Does anyone know of a source for floating tenons? I know, I know they are easy to make but I believe it would be more cost effective if I could at least buy preshaped lengths and then just cut to length as needed.
I’m sure someone supplies them for large commcial operations.
Replies
I know of no source. And I'd just like to point out that it is easier to fit a floating tennon to a mortise rather than the other way around.
Musick, beware of 'cost effective'-it can ruin your life.Is woodworking your hobby ,secondary income source or your livelihood?
Lee Valley tools sels three different sizes in 12 inch lengths
I make my own from cutoff scraps of thicker lumber--a minute or so or running them through the thickness planar, and voila. Very cost effective.
The other reason I wouldn't buy pre-made ones is they will shrink and swell during the year. I machine mine from well dried stock close to the day I'm assembling the work. I've found leftover stock made a few months before doesn't always fit as precisely...
Pondfish,
When making your your own are you making them for squared of mortises are mortises left round as made with horizontal mortiser or router?
If left round are you rounding off the edges of the floating tenon to match or are you simply putting two 45 degre camfers on the edges of the tenon or what?
I've got a horizontal mortiser that can cut square mortises, however I was leaning towards leaving the mortises rounded off as I can cut those quicker and cleaner (tighter tolerences) than with the chisel attachment. I was then leaning towards making the tenons with 3 facets each edge of the tenon to get a better fit with the mortise but yet leave room for air and glue to escape when inserting the tenon. What do you think about that technique?
Not rounding the edges on the tenons would make them easier to produce myself.
I've done rounded and square tenons; I prefer the rounded since I like to use a router and jig to cut the mortises. This, in my hands, is easier and more precise than my drill press with square mortise attachment.
For rounding the edges I now have a simple router bit to do it, but I found that a block plane will round off sides to good accuracy pretty quickly. Having some small gap at the edges won't really hurt the tenon strength, but don't reduce the tenon width if you can.Recommending the use of "Hide Signatures" option under "My Preferences" since 2005
If you want to buy floating tenons, you will be happy with the ones from Lee Valley. I've used them. The are well made, and are slotted for glue squeeze out.
Cheers. Walker1
I use floating tenons alot, and prefer to utilize off-cuts of the stock I'm using for the piece, that way all the wood will move the same.
Jus my 2 cents
R13
Making your own tennons is pretty easy.I make a sample mortise,say 3/8 wide.then measure the length with calipers and make square tennons that size.I have a router with an over size base that I can turn upside down and screw it to the table.I double stick tape a fence next to the router bit flush with the bearing.Use a 3/16 radius roundover bit and run a bunch.That way your not trying to fit someone elses tennons to your mortise.Good luck.
I seriously doubt that someone makes them for a commercial operation. I've been in the business for 30 years in factories and custom shops and do purchasing now. I've dealt with a lot of dowel and secondary wood product suppliers and have never seen any tenon stock except for the sfuff at Lee Valley. If someone requested it you can be assured it would be available. Most premanufactured stuff seems to be geared toward the hobby woodworker such as push sticks, zero clearance throat plates.
If anyone would make them it would be these guys...http://www.chicagodowel.com/index.html 
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