Table of Contents
How do you cut a mortise and tenon?
It can be cut in several ways, among them the traditional approach of using sturdy mortising chisels and a mallet to chisel out the hole by hand. Another option is to use a Forstner or auger bit on your drill or drill brace to start the mortise, then clean and square it with a chisel.
What tools do I need to make a mortise and tenon joint?
If you’re doing woodworking on a shoestring budget, you’ll be happy to know that the only tools you need to cut tight-fitting mortise and tenon joints are a square, knife and marking gauge, a fine-toothed saw, and a couple of sharp chisels and mallet.
Should you cut the mortise or tenon first?
The mortise and tenon is probably the most used and trusted joint in traditional woodworking. For me, making the two parts of the joint always follows a specific order — the mortise comes first, followed by a tenon to fit.
How strong is a mortise and tenon joint?
The mortise and tenon joints averaged 172 pounds, whereas the dowel joint averaged 135 pounds. So the mortise and tenon joints still beat out the dowel joints, but not by a dramatic margin. On average, the mortise joints were only about 25% stronger.
How do you make a tenon by hand?
How to Cut Tenons by Hand A step-by-step guide. Begin by marking the tenon shoulders. Use a cutting gauge for clean, deep lines. Pick up the mortise width. Mark the tenon thickness. Mark the haunch. Secret to a clean shoulder. Cut the shoulders using a backsaw with crosscut teeth. Cut the cheeks with a ripsaw.
What kind of chisel is used for mortise?
A corner chisel is often used to make cabinets. These hand tools are used for cutting deep corners into mortises and cleaning out square corners. Each chisel face is sharpened using an oil stone.
Which chisel is useful to produce mortise and tenon joint?
Use a corner chisel to finish off and square up the corners. Tenons can be cut on a radial arm saw, table saw or even with a router in a router table. A dado head fitted to a radial arm saw makes quick work of cutting tenons.
How do you make a mortise with a table saw?
To create the mortise, you make the leg out of two separate pieces. Then, instead of making the mortise after the leg is glued up, you cut dadoes on the inside face of both halves of the leg first (detail ‘a’). This way, you end up with perfectly sized mortises once the two parts are glued together.
What is a rabbet cut?
A rabbet (American English) or rebate (British English) is a recess or groove cut into the edge of a piece of machinable material, usually wood. A rabbet can be used to form a joint with another piece of wood (often containing a dado). Rabbet joints are easy to construct and have good appeal to them.
What is the strongest joint in woodworking?
What is the strongest woodworking joint? For excellent stability, the mortise and tenon joint is a great choice. It’s a relatively simple joint, yet it holds well. Woodworkers have been using it for generations because of its strength, versatility and simple design.
What is the strongest 90 degree joint?
Mortise and Tenon Woodworking Joints One of the strongest woodworking joints is the mortise and tenon joint. This joint is simple and strong. Woodworkers have used it for many years. Normally you use it to join two pieces of wood at 90-degrees.
Can you cut a tenon with a chisel?
Cut 1 — Start by standing behind the work. Position the chisel, flat side away from you, about 3/16″ from the far end of the mortise. Tap lightly to set the chisel, then hit it hard. If you hit as hard as I do, three blows will usually drive it as far as it will go.
What is the difference between a paring chisel and a mortise chisel?
Common Types and Sizes A common variant is the paring chisel, which has a longer, thinner blade. Mortising Chisel (at right): One variant is the firmer chisel, which has a thick blade – though not as thick as a mortising chisel – and is designed for heavier work.
How does a mortise chisel work?
The square chisel mortiser (also called hollow chisel mortiser), similar to a drill press in many respects, combines the cutting of a four-sided chisel with the action of a drill bit in the center. The bit clears out most of the material to be removed, and the chisel ensures the edges are straight and clean.
What is a mortise chisel tool used for?
Mortise chisels are specialized chisels for chopping out a mortise. They are designed to withstand heavy blows with a mallet, and can be used for cutting directly across the grain, as well as for levering out waste material.
What are Marples chisels?
They are a modification of a firmer chisel, which has a rectangular shape that tapers from the shank to the cutting edge. Beveling the edges was an improvement over the firmer chisel making it better for cutting dovetails. The bevel edge gave better access when cutting half-blind dovetails.
What does a firmer chisel do?
Firmer chisel. has a blade with a thick rectangular cross section, making them stronger for use on tougher and heavier work.
What is a Haunched mortise and tenon joint?
HAUNCHED MORTISE & TENON. When a tenon is cut back or notched along one edge, the resulting short stub is referred to as a haunch (drawing above). This type of mortise and tenon joint is commonly used in making heavy-duty frame and panel assemblies.
How do you repair a broken mortise and tenon joint?
To repair a loose mortise and tenon joint, it is best if you can completely separate the two pieces. Try and pull them apart with your hands, or use a small rubber mallet to gently knock them apart. Use a scraper or light sandpaper to remove all of the old glue from both the mortise and the tenon.
