Mortise marking

Dick Snyder · Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 21

Hi group,

I have been doing woodworking for a few years now but I am about to do my
first serious mortise and tenon joints on a set of three nesting tables. I
have watched Norm do these a lot but I don't have a dedicated mortiser. I
will use either a router and jig to cut the mortises or a drill and chisel.
I am wondering about your experience in doing accurate marking of the wood
where the mortise is to be cut. I have seen various mortise marking gauges.
Have you used these? Do you need these or is your hand and measuring ability
proven steady enough to draw the lines some other way?

This group has invariably been helpful to me when I ask questions so I am
looking forward to some help before this next step in improving my
woodworking skills.

TIA.

Dick Snyder

Archived from group: rec>woodworking

Lowell Holmes · Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 55

"Dick Snyder" wrote in message @comcast.com...
> Hi group,
>
> I have been doing woodworking for a few years now but I am about to do my
> first serious mortise and tenon joints on a set of three nesting tables. I
> have watched Norm do these a lot but I don't have a dedicated mortiser. I
> will use either a router and jig to cut the mortises or a drill and
> chisel. I am wondering about your experience in doing accurate marking of
> the wood where the mortise is to be cut. I have seen various mortise
> marking gauges. Have you used these? Do you need these or is your hand and
> measuring ability proven steady enough to draw the lines some other way?
>
> This group has invariably been helpful to me when I ask questions so I am
> looking forward to some help before this next step in improving my
> woodworking skills.
>
> TIA.
>
> Dick Snyder
>
The mortise gage is recommended. You set the gage to match the width of the
chisel. You set the mortise back from the edge and mark both the tenons and
the mortises with the same setting so they match. I mark the ends of the
mortises with a utility knife.
I have sometimes marked just one edge of the mortise with a marking gage,
mark the ends with a knife and just set the chisel against the one line. It
works because the tenon width is the same as the chisel width. I still use
the mortise gage to mark the tenons.

Woodwork magazine has had good information about this subject. You can
download a pdf copy of the magazine if you care to.

Frank Klausz has a good video on mortise and tenon joinery. He shows using
the chisel, router and the mortiser.

Lowell Holmes · Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 55

"Lowell Holmes" wrote in message $T8.31401@trnddc03...
>
> "Dick Snyder" wrote in message
> @comcast.com...
>> Hi group,
>>
>> I have been doing woodworking for a few years now but I am about to do my
>> first serious mortise and tenon joints on a set of three nesting tables.
>> I have watched Norm do these a lot but I don't have a dedicated mortiser.
>> I will use either a router and jig to cut the mortises or a drill and
>> chisel. I am wondering about your experience in doing accurate marking of
>> the wood where the mortise is to be cut. I have seen various mortise
>> marking gauges. Have you used these? Do you need these or is your hand
>> and measuring ability proven steady enough to draw the lines some other
>> way?
>>
>> This group has invariably been helpful to me when I ask questions so I am
>> looking forward to some help before this next step in improving my
>> woodworking skills.
>>
>> TIA.
>>
>> Dick Snyder
>>
> The mortise gage is recommended. You set the gage to match the width of
> the chisel. You set the mortise back from the edge and mark both the
> tenons and the mortises with the same setting so they match. I mark the
> ends of the mortises with a utility knife.
> I have sometimes marked just one edge of the mortise with a marking gage,
> mark the ends with a knife and just set the chisel against the one line.
> It works because the tenon width is the same as the chisel width. I still
> use the mortise gage to mark the tenons.
>
> Woodwork magazine has had good information about this subject. You can
> download a pdf copy of the magazine if you care to.
>
> Frank Klausz has a good video on mortise and tenon joinery. He shows using
> the chisel, router and the mortiser.
That should be Woodworking Magazine. It is the Spring 2007 issue.

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