This Viral Woodworking Finger Joint Bit Can Help You Interlock Pieces Of Wood Like A Pro

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If you're a woodworker and follow social media, you may have seen the viral TikTok video by dustylumberco that was posted on August 26, 2023. While YouTube has some of the best woodworking channels, TikTok also has a sizable following of woodworkers. The one minute and nine second video giving us a glimpse of the Freud finger joint bit in action has been viewed around 72.6 million times as of this writing.

While dustylumberco's videos don't offer a lot of detail, the description of the Freud finger joint bit video relays it was the first time they'd used it, and they "definitely used too much ... glue." So, don't look at the video expecting an in depth "how to" as it's more of an example of using the tool to create interlocking pieces of wood.

The Freud finger joint bit is available from The Home Depot, with free delivery to a Home Depot near you or directly to your home, and other retailers specializing in woodworking equipment. Amazon also has the tool listed for sale online with free shipping if you'd rather go that route. The tool sells for $85.04 at either listed retailer, but some specialty shops have it listed at a higher price.

To get the best results from the Freud finger joint bit you'll need to mount it to either a table router or a CNC router designed for woodworking. The bit has two cutters with four teeth each. Notable dimensions include a 3-inch overall length, 1.375-inch diameter, a 0.5-inch shank, and a cutting depth of 5/16-inch.

The Freud finger joint bit can create finger joints in veneered plywood, hardwoods, softwoods, and composite materials up to 1.25 inches thick. The fingers created by the properly adjusted tool can join edge-to-edge or end-to-end wood pieces by routing the first piece face up and the adjoining piece face down.

Finger joints create a strong bond between two pieces of wood by creating additional surface area than a butt joint. Imagine the difference between gluing your fingertips together versus interlocking your fingers covered in glue. However, depending on the thickness of the wood, the Freud finger joint bit can cut eight fingers on each piece.