Properties
The strength of a finger joint comes from the long-grain to long-grain contact between the fingers, which provides a solid gluing surface. The number of contact points also allows for more gluing surface as opposed to a butt joint or a rabbet joint.
While the spacing of finger joints is mostly an aesthetic decision, it is commonly less than or equal to the thickness of the material being joined. For example, one might decide on 1/8" fingers on 1/4" material unless the length of the mating surfaces lends itself better to a 1/4" finger joint, which would appear less "busy" to the eye.
Although finger joints are usually evenly spaced, it's not unusual for woodworkers to experiment with varying spacing between cuts.
Read more about this topic: Finger Joint
Famous quotes containing the word properties:
“The reason why men enter into society, is the preservation of their property; and the end why they choose and authorize a legislative, is, that there may be laws made, and rules set, as guards and fences to the properties of all the members of the society: to limit the power, and moderate the dominion, of every part and member of the society.”
—John Locke (1632–1704)
“A drop of water has the properties of the sea, but cannot exhibit a storm. There is beauty of a concert, as well as of a flute; strength of a host, as well as of a hero.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)