HI,
I have a chair to build where the back leg leans backward at about 20*. The wide (100mm) side rails are attached by M&T, and the style dictates that the joint will have the same angle as the lean.
Am I better off angling the mortice or the tennon. marking out the tennon at an angle is easy compared with butting the mortice in at an angle, but I will loose a bit of tennon width. I guess if I was being really picky, I would also say that a tenon pointing down will also help locking the joint under pressure of someone in the chair, but suspect that this is a bit of a stretch.
The picture illustrates, but is a big big.
Thanks,
David
Replies
David, I couldn't read your attachment, but generally, unless the rails are dowel type (round), the tenon is angled, not the mortise. The reason is that it is easier to make the set up for angled tenons than angled mortises.
I suggest you get real handy with hand tools or make a tenoning jig or buy one the handful of commercial jigs available, like Trend, Leigh or Woodrat. I made my own.
Regards,
Boris
"Sir, I may be drunk, but you're crazy, and I'll be sober tomorrow" -- WC Fields, "Its a Gift" 1934
Thanks, Skills not the problem.
I am building a rather peculiar style of chair found on the wide veradahs of north Queensland. It is pretty simple except for this tenon problem - what would have been usual in the style?
The rail is 4" wide so strength is not going to be an issue, som I will go with angling the tenon.
RJ,
Yup, not into dowels and biscuits for this stuff - its a personal thing and not a comment on any one else's execution or style. Angling the Tenon is the way I would normally approach this, just the large slope of the back made me think twice before cutting (easier and cheaper than trying to source more wood from the same tree).
Would like to see some pics of your chair/stool for comparison. I had understood that this was a style relic of late British colonialism in the far east. The only places I have seen it are Malaysia and Queensland. The reason for the arms is as leg rests - perhaps not elegant in the classic sense but does allow the breeze to circulate.
David
Another vote for angling the tenon. There's lots of "meat" there and it's SO much easier. Not to mention it will hold up very slightly better.
Michael R
Why?
Spent the available time this weekend turning the legs (and shelving the kids room), so havent hit it yet. When I think about this, the straight tennon just draws naturally, and there will be no short grain in the tennon, but the mortice will be a bit of a B to cut two at the same angle.
Constant thinking process isnt it?
David
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