of a stable structure.

Red flags:

• Staples instead of nails or screws

• Screws that are pulling out or stripped

• Visible gaps or movement when the joint is under stress

If you see metal fasteners holding something together with no other joinery in place, it’s likely a sign of lower-quality mass production.

5. Signs of Loose or Failing Joints

Used furniture has a story, and that often includes some wear. Not all loose joints are a dealbreaker, but it’s important to know the difference between easy repairs and structural issues.

Check for:

• Wobbling when pressure is applied

• Cracking sounds when shifting weight

• Large glue gaps or seams separating

Many high-quality pieces can be tightened or re-glued by a handyman or DIY enthusiast, so don’t walk away from a great find too fast; just factor in the repair effort.

6. Hidden Clues to Craftsmanship

Some signs of great joinery are subtle. Look underneath tables and chairs for corner blocks (small triangular wood braces) that reinforce the frame. Drawers with finished interiors and smooth glides also indicate attention to detail.

At Reperch, we regularly inspect and vet the pieces we accept for resale. You’ll find furniture built with care, often featuring these kinds of high-quality, long-lasting joinery methods.

Why Joinery Makes Secondhand Furniture a Smarter Buy

Strong joinery helps extend the life of furniture and reduces the chances you’ll need to repair or replace it soon. That’s good for your wallet and the planet. Buying secondhand already supports sustainability, and buying well-made pieces takes it a step further by keeping durable furniture in use for decades.

Reperch was founded on the belief that quality should be accessible and sustainable. Our platform connects you with used furniture that still has plenty of life left, with craftsmanship that stands the test of time.

Final Thoughts: Be Curious, Ask Questions

You don’t need to be a furniture expert to spot good joinery. A little attention to detail goes a long way. When buying secondhand:

• Open drawers and inspect the joints

• Sit, press, and apply weight to check stability

• Ask about the construction or take a closer look underneath

The more you shop with an eye for structure, the more confident you’ll feel bringing a piece home.

Looking for furniture that’s already been quality-checked? Explore Reperch’s curated selection of secondhand furniture and discover pieces that combine timeless design with trusted craftsmanship.