hey guys I've been cruising around here for awhile now and I've found it hard to post anything one because the search option works so well and truthfully you guys humble the heck out of me most of you have probably forgot more than I know but what I'm wondering is if there is an encyclopedia of joints and joinery I have a pretty decent library and my own little black book of joints I use most but thought it would be cool if there was an actual book that had a visual description of different joints and their typical uses that you could go too

Check on the main TFG site and buy a copy of the Joinery and Design book.

http://store.yahoo.com/tfguild/tifrjoanddev.html

cool thanks thats one of the books thats on my list of ones I still need to get and I was wondering if it had a listing of different joints or if it was another one of the sort of useless ones I seem to keep finding at most of the book stores around my parts

No it's not useless at all (vol. 2 is good as well), but I think this is the one that you'd be really interested in:
http://www.tfguild.org/joinery/joinery.html
You can buy a hard copy or download sections for free.

I have HATJ as well. I really like to study the joinery, even if I may never use it. My interest is primarily older structures. There is even a Dutch house frame in the book from my town.

Only a foolish man thinks he knows it all... I'm constantly trying to learn something new, and you can learn from anyone, at any level. Most all of the TF'ers here are relatively humble, or at least approach those who wish to learn or discuss, with an attitude of teaching and sharing. Many topics are repeated over time, and that's ok. It's an opportunity to review what we may have forgotten, share anything new we might have learned, or my favorite, save you time or frustration of past mistakes. So don't be afraid to ask anything. I still have a lot to learn. I'd rather help you get to my level so you can start addressing my questions! Doh!

Yes, the HATJ is just what you are looking for. I recall Jack S. drawing a particular joint or variation of one which was not in the book while on a barn tour at a TTRAG symposium. I bring this up as a point you may want to try, visit old barns and sketch the joinery you see, it is a step above a book and a step below cutting actual joinery.

Tim

If you want to learn about the history of joints and their evolution you should look for books from England. Cecil Hewit books come to mind..... one of them has a great section in the back on joints and how they have evolved.

Jim, I got that book for Christmas. It is Cecel Hewit's "Historic English Carpentry". ISBN 0-941936-41-4

I want to try cutting a stop-splayed and tabled scarf with sallied and under-squinted abutments, a transverse key, counter toungue-and-grooved tables, four face pegs and two edge pegs.

Tim, I've been sketching some joinery lately. I am not very good at drawing, so I figured I'd spend some time indoors attempting some sketches while it snows outside. I'm getting better, some of them even look like joinery.

Sallied and under-squinted...... with keys and pegs..... and grooved tables..... now that's a challenge for sure.....