Joinery

Re: Joinery

I’d bet the plans are not talking about the fit of the tenon but rather describing a mortise and tenon that can be cut with something like a Domino.  If you’re wondering about fit, they should fit like any other tenon, not a piston fit but there should be enough room for glue.  If the tenon just falls out of the mortise, it’s too loose.

Re: Joinery

Not sure. Don't know if there are any published plans. Mine is based on Will Myers write up a Moravian bench.

Re: Joinery

The fit should be firm, with the faces tight …

The above were made with a Domino machine, but the usual way is to use a router. 

Of course, you can always use traditional tenons as well. Just allow for the extra length.

The other option is that you can either leave the ends round, or square them. Here I am using a hollow chisel …

Regards from Perth

Derek

Re: Joinery

Karl, I am guessing you have figured it out by now, but "loose tenon" is a term different from "mortice and tenon". 

Mortice and tenon means there is a mortice in one piece and a tenon on the other, with the tenon cut from and integral to that piece.

Loose tenon has three parts, Two pieces that have mortices and a separate tenon that fits into both mortices and ties them together.

Mortice and tenon are ancient tech and have been used in wood working for millennia.  Traditional loose tenons have been used for a very long time also and there are many ways to make both of them, but Festool introduced the Domino machine a relatively few years ago and that has made it easy to make matching mortices and they will sell Dominoes (Or you can make your own) to use as loose tenons.

As to the fit, snug, you should be able to press the tenons into the mortice by hand, a friction fit, so that the glue on all the surfaces will make good contact.  (This is the short version, books have been written on the topic.  YouTube is your friend.)

Re: Joinery

I thought a Domino is called a "floating" tenon.

Thanks, Fellas

Just to wrap up; tenons should be snug. The surfaces should mate well with their mortises. So simple