How-To
Tenons on the Bandsaw
Tim Rousseau shows how to cut tenons with a bandsaw and a clever spacer-block trick.
In issue #256, Tim Rousseau uses a tablesaw to cut the tenons on his frame-and-panel cabinet. In an excerpt from his Video Workshop, Rousseau shows you how to do the job with a bandsaw and a clever spacer block trick.
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How to Cut Accurate Tenons on the Table Saw
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Create Perfect Double Tenons with a Router
Comments
In an "excerpt" from his Video Workship...
Thanks for the catch!
This method of using a spacer block, even when sized to the exact thickness of the tenon, is unreliable and very finicky to set up. The set in the bandsaw blade affects the outcome and will have you pulling your hair out trying to adjust for it. It is much easier and you will get better results by setting the blade just to the outside line of the first cheek cut (furthest from the fence) and just flipping the stock to cut the other (inside) cheek. The tenon will be perfectly centered. Leaving the test cut a little fat, you can then sneak up on the exact finished thickness of the tenon. If running several identical tenons, you can have at it one after the next without any further adjustments and you will be able to fit your tenons to your mortises right off the saw.
The nice thing about this method is that once you have your spacer blocks, it's completely repeatable. Is it finicky to set up? It's worth taking the time to get your spacer block just right. I wouldn't call that any more finicky then making any jigs that allow for repeatable results. I use this method all the time for making double tenons. Tim is a master at making processes quicker and easier.
I have been using this method for a long time with good results. Sometimes I will trim the cheeks with a router plane as needed. The best thing about this is that it references off of one face. This helps because it takes any thickness discrepancies out of the equation.
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