I am currently using hand tools for everything (it seems cheaper to get started with the best handtools than the best powertools – maybe I am wrong there, but that’s not my question.) By the time I have finished cutting and fitting the tenons to the mortises, they are usually kind of beaten up. I usually have to fill gaps or corners with wood fill before I finish. What tips do you have on cleaning up my tenons with out beating them up.
Thomas
Replies
Hi,
Sorry I've been so slow in replying. I was up in Alaska giving a workshop.
Well I think your tenons should look pretty clean when putting them in a mortise. Particularly if they're hand cut. I use a shoulder plane however for my final fitting.
Cut tenons with a rip saw to get clean faces. And my habit is to mark out and cut and clean my shoulders, then cut one face/ cheek of a tenon and clean that up. Make sure it's flat and parallel with the faces of your stock. Then mark and cut the second face. Clean it with a good shoulder plane to get a tight fit that fills up that mortise.
Have fun. Hand tools are slow but so much more satisfying to use.
Gary Rogowski
http://www.northwestwoodworking.com
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