Hi folks,
Yesterday, I started a small chair project that uses wood that's 1 1/2" square as it's basic component. I decided to go with M&T joinery for strength and durability - tenons that are 1/2" thick. But I don't have a 1/2" mortise chisel. So, for the first time, I drilled out most of the waste and squared things up with a bench chisel.
Here's the rub. I found that I LIKED doing it this way. Minimal setup required - mark a centerline in the mortise, chuck a 7/16" bradpoint bit in the drill press - and I got nice square mortises, quickly.
I'm a hybrid woodworker, rather than a full up Neander. I like handtools because I've learned that I can do so much stuff more quickly than with my machines - especially if it's only a few parts at a time. (I love using my planes, chisels and backsaws to do better/finer work and I get better with them every day.) But I can't see any real advantage to cutting mortises manually. I mean, they are always the same - no odd angles, no fine adjustments (I do those on the tenon), etc.
I definitely feel that cutting a few tenons by hand is better - faster than setup, etc and easier to tune. But I'm not seeing an equivalent example for Mortises. Am I missing something important, beyond the satisfaction of mastering another tool?
I'd appreciate some feedback.
Thanks.
Fred