How to Make a Double Bridle Joint
Twin tenons maximize strength and add decorative flair
Synopsis: Strong and handsome, the double bridle joint is well-suited to a structural role in furniture. The double mortises and interlocking tenons provide a lot of glue surface, making the joint incredibly strong even in narrow stock. And the alternating pattern of end grain and edge grain also makes the joint beautiful, especially if dressed up with a mitered inside corner. This is a great joint for joining a leg and sled foot for a stool, chair, or bench. Ian Godfrey cuts the joint on the tablesaw and uses test pieces to help dial in the fit.
When I was learning to build furniture at the Inside Passage School in British Columbia, I saw a chair by College of the redwoods graduate Ben green that used a double bridle joint. I immediately admired the joint for its strength and understated beauty.
Unlike the standard bridle joint, which is often used…
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