Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge
Sat at the mortise shop
jim_reed@marietta
>The Ky cabinet I am building calls for multiple blind mortise joints on bottom and middle shelves. I am using 6/4 maple and am expecting a super strong cabinet. I did the first set this afternoon--only three more sets to go. Shown are the tools. Note that Marples, Stanley, and Reedmaster chisels were used.
Reedmaster! :-)
Don Thompson, Cutler Ridge, South of Miami FL
>They look a little naked!
couple questions
Tom Sontag - St. Louis
>My craftsmanship would have me putting a slight shoulder on those tenons to hide the entry point a bit - any reason you did not do that? If you are that good, it is okay to say so. ;-) I am not.
That stepped mortise is also very interesting - care to describe the reasoning there?
If strength and holding power were a concern, did you consider blind pinned dovetails? I hope that is the correct term for those tenons that flare out just a bit when you hammer them home with short wedges in place - you know what I am talking about?
Re: couple questions
Frank D. in Montreal
>Hi Tom,
I think maybe you mean fox-wedged tenons.
Frank
Why
jim_reed@marietta
>I wanted to let the shelf into the front piece, but didn't want to chop the front piece too much. Thought the 1/2" step was a good compromise. As for the wedge, that is a good idea. This is a really tight and strong multiple mortise in 6/4 maple. Downward force does not have a chance, but there is little to keep it from blowing the sides. Wedge would work there. As for the front joint, the design calls for a skirt which will cover that up. Thanks for the suggestion.