Hi,

I have been looking for some good clear instruction how to make a through mortise and tenon joint with hand tools. Most of the books I have like FWW Techniques etc have it sorta mixed in with a plethora of other joints. The step by step I'm finding, to me, takes that "stick figure to Mona Lisa in 3 steps" approach and I'm not easily figuring a plan of attack.

So far I understand the following and my "experiments" have been based so far. My project is @3/4" walnut.

Make the mortise first.

On wedge side make 1/8" larger on the 2 sides to accept the wedge.

1/8" shoulder on tenon

Now with the said @3/4" stock I end up with a tenon 1/2" square and a mortise 1/2" x 3/4".

I've gotten pretty good at making perfectly square holes with just chisels. But amabout to embark on making the tapered mortise.

Anyway lot's of thought and each time I start I make a new discovery. So any definitive articles or book on the subject or pointers gladly welcomed.

Thanks,

Warren Allen
Oceanside, CA