The “mortise” is the recess where the tenon goes. It can be cut by hand with a mallet and mortising chisel, or mechanically ...

Usually, you’ll cut the mortise first, then size the tenon to fit. There are good reasons for this rule too. If you’re making the mortise with a hollow chisel mortiser or router, the bit will ...

One common joinery method used in wood working is the mortise and tenon. A mortise is basically a hole in a piece of wood and the tenon is another piece of wood cut to tightly fit in that hole.

Woodworkers have always been very clever about making strong and attractive joints — think of the strength of a mortise and tenon, or the artistry of a well-made dovetail. These joints have been ...