The parts of a wardrobe, chest of drawers or kitchen unit — sides, top, base and shelves — are held together by connectors. These small details are rarely noticed, but they decide whether the furniture will wobble years later, whether it can be taken apart and reassembled when you move, and whether screw heads will show on the outside. Four types of joint are most common in cabinet furniture, and each has its place.
Confirmat screws
A confirmat is a thick screw designed specifically for laminated board. Its wide, deep thread grips particleboard well, and its head pulls the parts tightly together. The most common size in furniture is 7×50 mm. A stepped hole is drilled in both parts beforehand.
Advantages:
- A very strong, rigid joint; the carcass does not wobble.
- Quick and simple to install.
- No extra hardware is needed; only the head is covered.
Limitations:
- The head remains on the outside of the carcass and is covered with a plastic cap or a self-adhesive decorative disc. On a visible side panel this can be an aesthetic problem.
- It copes poorly with repeated assembly. Each time the screw is driven into the same hole, the particles break down and grip decreases.
Confirmats are a good choice for furniture that is fixed to a wall, has no visible sides and will be assembled once in place: kitchen units, wardrobe systems and interior partitions.
Cam locks
A cam lock has two parts: a metal bolt screwed into one panel and a round cam fitting set into the other. Turning the cam catches the head of the bolt and draws the parts together.
Advantages:
- Invisible from outside: the cam stays on the inside of the carcass and can be covered with a decorative cap.
- The furniture can be taken apart and reassembled many times, because the load falls on metal parts rather than directly on the thread in the board.
- During assembly, parts can be fine-tuned by slightly loosening and tightening the joint.
Limitations:
- It requires more holes and more precise machining than a confirmat.
- On its own it is slightly less rigid, so it is often used together with dowels.
Cam locks suit furniture with visible sides, wardrobes and chests of drawers that may be dismantled for a move, and children's furniture.
Dowels
A dowel is a cylindrical pin of wood or plastic. It fits into holes drilled in both parts and locates them precisely. A dowel does not pull parts together by itself, so it is usually combined with a cam lock or glue.
Its main job is to prevent sliding: when a shelf takes a load or the carcass is pushed sideways, the dowel stops the joint shifting. A glued dowel joint is very strong but cannot be taken apart; it is used mainly for elements fully assembled in the workshop.
Hidden connectors
Demand is growing for joints that leave no trace on the outside of modern furniture. Several systems exist for this:
- Plastic or metal connectors set into slots routed into the panel edge, which lock into each other.
- Tool-free connectors that lock when pressed together, speeding up assembly.
- Adjustable hidden fixings for sloping ceilings and corner joints.
Hidden connectors require more precise equipment and machining and cost more than conventional joints. Even so, on open shelving, visible side panels and minimalist furniture they are indispensable for a clean look.
Which to choose
The choice depends on the answers to three questions:
- Which sides of the furniture will be visible? On visible surfaces, cam locks or hidden connectors.
- Will it be taken apart and reassembled? If yes, cam locks; if not, confirmats are fine.
- How much load will it carry? Heavily loaded shelves and tall carcasses need joints reinforced with dowels.
A single piece often combines several types: confirmats on sides that face the wall and are not seen, cam locks on visible sides, and dowels in the shelves.
What to watch for at home
- Tighten a loose joint at the first opportunity; in a loose joint the load gradually enlarges the hole.
- Do not overtighten confirmats, or the thread may strip.
- Before moving furniture, remove heavy contents and, where possible, dismantle tall carcasses.
Zaferoglu Mebel makes cabinet furniture in its own workshop and installs it with its own fitters. The type of joint can be discussed at the ordering stage, based on which sides will be visible and whether the furniture may need to be dismantled in future.
