STOP Making Mortises So Complicated!

Fancy jigs and fixtures are all good and well. But what about those moments you just need to get the bloody job done? This technique is for those moments. And while quick and dirty mortises may be fast, they're certainly not inaccurate. Give it a try sometime. $20 says you'll like it.
Tenoning Jig Video: • STOP Making Complicate...
Items I use:
1/2" dia Router bit: amzn.to/3UkRFYI
A Better Alternative (Spiral Up Cut): amzn.to/3mcPsSp
My Router Setup: amzn.to/3ZPIQal
Extra Fence: amzn.to/3KHi9jI
My favorite trim router: amzn.to/3Mo708I
DeWalt Trim Router fence: amzn.to/43cYwr2
Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed this video please consider supporting my channel by subscribing and hitting that notification bell. It really helps small channels like mine.
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Items I keep on hand in the shop:
Glue:
Titebond I Wood Glue: amzn.to/3zRXHGv
Titebond III Wood Glue: amzn.to/3MVnG6j
Titebond Quick and Thick: amzn.to/42HGuMC
Power Tools and Accessories:
Table Saw Blade - Woodworkers II: amzn.to/42bIOLa
My favorite trim router: amzn.to/3LbCbTF
DeWalt Trim Router fence: amzn.to/43cYwr2
My Festool Router Setup: amzn.to/3ZPIQal
Extra Fence: amzn.to/3KHi9jI
1/2" dia Router bit: amzn.to/3UkRFYI
A Better Alternative (Spiral Up Cut): amzn.to/3mcPsSp
Sharpening:
Ohishi Waterstones: amzn.to/3TkoZhP
1,000/8,000 Combo (great budget option): amzn.to/3Lqj7Sh
Angle Setting Jig Plans: www.lie-nielsen.com/pages/dow...
Inexpensive Honing Guide: amzn.to/3Jo2Uub
Lie-Nieslen Honing Guide: www.lie-nielsen.com/nodes/423... guide
Sandpaper for Flattening: amzn.to/3Jor73F
My Finish Mix:
Minwax Polyurethane: amzn.to/3kPgpuO
Liberon Finishing Oil: amzn.to/3kXkIEf
Danish Oil (alternative): amzn.to/3Njlabs
Liberon Beeswax: amzn.to/3Jm2yFN
Turpentine: amzn.to/3SWFznB
Mineral Spirits (alternative): amzn.to/3oKU83h
For 5% off any TotalBoat product, visit www.totalboat.com/encurtis
You can stay up to date with my work here:
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[@larrybud]

Stop making mortises so complicated! Just use the Shaper Origin ! lol

[@Matergater]

I had just watched your video on how to make a tennoning jig, and then came across this one .. Thank you they are so helpful!

[@ENCurtis]

I’m glad you found them useful! Thanks for watching 🙏

[@wharfrat360]

Just wish I could shake your hand. The inspiration your content has given me, amazeballs! Truly, thank you!

[@ENCurtis]

I genuinely appreciate that, my friend. Perhaps one day we’ll indeed get to shake hands 👊

[@jeffreysmith5018]

I didn’t realize I needed a shaper origin… until now 😀😀😀

[@johnsanchez1619]

Nice, I really like the double fence idea. Heading out to the shop now to practice with my router. Another great video!

[@JeffFontecchio]

Another great video, keep up the great work!

[@ENCurtis]

Thanks for your consistent support, Jeff. It's greatly appreciated 🙏

[@BlackMapleMFG]

Lot of complainers in the comments. I actually really appreciate both methods used here. Refreshing to see someone applying their diverse tools and not just working for the purpose of a tutorial

[@theofarmmanager267]

I own both dominoes and a very large Mortiser. I can’t use the mortise much because of the strain it puts on my shoulders; so, dominos, it is. However, if you don’t feel like taking out a second mortgage, there is a way that I think is easier. Use the double fence method to cut the mortise in both the stile and rail (in other words, both pieces). Then make a loose tenon to fit. The advantage of this method is that you can make mistakes on that loose tenon (oh dear, cut too narrow or too short) and just remake the tenon whilst not sacrificing the stile or rail. Make loose tenons any away you want and, if you want to be pedantic, file those ends round to fit the mortise shape; I rarely bother because the real strength doesn’t come from the tight fit of the ends but the long glue joints of the sides. Hope that helps someone

[@mickcawley4797]

Hi, As a beginner woodworkers I have been watching quite a few videos on KZbin and I learn something from 95% of them and this one, along with the one demonstrating a simple jig on the table saw were great and easy to follow. I've subscribed to your channel so I can have a look at your other videos and as I hope to build furniture in the future, learn from you. Thanks and keep up the great content👍🇬🇧🇺🇲

[@ENCurtis]

Thank you so much! I’m glad you’re getting valuable information from and enjoying my channel. Glad to have you, my friend! 🤘

[@theone8327]

​@ENCurtis how you doing, love your videos.. what's is the name of that machine you used to cut that tenon..?

[@theone8327]

​@ENCurtis how you doing, love your videos.. what's is the name of that machine you used to cut that tenon..?

[@theone8327]

​@ENCurtis how you doing, love your videos.. what's is the name of that machine you used to cut that tenon..?

[@theone8327]

​@ENCurtis how you doing, love your videos.. what's is the name of that machine you used to cut that tenon..?

[@bobmartin6055]

Outstanding! Thanks for the inspiration!

[@ENCurtis]

Absolutely! Thanks for watching my dude!

[@omegoa]

First time to see your channel. I doubt I'll ever do this, but it's really interesting to *Know* how things are done, both historically and in more modern ways. Enjoyed this video and subscribed. Thanks.

[@kylieb4836]

A face-palm moment for me - you showed the option for a router where you simply taped a secondary fence to the base of the router - KISS - keep it simple stupid - it’s what I keep telling myself when my brain wants to supercharge it all. Thanks for a great video ! New subby here.

[@ENCurtis]

Been using that method for years! Definitely among the simplest and just as effective 🙂

[@Ritalie]

How the hell do you do the rounded edges on the tenon? Do I just sand the edges round?

[@kylieb4836]

@@Ritalie alternatively you could keep it all square

[@ENCurtis]

@@Ritalie I use a rasp

[@privatetoddmason-darnell7187]

Great video. As hobbyist, I really appreciate them. This week’s myriad of “myriad” count = 2

[@ENCurtis]

Hahaha I may lean on myriad a little too heavily... 😂

[@zhazha2540]

Not sure if this is least complicated, probably one of the most expensive way😅

[@chaselee86]

This is too complicate for me. I chiseled out a mortise and tenon quickly. Far easier to set up and it doesn't take much effort as long as the chisel is sharp enough.

[@zhazha2540]

​@@chaselee86 yeah, I'd do it with chisels too. Wouldn't bother set up the machines unless I have to make a dozen of them.

[@johnnichols8553]

I stopped watching at the Shaper Origin. Might as well have showed me how to cut a tenon with a lightsaber.

[@zhazha2540]

@@johnnichols8553 That I will watch for sure lol

[@douglasanderson7260]

After watching this video, I checked my routers and their different bases to see if I could do the same thing with the double fences. It turns out there is at least one of my router bases that will allow me to do that. It seems like it should be fun to try.

[@DjmMik]

Great video! You are absolutely right about people overthinking the whole process.

[@dcpoke1]

When you pulled out the SO I nearly fell out of my chair. I use mine for tenons a lot so it was good to see others who use it in their work. Bravo!

[@ENCurtis]

I trust you mean when I pulled out the Origin haha but yes, it's a brilliant machine!

[@dcpoke1]

@@ENCurtis we toss around SO in reference to the Shaper Origin in the Shaper User Group forum.

[@3frogltd987]

What's an SO?

[@bobbray9666]

I made a 1-9/16" deep mortise in a couple of doors the entire width of the door for a automatic drop down seal. Used my large Bosch router with two Bosch router edge guides, similar to the Festool setup in this vid and took three passes, and it was a breeze. All of my worries of buying an expensive one-time use edge router bit big enough and wide enough to make the groove, slipping and screwing up those rift white oak doors vanished. I did make a jig with stops for the mortised pocket door handles and practiced first! I'd never done a mortise with a router before and it sure beats forstner bits and chisels!

[@romanjohnston]

two fences on a router. NICE.....ok I have the Bosch 1617, but will look to buy a second fence and hook it to the other side of the guide rails and give this a try. Really simple tip. Thank you!

[@zvotaisvfi8678]

Great personality !

[@zvotaisvfi8678]

gaww you just picked up that slab. Smart looking project Thanks for sharing !

[@robertomedina1760]

Thankd for sharing

[@darleneredden3251]

Sans fancy machine, what is your recommendation on shaping tenons with round shoulders which would fit into the router cut mortise?

[@darleneredden3251]

Nevermind I just dug deep enough into the thread and found where you answered that same question. Glad to know my instincts we're on point

[@stefanbiorserud3343]

Apparently I missed the part when the quick and dirty was to be explained and shown. 🤔

[@ENCurtis]

It happened during that brief window you were writing an unnecessary comment. Ironic.

[@stefanisaksson255]

Just got a Shaper Origin and the Workstation. Thought I could use it to cut some perfect through mortise/tenons for a table project, until I realised to cut a tenon on the end of a 2m (6,5 ft) stretcher I would have to put my Shaper Origin Workstation on a very high table, haha. since I could only clamp it in a vertical position. How would you do it? First making the tenon on the table saw or router and then measure and cut the mortise with the Shaper Origin? Great video btw.

[@marshallmurrell4583]

Wow!!! 35??!! I was 35 once long, long ago in a galaxy far, far away. Kidding aside, great content. Thanks. Also glad to see you don't obsess about squaring the ends of your mortises.

[@markk4015]

Never thought of using a second fence on the router to center it for a mortise. That's alot cheaper than buying that plexiglass attachment Festool offers. Thanks for posting. Mark

[@Guestutetv]

Very Nice❤

[@ENCurtis]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@Riley.Greenup]

“Stop making mortises so complicated!! All you need is a Shaper Origin! It’s that easy!!”

[@patmash]

This common man is just jealous of your router lol. But, i do love my Skil 2.5 hp router. Beautiful video sir.

[@ENCurtis]

Accurate 😂 and hey, if the tool works there ain’t nothing wrong with it!

[@bryancaviness8788]

Can you tell me a little bit about that sick machine you just used To make tenons? Or a link to what it is.

[@adamelliott2302]

Yup! lay em out, rout em out and dado the tenons on the table saw. Though I've always squared up my mortise with a chisel. But we all have a own flourish. Good tips!

[@ENCurtis]

Aint nothing wrong with a square mortise! On any exposed joinery I tend to square my corners, too.

[@TheBenjammin]

Can you make a video on how to make tenons with rounded corners if not using the shaper machine?

[@karl_alan]

Honestly never thought of using f-clamps as a stop before...such a simple solution

[@wittworks]

That fly was looking for the Vice Poodle.

[@ENCurtis]

I just lol'd in public 😂

[@seonewport363]

that was fun

[@saliyalokeshwara7055]

I don’t own a table saw let alone a shaper origin. But one of easiest ways I cut tenons is using a speed square coupled with a combination square to get perfect shoulders. Longview woodworking did a similar video. For those who want to cut angled tenons using a router specially for chair building there is a jig from Fine Woodworking MAR/APR 2017 I believe the article was #260. That jig helps a lot. Also on a side note there was a video of how to cut mortises on curved parts by Popularity woodworking I believe. They had a similar jig to cut mortises. But it’s equally helpful to cut slots for loose tenons on miter joints

[@ENCurtis]

Using a simple router jig for tenons is a great way to do it. Simplest is most often best!

[@philaandrew100]

Well it is certainly a touch faster than the old Mallet and Chisel... Thanks for making me feel like a Dinosaur🤣...... But then again I am a dedicated maker of things with handtools so there is that.

[@gntfilms]

Great explanation, you're a person of details! FYI, the word myriad means 'thousands of', therefore you don't need to say 'myriad of', just 'myriad' ie 'There's myriad ways to do this'. Thought I'd let you know as details always matter!

[@ENCurtis]

Thanks for that!

[@Hascoman]

fire

[@TomBodet556]

Somewhere between the tenoning jig video and here, it looks like a little elf rounded over the corners of that tenon. What's that step? Leave them out on the front porch overnight?

[@ENCurtis]

Yes but don’t forget to leave the rasp out there too! Else they’ll just gnaw the tenon round and that never looks good. Plus, splinters.

[@dpmeyer4867]

thanks

[@ENCurtis]

Thank you!

[@apuuvah]

You need a router with fine adjustable depth and fine adjustable side fence. Then you need a good carbide upcut spiral bit and a good roundover bit with the same radius as the spiral bit. Now you can do the mortise with the spiral bit and the tenon with the roundover (and spiral) bit.

[@apuuvah]

First you take the plunge. Then you take the rounding bit with the same radius and round a flat piece of wood along the grain (or plywood) that fits the groove you just cut. Make another cut. Join. Add glue.

[@makenchips]

Eric very expensive tool! Yes professionals need very expensive tools to be productive Exedra. On the table and archwood look really cool versus the low rail imo. Also make it easier to clean the floor around it! Just another idea! Well done

[@misury]

35 years?! Aww man, here I thought you were closer to my 47 years. Ah well, guess you just look old. 😂🤣😂🤣😉

[@michaelhurley1812]

I'm getting a good laugh at some of the comments here, some people just cant be helped. Great video buddy I use the plung router myself but I'm going to try that trim router idea for the crack.

[@larrybud]

That's because the title of the video is just ridiculous. Fun to watch crazy expensive tools, but doesn't help the home hobbyist in the least.

[@mrfirestop415]

Marking gauge tip: Wheel shaped marking gauge cutters are beveled on one side, flat on the other. A double headed marking gauge like the Veritas used here have cutters with the bevels facing each other. That bevel will transfer as a beveled dent along one side of your marking line, but used properly the dents will fall in the waste area not the show side. Mind which way you face the bevel or you will leave that beveled dent on the outside edges of your mortise spoiling the look of a well fitted joint (like in a through mortise). The bevel on the wrong side can also lead to sawing a joint on the wrong side of the line, maybe not important with a machine cut mortise, but will really make things difficult to align a chisel for hand cutting mortises.

[@ENCurtis]

You’re absolutely correct. This was just a marker line for routing, and any bruising due to the outside bevel would be covered by the shoulder, so it didn’t bother me. On an exposed joint, however, one would need to be more conscious of the bevel direction.

[@Nunyabizn3ss]

Thanks for the tip!

[@whatwewantAItodo]

How do you cut tenons with a router?

[@scannon90]

Yeah, I checked the price of a Shaper Origin (USD3599), and it's out of my budget, but I do have a power rack, barbell, and set of plates that I paid USD6,000 for, so maybe it evens out in the end.

[@peterlundin7953]

It is much more fun to be complicated!

[@bryancaviness8788]

Man , you make me look like a pretender

[@thingmaker3]

Don't worry about the wrinkles, young fellow. You'll get used to them eventually. It's the aches & pains you should be concerned with.

[@ENCurtis]

😂 Touché.

[@mheermance]

The tressels look great, but the slab top isn't my cup of tea. The two fence router jig definitely looks handier than the edge guide version I have.

[@walkingconifer]

why not cut both using shaper?

[@martingagne3136]

How Much Time IT took to program your tenon on the shaper origin? Is IT fast?

[@ENCurtis]

Maybe 5 minutes? It's super fast!

[@eliassommer8549]

@@ENCurtis quicker to cut with a tenon saw.

[@lorddarphyve]

HUGE Step up in video quality! Your skin looks fine too, lol.

[@ENCurtis]

Yes indeed! Huge is an understatement!! Just wait til next week when I actually learned how to adjust the settings... 😂

[@ryanm2214]

Rookie here. What would be the method of making those rounded tenons without the shaper?

[@ENCurtis]

Just using a simple rasp will do fine. You can see me do just that in the final table build. Video is called "Simplicity is the hardest thing to nail"

[@thenext9537]

Two pieces of wood on bottom of router is what I do. I recently bought some acrylic so i can make an adjustable width and see through it. Basically just two slots on each side that can adjust for width. The depth I keep at a few inches as it helps with stability using a larger router. I'm using a 2.5 hp bosch, thing is heavy. The great thing is people will say "Just get a domino" but I will tell you this - if you have a large project and have a lot of mortices to cut, you just arrange the pieces by size and batch them out. Then you slide the adjuster and route the next set, and so on. Would a domino be faster? YES. It's literally mark the top, set the domino to height needed and go. The flow for the router is basically, get it out, and you can either use some double sided tape (I like spectre tape, thinner than that stupid 3m stuff but it's more expensive) and attach a couple pieces of wood. Find your center on bit and go to town. The bottom line is if you are a production shop, make money - then time is money - then get a domino. The domino is much faster and if you're saving many hours a week, then it's literally paying for itself. I don't own festool products, and that's not because I don't want certain ones, it's only because It's a want, not a need :)

[@Andrew-rv1xq]

cool story bro.

[@jonr6540]

I don’t know why there aren’t more commercial guides that that available for all routers! I have been looking for something with two adjustable fences, and festool has one for their routers and then there’s a couple people making kind of bulky versions on Etsy. Seems like a real gap in the market.

[@christopherharrison6724]

Give me simple every time

[@ENCurtis]

60% of the time I'll take simple every time!

[@chaselee86]

I just need a hand saw and a chisel. This is ridiculously complicate.

[@meleader]

Try doubling that age! I am really slowing down but still at it.

[@marshallmurrell4583]

If nothing new hurts when you get out of bed in the morning, it's going to be a good day.

[@mattgoodstadt2372]

Great video. But why couldn't you have shown how to do this with no tools and no wood? You know, for my personal circumstances! (Actually another great video, and something to aspire to. Thanks friend.)

[@katherynlamarche7308]

It was helpful. Julien Lamarche

[@glumberty1]

Another option is to create two mortises and use a floating tenon.

[@EPortillo5000]

Actually that is very efficient just do a long tennon and cut the pieces, have done that some times and the mortises can be done with just one fence is just a matter of be carefull of which face is your reference for the fence on each piece to have a perfect fit even if your mortise is not perfectly centered.

[@Monkey_Snot]

Another wonderful video as usual, though I am not a fan of that shapper thing, I'm old school and I don't believe CNC or some tool that does the work for you to be considered true woodworking. To me, handcrafted means by hand, not by machine. Don't take that personally, what you do and how you do it is definitely spectacular in eery way.

[@ENCurtis]

I appreciate the kind words and I understand your viewpoint. I held a similar one for many years in fact. But with the need to make money as a professional I found that hand cutting every tenon and hand chopping every mortise didn't make for much of an end profit. But don't worry, I've got a hand tool only joint video coming down the road shortly 😎

[@duncanslam]

I'm sorry, but you spent the first half of the video talking about "everyday woodworkers" which is cool because I tire of the youtubers that have sold out. Then you pulled out a Shaper Origin? Hardly a tool for everyday woodworkers. I assume you've received compensation?

[@paulhopkins1905]

Festool makes good stuff, but I absolutely HATE that router. That asymetrical handle design is uncomfortable, and cumbersome. It's even worse than the handle on the Kapex

[@johnwilliams1223]

I wish I could be 35 years young again 🫤

[@xxxcarpfishing1657]

Just get the domino out job done 😂

[@user-cd6qz4rd1t]

👍👍👍👍

[@ENCurtis]

🙏🙏🙏

[@simonsawz4342]

I think I will upload a video on “Quick, Dirty and easy was to beat rush hour traffic” I start off by going to my at home helo-deck, but I qualify everything by saying, “I know, I am using a helicopter…”

[@jimbo2629]

If you can afford Festool, you can afford a morticing machine. Quiet, accurate, square ends. For the tenon: a band saw, dado, mitre saw, router, hand saw; any will do, but finish off with a router plane. We all do it differently.

[@ENCurtis]

We all do it differently indeed. I do own a hollow chisel mortiser and use it on occasion, but with a stopped mortise like this I don’t mind a rounded mortise.

[@kenp3L]

@@ENCurtis But the question is, since you do own a mortiser, why isn't that good enough to use regularly?

[@marklajoie6554]

he sounds so much like richardd dreyfuss

[@Mike-dn4ju]

Shaper Origin.

[@ct228303]

Ah, yes. I learned how to complete half the task.

[@TimCBuilders]

Buy a Festool Domino if u are doing a lot of tenons.

[@christiankuwetter7593]

you lost me at 7:09

[@jamesthrower3575]

You showed an easy way, good 👍🏿...but can you show a cheaper way!!!???

[@ENCurtis]

For sure! Maybe I show how to chop a mortise by hand soon. Nothing more than a chisel and a mallet required.

[@lizcademy4809]

Chisel and mallet for the mortise. For the tenon, a simple hand saw. Buy 'em used at the flea market. Use the Scary Sharp method to put an edge on your chisel. And a lot more time ... though depending on how you value your time, the $$$ tools might be cheaper.

[@davidt1621]

The internet brings out all the people we normally avoid when it comes to these things, and we all know why. It seems like you're in the normal majority of us who believe that an imperfect joint done with good power tools is good enough to last a long time, and good enough is, well.. it's good enough. People don't keep new furniture for multiple generations anymore, because the styles and tastes change every decade. So making something that'll last 50 years only means it'll be more difficult to haul to the dump one day.

[@modelatorlucic8632]

This is so complicated!

[@osborn.creative]

This would have made a wonderful 11 second Tik tok video.

[@fuadkhanmd]

Amazing precision, but perhaps good for people who own such machines... so respectfully, this video has nothing to do with "simple." Those who own such machines probably don't need a video.

[@assamite9614]

quick dirty what? u use 2 tools that cost same as a car in total. What are you trying to push here? all you need is router, chisel and a hammer.

[@ENCurtis]

So... you're mad that as a professional I own tools? Ok. Also, all you need is a chisel and hammer. Just FYI.

[@pipepuffah6548]

To me thus just shows how the real skill is being lost to automation just like other industries. As another points out, just as well have done it with dominos

[@AlejandroGarcia-px6om]

Sorry, is this the easy way????

[@meanman7302]

this is acutally complicated

[@czarnick2]

You’re massively over complicating this. Just set it in your 5-axis CNC milling machine with automatic tool changer and laser position compensator. One step, done in a minute. 👌

[@Emang169]

I have been duped. I was thinking I would learn to cut mortise and tenon's. Sad...

[@marshallmurrell4583]

Paul Sellers or Rob Cosman will be delighted to teach you that method.

[@AlaskaWild]

This is not a typical router. What kind of machine is this? Most of us don’t own this machine. Looks like a very expensive plunge router. OK, after looking in the description, yes, it’s a $700 machine. That’s why mortises are complicated. Unless you own a very expensive machine. Definitely not DIY cheap. This also takes no skill. People who use machines like these to do mortises and tenons have virtually no skillset whatsoever for cutting them freehand. Oh well, to each his own I guess.

[@shaynesabala]

With all due respect, it wasn’t helpful. We all have a router but what ever that other machine was, probably 95% of don’t own. So, we learned how to do half of the job (the easy part) and left without any information and the second half.

[@jtup9820]

Click baited me right into this waste of time

[@ENCurtis]

There is a video specifically about cutting tenons linked in the video description 🤙

[@rogerboucher1913]

Can’t find the link… ??

[@ENCurtis]

@@rogerboucher1913 kzbin.info/www/bejne/rIPMlHZodrmdjJo

[@BittyVids]

Glad I watched at2x speed up until that cnc thing came out.

[@carlpetitt2241]

Not sure what you were thinking when you first conceived of this video -- "stop making mortises so complicated" implies we're going to be introduced to a simple and readily accessible method that any woodworker can use. But then you proceeded to show tenons being cut by your Shaper Origin, an expensive and exotic tool that most woodworkers don't have and may not want to invest in. Poor.

[@jdawkins111]

You are leaning in to the insufferable hipster thing, and it is not the right choice. (Even if you are in Portland, which I am going to assume).

[@ENCurtis]

😂😂😂

[@StileandRailWoodworking]

How to cut mortise and tenons for $5,000

[@TheSeriesofTubes]

Don’t make it so hard! Buy tools that make it easy! Lol

[@thedillydotcom]

I have a bigger problem with him saying “myriad of” than i do with the use of a festool.

[@tabooretka]

What a clickbate!

[@kreech68]

I love your channel, but I stopped watching when you pulled out the Shaper. With the title of "STOP Making Mortises So Complicated!", it is click-bait, that doesn't deliver. I will keep watching your other videos, but you get a thumbs down for this "trap".

[@CyrilViXP]

Stop making it so complicated. Just buy 2 routers for the price of the car