How to Make Mortise and Tenon Joints with Hand Tools

[@jbailey8567]

There aren't many videos which get a like from me, but you get one for a) having the best you tube name and b) showing me how to make a mortise and tenon joint without a 4.6m invesment in tools i don't need. Thank you!

[@solidsnake9332]

Quick and precise videos. No rambling and just the sound of tool on wood.

[@WoodAndShop]

Glad you liked it!

[@TheSMEAC]

I appreciate you demonstrating the proper method of scribing with the mortise gauge, so many guys seem to blow by it.

[@heydaanrecords]

This is very helpful in my first babysteps of woodworking, making a mortise/tenon joint is a must-do for me !

[@garryclayton1798]

I watched this video before I went to college again last night and my joint turned out perfect. The teacher was impressed. Thank you so much for the help!!

[@WoodAndShop]

Woo Hoo Garry! Make sure you subscribe on my website so you can get my future tutorials.

[@maximilianmus506]

when

[@maximilianmus506]

when did i ask

[@spicyAUS]

@@maximilianmus506 dryyyyyy

[@syyyyddddddd]

@@spicyAUS af

[@spiderrabbit1556]

Just what i needed simple and without power tools. Thanks.

[@wiscgaloot]

I learned how to do this more than 20 years ago, long before KZbin--mostly from books. I miss having a nice woodworking shop, it's so relaxing doing stuff like this and having a table come together using only hand tools.

[@firstlight4165]

Very concise, easy to understand. Basic tools. Well done!

[@trampvideos]

Just what I wanted. Seriously nice video. Great pace, adequate level of explanation. Camera angles. Even your tone and accent. Easy on the ears. Just all round spot on! Thank you!

[@WoodAndShop]

+Aleks James Thanks so much Aleks!

[@MrBoondaba]

+Wood and Shop I was writing my own comment but it was essentially a copy of Aleks'. I especially appreciate the camera work. Building my wife a large, mobile chicken coop/tractor for her hens and I want the vertical 2x4s to be flush with the base 2x6s. Without buying a couple hundred in pins or having ugly supports, M&T and dowel joints are really the only options. I figured eh, I have to learn tenons sometime. I've taken in several videos and articles but this one relieved the most apprehensiveness. Now if the sun will just come out...

[@lks5138]

Aleks James a

[@Farroutman1]

I was thinking the same thing. Wasn't too dumbed down but, wasn't overly technical too. The pace was easy to follow and the technique displayed was great.

[@TheAudioman15]

Aleks James ditto. Great great video 👍

[@maxmelgarejo5335]

I'm not even a novice, but I really enjoy the video. It seems like a clear and helpful guide to woodworking.

[@WoodAndShop]

Max Melgarejo Glad you liked it Max!

[@PHONYJOSEPH]

Great video. I like how clearly you explain how to cut this joint.

[@sandythomas9714]

New subscriber,, I am a female from Jamaica, you have made this tuturial easy to understand, will be checking out your other videos

[@WoodAndShop]

Glad you enjoyed it Sandy, and glad to have someone from Jamaica watching! I sure could use a nice Jamaica beach right now!

[@nazorex256]

You are the best teacher ever❤❤❤❤😮😮😮 I understand everything😊😊😊

[@yeskay7505]

Excellent video...returned all the expensive tools (router, jig & bits)after watching the video & project finished with very simple inexpensive tools which I already had. Thank you so much...

[@donaldcurley5812]

Thanks very helpful, haven't done that since school,many years back!

[@ibrhemahmed170]

Very good and thank you so much

[@existesters4002]

Great video Josh thank you for sharing this, I'm just starting woodworking as a hobby so videos like this are great for complete novices. Thanks again.

[@moneyman_1_7_3_8]

very helpful. I take woodshop and my final tomorrow is making one of these

[@madamerosario]

Your videos have awesome production value, I hope to see many more in the future. Perhaps I feel similarly to others getting into woodworking who don't have access to formal classes, but I hope you make additional in depth and longer videos (similar to this one) where text can't really capture what's going on (e.g. Paul Sellers). Off I go to watch all your other videos ... thanks so much for making them. Cheers from Manhattan.

[@WoodAndShop]

You're so welcome! My goal is to consolidate the skills into much shorter videos. Some people's videos are way longer than necessary, so I try to pack as much method into as little time as possible. Traditional woodworking is perfect for someone who lives in Manhattan...all you need is a small space for a workbench!

[@RenoScruggs]

Josh you a great job in explaining this. Your videos are the easiest for me to understand.

[@WoodAndShop]

***** That's been my goal Steven, so I'm glad that there is enough detail to help understand!

[@RenoScruggs]

Yes sir

[@jeremyng737]

Great video, but it is preferable to make the mortise first followed by the tenon. In case of errors, it is always easier to adjust the tenon than the mortise...

[@lewis5738]

id say its easier to ajust the tennon

[@thewoodworker-mu2ly]

great video very good tip using a chisel to cut a grove for the saw to sit in on the cut line

[@WoodAndShop]

Thanks for watching it!

[@brissa714]

Great Video. Thank You

[@barretthageman3350]

I really need to put away the power tools once and awhile and get back to the basics. Great video.

[@WoodAndShop]

Yea Barrett! Spread the good word to other power woodworkers. It's so much more satisfying, quiet, & safe. And it makes you feel super cool. :)

[@viviawaag863]

I’m planning on making a bassinet, an old fashioned one, that looks like my great grandfather’s, where it goes all the way through and secured with a pin. But this is much prettier, with a hidden “seam”. ☺️ This is an awesome video, and very well described. 😃

[@tooljunkie555]

very informative.thanks for sharing..i forget how gratifying handtools can be after doing it with power tools for so long. lol

[@scannon90]

You taught both parts of the joint in less than ten minutes, therefore you are a stud.

[@WoodAndShop]

LOL, thanks! Hope you subscribe!

[@leifharmsen]

Nice. Now I have to buy new tools that would have been useless before I learned how to use them in this video, but now should be useful for the rest of my life especially living in this 19th C house with mortise everything that will all need fixing or replacing at some point. Job #1 replacing the broken outer rail on my front door!

[@gregparman-sibley6277]

Thank you Josh. Been struggling to make these joints accurately for years :) Watched a couple of times and took notes to follow, then improvised with the tools I have. The main tools missing are a scribe and mortise chisels so used my combination square in place of the scribe and normal bevel chisel taking smaller steps for walking each way across the mortise while cutting it out. Result was a far tighter joint when finished and much more accurate with a good crisp edge around the mortise though slightly sloppy still and fractionally off true. The next one was almost perfect with next to no sloppiness. Think some early birthday presents are in order :)

[@WoodAndShop]

I'm glad it helped Greg! Now you gotta get involved on my website and forum!

[@gregparman-sibley6277]

Subscribed already :)

[@bashkillszombies]

@@WoodAndShop Watch your S' bro, they're blowing peoples ear holes out. REALLY painful to listen to.

[@puffdragon]

This is awesome. I took a lot of woodworking classes and this is a great refresher. I look forward to watching more of your videos.

[@WoodAndShop]

Great Gail! I'm glad it helped. If you visit my website at woodandshop.com you can subscribe to get all my videos & blog posts!

[@puffdragon]

Thank you.

[@honoriosergio5454]

Ola Joshua! eu achava que teria que ter diversas ferramentas elétricas para fazer bons trabalhos de marcenaria, descobri seus vídeos por acaso, e vi que realmente se tivermos capricho e boas ferramentas manuais nossos projetos em madeira ficam muito bons, eu faço montagens dobsonianas para telescópios e descobri que trabalhando manualmente e com capricho elas ficam muito boas, obrigado pelos seus vídeos eu sou do Brasil!

[@karistinton888]

Thank you for the clear instructions. I fully agree with Aleks James comments.

[@scannon90]

This project looks less formidable on repeated viewings.

[@bouyssouluc5083]

Félicitation, un tenon et une mortaise fait à la main.. Je vais essayer. Merci et Bravo Luc (FRANCE)

[@stanleycarter6275]

I'm learning how to make these at school thank you your video will give me a head start (:

[@martinberry1040]

Excellent. Thank you for taking the time to post this - much obliged.

[@WoodAndShop]

You're most welcome Martin!

[@jeshuamalraj7744]

very helpful. i am an engineering student from india starting my woodwork c classes for the first time.

[@ScottBelleriWorkshop]

That was so thorough. Thanks a lot, my woodworking friend.

[@WoodAndShop]

Glad it was helpful Scott! Have you subscribed at my website? You'll get great content that way.

[@shihancheng]

I am laying in bed having a sinus headache from menopause. I don’t even know why I watched the entire thing but it’s mesmerizing. 😃

[@MustarcakeTeam]

This is a really good tutorial!! :D. I'm making a bedside table for timber in year 10 and I struggle so hard making just the tenons. For me I keep stuffing it up. I make the sides uneven and it does not look pretty :I I dunno if I have enough time to redo new tenons.

[@biswajitbiswas3618]

Thanks We want more video about common joint

[@Adam-nj9oh]

Now that's a nice marking gauge, so sad it doesn't deliver to me :(

[@WoollyMammoth666]

adam, sexc time tomorrow at 8.28am

[@Adam-nj9oh]

@@WoollyMammoth666 yes sir

[@corvetteshorts4670]

Great video. Followed your instruction and they turned out perfect. Subscribed!

[@danieldargis7429]

Good video, learned how to use the mortise shizel properly(i think) ^^ ...will try it this weekend :D

[@robertbrunston5406]

Very good Josh.

[@thomassudderth767]

Awesome video. I'm gonna check out the rest

[@BrainSchematic]

Thanks for the video. Great job on the steps and everything else. You got yourself another subscriber:)

[@WoodAndShop]

Glad you liked it Rian! Subscribe on my blog, and you'll get even better content!

[@bonnyjones7995]

Great overview!! Thank you!

[@sepatufutsale]

thx,easy to understand, salam from country +62🙏

[@Snuggo_shop]

Great video ❤

[@MrTelboy1962]

Thank you for putting this video together it it most helpful!

[@WoodAndShop]

You're most welcome!

[@mandarabattalahalli37]

This was so awesome. Thank you.

[@AlexEllis]

Really helpful and clear 🙌

[@fatmouselive9827]

The joint may be glued, pinned, or wedged to lock it in place.

[@mattao711]

Great video! Very detailed and informative - thank you!

[@rajkumarponnuthurai9696]

Bro! what you showed gave me an interest in woodworking at home, thanks. what are the basic, essential tools required to have a wood workshop in the backyard...

[@WoodAndShop]

Glad to hear it! Check this page, and scroll down a little ways: woodandshop.com/which-hand-tools-do-you-need-for-traditional-woodworking/ Just be careful to keep your tools well oiled if they'll be in a shed in the back yard

[@greggthomas3827]

Thank you for another fine video.

[@attilaelekes5534]

Thank you!

[@jeffbuck634]

I enjoyed your video, Josh. You could have wrapped a piece of tape around your chisel to determine how far down to chisel the mortise. Thanks for the video.

[@WoodAndShop]

Hey Jeff, thanks for the tip.

[@IWCLuxuryFurniture]

U cut that tenon like a piece of cake

[@Halamus_tafa]

how beautiful ! really very helpful and accurate !

[@WoodAndShop]

Glad you liked it! Have you tried woodandshop.com? There's a lot more there!

[@nitsua123100]

Prince of Peace

[@pcproff]

Great video. Thanks Joshua.

[@WoodAndShop]

You're most welcome!

[@ferix007]

Really helpful video, thank you. On the video production side of things: it got a bit hard to hear you over the sawing and hammering. May I suggest lowering the audio levels of that layer so your voiceover is more pronounced?

[@robertdeloyola5171]

very helpful! thank you!

[@MuhammadRizwan-ky1il]

Very very yousfull sir thank you very much

[@omaratef1401]

Brilliant!

[@talstack9823]

very useful thanks

[@WoodAndShop]

You're most welcome!

[@kuparlanong6706]

Thank you sir..👍

[@MrFongio]

I'm Giovanni from Bologna, Italy. Very interesting video, a good collection of woodworking tecniques and solutions. Really a very good tutorial for me. Sorry but I've also a critics: not a good example of safety. What about worker falls? During all the video I've never seen any falls protection devices. Safety is not the object ov this video, of course, but during alla the video workers are totally exposed to fall risks.

[@AttackBunnies]

Love your videos! im learning a lot

[@WoodAndShop]

That makes me happy!

[@FitKore]

Thanks for the help!

[@dillwizard7516]

Thank you. That was very helpful.

[@onejedi66611]

Great video

[@sissywekesa4084]

I miss this :)

[@mencobakreatif1490]

good tutorial

[@bluegill2030]

Make it look so easy. I used a drill to get my depth then used a chisel to square it up inside..... turned out horrible to say the least. Definitely have to try this method, looks easier

[@WoodAndShop]

Glad I could help!

[@Nyro254]

Perfect 💯

[@pradnyeshnimbalkar8154]

Nice video thanks sir👍

[@tag_of_frank]

Could it be removed and put back several times and still work? I see really nice looking mortise/tennon joints that look finished and look like they can be used several times... maybe done with power tools?

[@robertbrunston5406]

Thank you

[@bradleyroon7639]

4 minutes in and i like it, but prefer the Paul Sellers mortise and tenon method. I think the marking is going to be more accurate

[@xerr0n]

god i've needed this, Thank You!

[@WoodAndShop]

So glad you enjoyed it xerr0n. You can find more on my website at woodandshop.com.

[@xerr0n]

Wood and Shop Thank you for sharing such a wealth of knowledge, your website has some Amazing content!

[@jayj4142]

The bevel on your marking gauge should slope TOWARD the waste side. FYI.

[@TimberlineWoodworks]

Nice

[@markussimarmata0939]

Veri skillfull

[@colerobinson4507]

So for years now I’ve been wanting my own home wood shop but at the time I’m not able to due to living and financial situations. But I have been thinking about starting to gather tools and materials to be able to do that. BUT with my current situation I won’t be able to do anything that requires power. Such as needing. A table saw or planet and jointer. Is there a way I could start with just hand tools and being completely energy free?

[@RetroSpock]

I see that your comment is a year old and nobody has replied.... first off, I’m wondering how you’ve got on in that year. Did you get your workshop in the end? Secondly, don’t forget people have been working and building with wood for thousands of years without power tools. If woodworking to you is slapping on goggles, ear muffs, gloves or whatever, and running the wood through a machine to do the work for you, then so be it. Hand tools have a zen about them, the process is calming and much more enjoyable to me. The journey is what brings us joy, having a piece of furniture at the end of it is just a bonus.

[@wiscgaloot]

Absolutely. I taught myself how to do hand tool woodworking in the late 90's, long before KZbin. And I made everything only with hand tools for several years. I eventually got an bandsaw and a thickness planer, but they aren't necessary.

[@سفينةالسنّة]

awesom thank you

[@alxndr.co846]

Nice..Good job!

[@WoodAndShop]

You're welcome Alexander! Have you checked out WoodAndShop.com? There's a lot more like this.

[@rjravaz]

I subcribed, great video. Do you have a video on how to cut 45 degree angle or do you have any tricks?

[@WoodAndShop]

Thanks! Are you talking about a miter joint? If so, I've got that on my filming list!

[@honoriosergio5454]

nice job!

[@WoodAndShop]

Thanks!

[@xucaen]

Does it matter what kind of saw you use to cut the tenon?

[@ianbassett2602]

Thanks for the great video What size should your mortise/tenon be in comparison to the width and breadth of my stock

[@WoodAndShop]

I'm not sure if there's any ratio out there. But just look at other photos of mortises & tenons and just get it close.

[@jfsauer42]

Normal rule of thumb for 3/4" boards and similar sizes is the tenon should be 1/3 the total width of the board. In wider stock, this ratio is less critical.

[@valobar17]

nice video i will like to now the name fo the marking gauge or wer i cant buy it and thanks for your time. nice tools!!!

[@WoodAndShop]

Thanks Victor! The link is on this page: woodandshop.com/woodworking-hand-tool-buying-guide-layout-marking-measuring/ Here's my intro buying guide: woodandshop.com/getting-started-traditional-handtool-woodworking-step-1/

[@sandythomas9714]

Thank you for responding,,,

[@JA-lr3ei]

what if you want to offset the mortise such as for a apron to leg for a table

[@philiphdc]

what is the functional difference between the different saws used ("dovetail", cross cut. back...)??

[@ceeg93]

Dovetail saws are just a type of back saw, usually smaller and finer than a tenon saw. Cross and rip cut saws can be any saw you file to fit your needs. A cross cut tooth is pointed and a ripcut tooth looks more like a chisel edge.

[@derstoffausdemderjoghurtis]

Is there anyway to use something else instead of a mortise chisel? Could you get it to work with the normal chisel?

[@WoodAndShop]

Sure, bore out the waste with a brace & bit or drill press, then use a bench chisel to clean it out.

[@jacobfischer6101]

Priceless video for quality-conscious DIYers, especially these days when the conventional wisdom tells us to just go buy whatever Home Depot has sitting on the shelf.

[@WoodAndShop]

***** Ha, ha, glad you liked it Jacob!

[@TheShavingWoodWorkshop]

Nicely done.....thumbs up :-)

[@WoodAndShop]

Thanks man! I put a lot of time into this, so I'm happy it helps. I'd appreciate help in spreading the word!

[@TheShavingWoodWorkshop]

Your welcome....I also shared your video on my facebook page, It's good content and very well explained....That's what I try to share with my subscribers :-)