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Mortising
Mortise and Tenon Joints
Mortise and Tenon Basics
The mortise-and-tenon is one of the strongest joints in woodworking... and the recent popularity of arts-and-crafts (mission) furniture has also made it one of the most popular.
Tenons are usually 1/3 the thickness of the mating stock and centered (3/4" stock = 1/4" tenon). The mortise should be about 3/4 the width of the mating stock. For blind joints, the tenon should be a bit shorter than the mortise depth, to allow room for glue. (4" wide stock = 1 7/16" long tenon).
Which first - mortise or tenon? The mortise should always be cut first, because it's far easier to shave tenon dimensions than it is to enlarge mortises.
Eight Common Mortise-and-Tenon Joints
Blind
Cogged
Haunched
Keyed
Loose Wedged
Three Way
Through
Twin
Read more about Mortising and Tenoning in the online edition of the Power Tool Woodworking For Everyone textbook.
Shopsmith Mortising Catalog
Save with the Mortise and Tenon Package
Save by buying the mortise and tenon package. It contains the tenon master jig, along with mortising attachment, mortising hold-down, one each of 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" bit/chisel sets, and honing stone.
Hollow Chisel Mortising Package
The package includes everything needed to cut 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" mortises.
Slot Mortising Package
The slot mortising package includes the router chuck, bits and shield you'll need to create the mortises along with the Shopsmith Tenon Master Jig.
Tenon Master Jig
Cut perfect tenons every time with the tenon master jig.
Individual Hollow Chisel Mortising Items
Mortising hold-down, mortising attachment, mortising bit/chisel sets and chisel honing stones.
Table Support Leg
Provides extra support for your table during mortising or drilling operations.
Which Mortising Method?
Slot mortises are created by drilling or routing, then sized and squared with a chisel. Hollow chisel mortises are created by a square, tubular chisel with a drill bit inside. This method is faster and requires less sizing and squaring.
Which Tenoning Method?
Tenons can be formed by making repetitive dado blade passes with the stock laying flat on the work table surface - or by making (usually) six cuts with a regular saw blade and a tenoning jig that lets you stand the stock on end to cut the broad sides of the tenons cheeks. Routers can also cut tenons, using special jigs.
Shopsmith Videos
Shopsmith Tools in Action
Two Ways to Make a Mortise - Part 1
Two Ways to Make a Mortise - Part 2
Ten-Cent Mortising Gauge
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