With regards to mortise and tenon joints what is the lay out guideline with respects to the depth of the mortise and length of tenon. I gather that the mortise depth should be a “whisker” deeper than the tenon length to allow the shoulder to bottom out on the rail. Also, it seems to me that when using a dado stack to cut the tenon it would be easier to set the blade height at 1/4″ (presuming using 3/4 stock) to do all sides of the tenon without making a second blade height ajustment. That would, however, dictate that the mortise be placed 1/4″ from the end of style. Is that OK or do I run the risk of “blowout”?
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Replies
Pilot,
I run my mortises about 1/16" deeper than my tenon, maybe a little less. This is mostly so there is room for excess glue. It also does allow the tenon shoulders to hit nicely.
As for making all my shoulder cuts with a dado blade and rotating my workpiece, I can't get perfect results. Not almost perfect, not pretty good but just a little off, I mean perfect. And I want perfect and I can't get it this way. So I cut my two long shoulders with a dado or regular blade, cut my tenon cheeks and then finish up the other much shorter shoulders with my chisel. Always works, always perfect. This way I can put my tenon where I want it, not where my dado tells me to.
I wouldn't worry about blow-out though if you cut slowly and have a sharp set. Best, Gary
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