Replies

1. 
   ring | Nov 13, 2009 08:31am | #1

   The simplest way I've found is to use a straight bit in a plunge router, running alongside a fence. Stop just a bit short of the tenons and finish into the corners with a chisel.

   David Ring

   http://www.touchwood.co.il/?lang=e&id=1

2. 
   SteveSchoene | Nov 13, 2009 03:50pm | #2

   Seems to me that if you proceed as if you were making one really wide tenon, cutting the shoulder on than tenon as you usually do, then when you remove part of that tenon to leave the visible through tenons, you just need to take care not to disturb the shoulder.   Personally I'd leave the router cut just shy of the shoulder line and pare the extra with a chisel, but then I'm naturally adverse to relying on router setups.  Folks with more advanced router skills and confidence, like Ring, can proceed more efficiently. 

3. 
   MikeHennessy | Nov 13, 2009 04:06pm | #3

   A nice detail (and one used by Greene & Greene, as I discovered at a recent museum exhibit) is to house the shelf. I.e., you recess the shelf end into the side about 1/8". That way, the joint is always clean.

   Mike Hennessy
   Pittsburgh, PA
   Everything fits, until you put glue on it.

1. 
   ring | Nov 13, 2009 04:21pm | #4

   Mike, that's a good idea. I never noticed that detail.David Ring

   http://www.touchwood.co.il/?lang=e&id=1

2. 
   boilerbay | Nov 13, 2009 04:39pm | #5

   Mike,Glad you brought that up.
   Almost all G & G tenon work was housed.
   As you said, normally about 1/8".You could say, housed tenons were one of the Hall Brothers hallmarks :)BB

1. 
   SARGEgrinder47 | Nov 13, 2009 05:50pm | #6

   Another ditto Mike H. I always house them unless I am doing a floating shelf as I just did on a printer table where there are no full carcass sides.

    Sarge..

   Woodworkers' Guild of Georgia