I’m trying to build an arts and crafts/mission style grandfather clock with tapered sides (Stickley Grove Park Inn style). The sides are 7’ tall with a 2 degree bottom to top taper for the front or face view.

My current strategy is to cut the dados for the horizontal panels (and thru tendon) into the side panels using a shop made 2 degree wedge jig and router. The complexity is the horizontal panels will also have a thru tendon (about 3 wide x 2 long) as part of a 13” wide horizontal panel. The other option is to cut the angle into the horizontal panels but then I still have to deal with the thru tendon.

I think it’s less difficult to angle the dado (and use the same jig for the deeper cut thru mortise) into the side panels rather than to cut the angle in the horizontal panel especially since the horizontal panel with have the thru tendons feature. I know I need to finish the thru tendon with a pattern straight router bit on the exposed side.

I have also made a full size story board stick template of the front exposure to ensure I get horizontal length dimensions correct given the 2 degree bottom to top taper. I think the trigonometry math might be error prone so I made the story board for “truth”.

Comments and perspectives appreciated!