B - Glossary of Woodworking Terms

 Back Fence: A back-fence is a 90 degree surface on a router table against which the timber is passed to keep it in an exact position relative to the cutter.

 Band Clamp: A versatile clamping tool that uses a flexible band or strap to apply even pressure around irregular or rounded shapes. It’s especially handy for projects where traditional clamps can’t reach or grip effectively. In woodworking it is especially effective for assembling frames, boxes, and securing awkward shapes during gluing. Also known as a strap clamp. Find band clamps here.

 Bandsaw: A bandsaw has a toothed metal blade that is stretched between two wheels, one of which is typically powered. The blade moves in a continuous loop, allowing for precision cutting in straight lines, curves or irregular shapes. Bandsaws are largely used in woodworking to make straight cuts, curved shapes and intricate patterns in wood. Find bandsaws here.

 Barley Twist Moulding: A spiral pattern resembling a twisted rope. 

 Bead: 1. A small rounded (convex) profile or moulding. 2. A decorative groove or channel that is cut into the edge of a piece of wood or other material. Find bead router cutters here.

 Beam Trammel: A straight bar with a pivot point onto which a router is mounted to cut curves and circles.

 Bench Chisel: One of the most versatile and commonly used tools in woodworking. A medium-length chisel with a sturdy handle and a sharp blade, typically featuring beveled edges. It’s designed for both paring (gentle slicing) and chopping (using a mallet), making it suitable for a wide range of woodworking applications. Find bench chisels here.

 Bevel Edge: An angle (but not a right angle) applied from top to bottom of a piece of material. Find bevel edge router cutters here.

 Biscuit Jointing: The biscuit joint is a popular woodworking technique for joining two pieces of wood. This method involves cutting matching slots in a piece of wood and inserting an oval-shaped piece of compressed wood, called a biscuit, into the slots. Special ´biscuit´ jointing power tools are available but the techniques are easily carried out using a conventional router. Find biscuit jointing here.

 Block Plane: A compact, handheld woodworking tool designed for precision trimming, smoothing, and shaping, especially on end grain and small surfaces. Find block planes here.

 Bowl Gouge (Woodturning Tool): A chisel used in woodturning to make bowls. They can produce either large profiling cuts or delicate finishing cuts as necessary. Find bowl gouges here.

 Break-Out: Term used for describing the splitting out of the edge of material being machined.

 Bridle Joint: A joint similar to a mortise and tenon but with the positions of the mortise and tenon reversed.

 Butt Chisel: A compact woodworking tool designed for precision work in tight or confined spaces, especially where longer chisels would be cumbersome. Find butt chisels here.

 Butt Joint: A joint made when two pieces of wood are joined together with no overlap, shoulders, or tenons.