What is Cope and Stick?

Cope and stick is a woodworking technique that is used to join two pieces of wood at a right angle, commonly used in making cabinet doors, windows, and frames. The cope and stick joint is often referred to as a rail and stile joint.

The cope and stick joint consists of two parts: the cope and the stick. The cope is a cut made at the end of one piece of wood, which creates a concave shape that will fit over the convex shape of the corresponding end of the other piece of wood. The stick is the name given to the remaining end of the other piece of wood that fits into the cope.

To create a cope and stick joint, the wood pieces are first cut to size and shape, then the cope is cut into one end of each piece. Once the copes have been cut, the sticks are cut to length and shape to fit into the copes. The two pieces are then joined together using glue, nails, or dowels.

Cope and stick joints are commonly used in the construction of cabinet doors, as they provide a strong, durable joint that is resistant to warping and twisting. They can also be used in other woodworking applications where a strong, precise joint is required.

Overall, cope and stick is a versatile and widely used woodworking technique that can help to create strong and long-lasting joints in a variety of woodworking applications.