The video “How to make a Mortise and Tenon Joint – The Three Joints” is by Paul Sellers. In this engaging tutorial, Paul guides viewers through the intricate process of creating a mortise and tenon joint, a fundamental technique in furniture making.
Understanding the Mortise and Tenon Joint
Paul starts by explaining that this joint is a frame joint widely used in furniture making. The mortise and tenon joint consists of a mortise hole in one piece of wood and a tenon that fits into this hole on another piece. This connection is not only strong but also essential for various furniture structures.
Setting Up the Mortise
To begin, Paul marks the location for the mortise hole by drawing two lines to approximate its position. He emphasizes the importance of transferring these lines across the entire surface and onto the adjacent face, ensuring accuracy in the mortise’s width. This preparation allows for a clean cut of an elongated hole.
Creating the Mortise Hole
Using a half-inch chisel, Paul explains that he will cut a mortise of the same width. He carefully measures to ensure the two points marking the mortise are equidistant from both sides. This precision is crucial for the joint’s integrity.
Once the points are established, he uses a knife to create a definitive wall for the mortise’s width. This technique ensures that the mortise will be clean and precise, as the knife wall guides the chisel during the cutting process.
Chopping the Mortise
When it comes to chopping the mortise, Paul prefers to work in a vise, which provides stability. He stresses the importance of not cutting into the knife wall and instead focuses on removing the waste in controlled increments. This methodical approach helps maintain the integrity of the walls of the mortise.
As he continues to chop, Paul explains the technique of leveraging the chisel to create a clean and deep mortise. He illustrates how the chisel’s bevel creates a slope inside the cut, allowing for efficient waste removal.
Making the Tenon
After successfully cutting the mortise, Paul transitions to making the tenon. He begins by marking the shoulder lines on the wood. This step is crucial as it ensures that the tenon will fit snugly into the mortise.
Paul uses a tenon saw for this part of the process, starting with a knife cut to guide the saw. He emphasizes the importance of cutting on the waste side of the line, ensuring that the tenon remains slightly oversized for a perfect fit.
Final Adjustments and Fitting
Once the tenon is cut, Paul checks the fit by pressing it into the mortise. He listens for any tight spots and makes adjustments as necessary. Using a router, he refines the tenon to achieve the perfect fit, demonstrating that patience and precision are key in woodworking.
Conclusion
With the tenon fitting snugly into the mortise, Paul wraps up the tutorial, explaining that this joint is now ready for assembly. He mentions that traditionally, mortise and tenon joints are often glued and wedged or secured with drawbore pins for added strength.
Ultimately, Paul Sellers provides a comprehensive and engaging tutorial on creating mortise and tenon joints, emphasizing the importance of accuracy, technique, and patience in woodworking.
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