Mortise & Tenon Jig All in One // is it worth it?

#woodworking #joinery #DIY
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In this week’s video, I test drive the General Tools & Instruments 870 E Z Pro Mortise and Tenon Jig. This jig was purchased on Amazon and I plan on incorporating it into my shop as my go-to solution for strict mortise and tenon joints. You have a fair amount of flexibility in the the size of joints you can make on this jig. You can use between 1/2 inch and 1 1/2 inch stock. For this demonstration I use 3/4 inch stock.
To be clear, if want to make strict mortise and tenon joints that match well, in a short amount of time, this is a great way to go.
DISCLAIMER: My videos are for entertainment purposes only. Do not attempt to do anything that is shown in my videos. Woodworking and Metal Working are very dangerous activities and should only be performed by trained professionals.
JIGS & TOOLS USED IN THIS VIDEO
1. General Tools & Instruments 870 E Z Pro Mortise and Tenon Jig
2. Makita RP0900K 1-1/4 Horsepower Plunge Router:
For Mortise Cutting Only, check out my video on the Self-Centering Mortise Jig: • The Amazing Self-Cente...
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[@tabitha2706]

I just bought this myself, and that same accessory confused me also. I finally figured out that it is a stop clamp for repeatable cuts. If you look on the back side of the board thickness adjustment plate on the bottom, you’ll notice the plate the board sits against is sized to fit the slots on the accessory. Slude it on, move to the edge of your board and clamp down. It took me two days to figure that out, as it’s nowhere in any manual. Happy jigging!

[@richardgerhard7559]

I bought this Jig three years ago thinking I might use it in the future. Still sitting in the box and haven't used it yet. Been using the drill press and table saw to make these joints. Nice to see a video on how it works. With the simplicity of this jig, I should at least use it on some scrap pieces of wood. Maybe I'll pull it out next time I do a mortise tenon joint. Thank for doing the video.

[@savealta]

Great production quality on the video. Good info and easy to follow. Subscribed. Looks like I'll be adding a new tool.

[@ShaukatHakim]

Thanks for the tutorial. I have one like this and will definitely try it by following your video.

[@ronaldsclafini7876]

Squaring adapter slides on underneath to assure wood is secured square to template, just received mine yesterday. Trying it out today.

[@justincourts8296]

Thanks for the video!

[@sapelesteve]

Great review Eric! That looks like an interesting jig, so I might look into purchasing one. Thanks!

[@EricSorensenCanada]

Thanks @Sapele Steve! Cheers 🙂

[@josebello4407]

that kit which you were asking what for is a stopper for the the tenon side so that you don't have to adjust everytime for the next work piece with the same size.

[@haroldaubry8344]

Great product

[@wagsman9999]

Very cool. Like you, I have been using the router table to cut mortices, which is fine, but I find the setup tedious. Same with cutting tenons on the table saw. This seems like a very simple solution. Thanks for the video!

[@mohameddocrat4393]

Hello Eric, excellent review. I think if you do a lot of M&T joinery, this jig is worth the price. I do not use it very much so I will stick to your homemade jig for the mortises and use other converntional methods to make the tenons. Thanks.

[@FranciscoMartinez-fi3wx]

Gracias por el video

[@atomiczombie22]

Would love to see you make something using this jig

[@serendipityguy]

The part is called the "Squaring Adaptor" clips to the track In new Manual & provides repeatable cuts & stability. Great Video Eric

[@EricSorensenCanada]

Thanks Camilo! I will have to try that next time I'm using this jig👍

[@privateuploads-geo2625]

Nice review Eric.... I like that you show alternate ways to accomplish the same thing, and often cost much less than buying expensive equipment, especially for those of us who are primarily home/hobby enthusiasts, not pros where production is essential. You said in another video that one could get by without a jointer by using a router. Does that mean you think a thickness planer is the more critical tool for making cabinets?

[@EricSorensenCanada]

@Private Uploads Thanks! It all depends on the style of furniture you would be making. Most cabinets will be made of plywood or some other kind of finished material. You can buy finished lumber for frames and doors as well. The thickness planer isn't really needed unless you're working with rough cut lumber and milling your own boards.

[@ditryn]

It is a squaring adapter, it hooks over the center wall and butts up to the board you are cutting.

[@BillHartCooks.]

If you haven't figured it out yet the extra thing is used to make a stop on the underside for repeated stiles. Or to put the tenon on both ends with one measurement. Nice review.

[@EricSorensenCanada]

@Bill Hart Thanks!There's no documentation on it but that makes sense. I will give that a try 🙂

[@camerabug99]

I use the extra thing as a stop on the tenon side, so I can replicate the tenon. I am making a cradle, with side slates instead of spindles. By sliding the extra thing against the first slate, sliding along the underside rail, and clamping it down I can replicate the position for the next slate.

[@EPortillo5000]

After this review I prefer you mortising jig, with some mods can be used to do the tennon too.

[@markblankenship8289]

i am assuming in order to cut more shallow depth you just adjust the stop on the router correct?

[@chrisbarbot9551]

I always wondered about this jig but thought the tool manufacturer was not making a quality tool..I was wrong thank you for your video as always

[@EricSorensenCanada]

@Chris Barbot It's the little extras that matter 🙂 The fact that they include everything in a complete kit, including a high quality router bit. The jig itself is of very decent quality, you get your money's worth. Most tool companies nowadays seem to included less and less with their products, especially the high-end brands.

[@robertknowles3677]

Good video. Questions about that hot branding thingy you have to sign your work. Where did you get it and how do you heat it?

[@EricSorensenCanada]

Thanks @Robert Knowles ! I had the branding iron made by a company in California. I heat it using a propane torch: brandingirons.com/

[@FAMAWoodworking]

Great review, thanks! I have the same router, where did you buy the bush adapter? Sounds good!

[@FAMAWoodworking]

The guide adapter*

[@EricSorensenCanada]

Thanks @FAMA Woodworking! You can find the Shop Fox guide adapter on Amazon: amzn.to/2VtwUuJ

[@hayssteve]

Thanks for the great video. Can you tell me what brand hold down that is and where you got it?

[@EricSorensenCanada]

Thanks @hayssteve I ordered those clamps through Lee Valley Tools: www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?p=31150&cat=1,43838,43845

[@alfredorodriguez5945]

Gracias por el video, ya habia visto esa plantilla pero no entendía como funcionaba, ¿que opina usted sobre la plantilla de leigh FMT PRO? tienen la misma funcionalidad?

[@EricSorensenCanada]

@Alfredo Rodríguez No estoy familiarizado con esa plantilla. Sé que puede hacer espigas anguladas, pero también sé que es más del doble del precio de General Tools plantilla.

[@davidmallender6253]

I would guess the thing u want sure on is a possibly like a stop block for repetitive work

[@camerabug99]

The tenon side swinging red positioning bars have a metal clip on them. You can see it in your video at time code 2:08. But, they are gone at time code 8:01. What are they for? Why did you remove them?

[@EricSorensenCanada]

@Robert Rose Those are additional flange stops. I usually have them attached when I store the jig so I don't lose them. I haven't had a use for them yet and really, you don't need them - they just came with the kit.

[@FranciscoMartinez-fi3wx]

Buenos días, como adquiero el aparato. Gracias

[@markharris5771]

Does it show I'm a newbie if I say I enjoy doing my mortice and tenons by hand? But I haven’t done many thus far! It looks a great bit of kit, very well explained and demonstrated. Thank you.

[@EricSorensenCanada]

@Mark Harris Thanks! Quite the opposite, doing them by hand takes a quite a bit of skill. If you enjoy it, keep doing them by hand 👍🏻 I like the jig myself, because it saves me time but i mostly use loose tenons these days.

[@bomar080]

I have one , it works. However, there is a limit to the dimension of wood it can be used with.

[@jwromijn]

I'm located in Europe. Besides the metric system all standard Thicknesses of boards are different over here. The jig looks perfect to me and practical if you often make Mortises & Tenons. Is it possible to use it regardless what thickness of the boards ? Have to get it shipped to europe. Can you recommend where you bought it ?

[@EricSorensenCanada]

@jwromijn You can use it with boards of 20 mm - 40 mm. 40 mm being the maximum thickness. I bought mine from Amazon. You will have to check if it is available in your country or you can contact General Tools: www.generaltools.com/kbase/#contact/

[@gerardm77]

Hello, can you use this jig with a traditional router or does it have to be a plunge router? Thanks.

[@EricSorensenCanada]

Yes, you need a plunge base on your router to use this jig effectively.

[@nagarajbangalore9641]

Great video may i know what is the exact size of the bit which you are using this jig please.

[@EricSorensenCanada]

All the specs can be found here: www.generaltools.com/e-z-pro-mortise-tenon-jig-kit

[@crossbaer7945]

👍

[@mmgross144]

Good video! I used to sell this jig @ Woodcraft and it didn't stay on the shelf long. I'm not sure that your 3-second plug for the shop-made jig was necessary as you sandwiched in between 2 comments about the General Jig being worth it. I know that you prefaced it by saying that "if you're buying it just for mortises", but if use it soley for mortises, good luck on a perfect fit cutting round-cornered tenons. Come to think of it, can the mortise side be shrunk down to fit Festool Dominos?

[@EricSorensenCanada]

@Michael Gross Thanks! The point I was making was that you only need a plunge router and maybe a simple jig to make mortises for loose tenons. The rounded corners on loose tenons aren't necessary if you're making your own. Most folks cut their mortises a little wider anyway for easier alignment. Full disclosure, I have a FT domino joiner that I use on production work - it saves a bit of time but you can easily do most of the same work with a plunge router, albeit at a slower pace.

[@doctortono]

4:32 Hi, where I can buy this adapter ??....do you have a link for? How about the bushing set too? Thanks anticipated

[@EricSorensenCanada]

www.amazon.com/Shop-Fox-Template-Guide-Adapter/dp/B0000DD50Y/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=shop+fox+router+adapter&qid=1622662482&sr=8-3

[@doctortono]

@@EricSorensenCanada Thanks a lot.....sorry but do you have a link for the bushing set?

[@konstantinoskouskounis3813]

How i can cut tenons in a piece of wood 2 m long. Somehow the jig must be in horizontal position.

[@EricSorensenCanada]

@konstantinos kouskounis There are several ways to do this.I like Jon Peter's tenon Jig for this scenario: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eYWzn6uurN-JorM

[@alandust2188]

Okay, after a year, are you still happy with the jig? Great video....Thanks!

[@EricSorensenCanada]

@Alan Dust It's one of the better M&T jigs for the price. Not too complicated. It's good if you're a small production furniture shop. If you're building one-off furniture, I would say save your money and take your time doing the M&T another way.

[@rokpodlogar6062]

so this jig is for fixed size tenons and mortise only? or can you do multiple?

[@EricSorensenCanada]

@Rok Podlogar It has a small range of sizes and you can adjust between 1 and 3 inches.

[@rokpodlogar6062]

@@EricSorensenCanada sorry i forgot to include which dimension. i was thinking the width.

[@EricSorensenCanada]

@Rok Podlogar The width can be adjusted a bit, depending on the thickness of your stock. The kit comes with 3 different sized guide bushings. I think the max width is 3/4 inch. The jig can handle up to 1 1/2" stock.

[@tallyman15]

@@EricSorensenCanada I need a jig for larger stock. I have 2" and 3 to 4" square legs. Any recommendations?

[@EricSorensenCanada]

@tallyman15 There aren't any ready made jigs for stock that size. If you're making tenons on a table apron and cutting your mortises into the legs, that can be done easily if you have a plunge router with a guide fence. Similar to what I did in my mortise and floating tenon guide: kzbin.info/www/bejne/omO3iK15hpaZsNU

[@gary24752]

Can people get repair parts for this jig from General?

[@EricSorensenCanada]

@gary24752 You could try contacting them directly through their support page: www.generaltools.com/kbase/

[@visa1960]

Jusut wondering how much you paid for it .,was pricy on amazon

[@EricSorensenCanada]

@EPHRAIM VIVIAN i paid $68.67 for mine. I think it's a dollar more now on Amazon. I don't find that expensive.

[@deurknop08]

Were can you buy this ?

[@EricSorensenCanada]

www.generaltools.com/e-z-pro-mortise-tenon-jig-kit

[@johndrennanjr594]

where is the link to purchase this jig

[@EricSorensenCanada]

www.generaltools.com/e-z-pro-mortise-tenon-jig-kit

[@raulantonioarayabugueno9047]

Maestro como busco esta máquina en Amazon que nombre tiene

[@EricSorensenCanada]

@Raul Antonio Araya Bugueño General Tools Mortise & Tenon Jig - mortaja y espiga de General Tools

[@raulantonioarayabugueno9047]

@@EricSorensenCanada Gracias maestro

[@TrophyJoe]

Thanks for a very good video. Like you, my C-note has better uses.

[@delilahserres5404]

Went to the Amazon link and it is too pricey for me! I'll stick with your shop made mortise jig.

[@FranciscoMartinez-fi3wx]

Como adquiero el aparato

[@EricSorensenCanada]

www.amazon.com/General-Tools-870-Aluminum-Mortise/dp/B00563TL2Y/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=general+tools+mortise&qid=1618057516&sr=8-2

[@visa1960]

Where in Canada it's priced at 157.00

[@EricSorensenCanada]

@EPHRAIM VIVIAN Unfortunately they have doubled the price since last year.

[@syedsayeedurrahmanzaini4221]

The jig is not as good as your explanation and demonstration. The jig looks quite flimsy.

[@EricSorensenCanada]

@Syed Sayeedur Rahman Zaini It's actually a very solid jig and easy to use compared to the more expensive alternatives. What it does very well is it matches your parts so you can get a consistent fit.