Heard a client call a miter joint a 'mighty joint' and it stuck with me

I was at a supply house last week picking up some maple, and the guy next to me was on the phone describing his project. He told his client, 'Don't worry, I'll use a mighty joint on that corner, it'll hold forever.' I realized he meant a miter joint. It was such a funny, confident mix-up. Now I can't stop thinking about how we use our own shop slang that must sound like a foreign language to homeowners. Has anyone else picked up a funny term from a client that you ended up using yourself?

3 comments

3 Comments

ray3631mo ago

Ever think maybe he knew it was wrong but just liked how "mighty joint" sounded?

verab7628d ago

My grandpa was a cabinetmaker for fifty years and he called a mortise and tenon a "lock joint" every single time. He knew the right term, he just thought his name sounded stronger and more final. Sometimes the wrong word just fits the work better.

henderson.wesley1mo ago

Totally get what ray363 is saying, he probably just liked the sound of it. I had a client point at a dovetail and call it a "diamond bite." I corrected him at first, but honestly? It's kind of perfect. Now I catch myself saying it in the shop. These little mix-ups have a way of making things feel more solid, you know? Like a diamond bite IS stronger than just a dovetail.