Why you should try mortising by hand

This old-timey technique can save you time and be REALLY satisfying too!
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[@johnslaughter5475]

I'm going to Woodcraft Saturday. I think I'll see about picking up a mortising chisel. The 3/8" costs $47. I've always got a bunch of scrap 2x4s that'll be perfect for practicing. I might be 70, but I don't consider myself too old to learn something new. In fact, I've always lived by the old adage, "If the day goes by that you don't learn something new, it's a wasted day." Thanks, James.

[@jeffreythompson9549]

That's the trouble with you young blokes, impetuous. (I've two years on you, if that makes you feel better.)

[@larryfinfrock4857]

77 AND ORDERING MY NEW SET OF EIGHT!

[@deany5709]

Thanks guys. I'm 64 and thought it was too late for me. Taylor Tools, here I come.

[@amy4387]

Well said words of wisdom!

[@johnslaughter5475]

Went in to Woodcraft. They had the Sorby chisels in that morning and a single person came in and took all of them. Aaaarrrrgggghhhhhh!!!!!! I placed my order and paid for it. It'll be there when next I get in.

[@guitar_slay1623]

I am in my first year as a woodworker. I've been a carpenter by trade since my early 20s. It is so clear that you not only are a wealth of knowledge but a passionate woodworker! Thank you for the content you create! And the website is legit sir. What a wonderful resource you have created to share with all of us! Dying breeds? Nope. Keep it alive!

[@garlandmusic]

I work on Hammond Organs. These were extremely expensive and considered high-end mass-produced furniture in their day. My earliest organ is a 1937 model, and I have been trying to figure out how they made their mortises: there are pencil marks on the stretchers, indicating they had not moved to a purpose-built machine yet. I have no doubt they used mortising chisels. I have also been trying to figure out how to replace a stretcher - two tenons, one mortise - for about 8 years. Now I know exactly how to tackle this problem. Thank you!

[@fiberinspector1304]

ok James, love your video's. Please consider adding closed caption to them so old, and I mean old woodworkers like myself can follow when we cannot hear the words. Thanks BobT

[@brydonlidle9283]

The only saving thing without Closed captions, is that you face the camera and enunciate very well. I do not usually subscribe to channels that do not turn them on..

[@Dennis-ud2nh]

Auto generated captions have come a long way since this comment was written.

[@ronl6060]

I want to thank you for making all the videos, i look forward to and really enjoy them

[@billdiehl156]

Loved this tutorial!! Heading to the shop as soon as my mortising chisel arrives!

[@watermain48]

Great demonstration James, thanks for sharing it.

[@CitizenAyellowblue]

That’s the clearest explanation I have seen. Thanks!

[@alexvonbosse5090]

That was an excellent demonstration on cutting mortises by hand! Thank you so much for sharing and keep up your great work!

[@Carp4125]

You're the best. Always something new to learn with everyone of your videos.

[@boeldridge2939]

WOW! You made that look easy, I will be adding to my list of skills to learn. Will be picking up a mortising chisel soon. Thank you.

[@markpalmer3071]

I think that's the best tutorial I've seen on this topic, thank you.

[@SteveC38]

It's always a pleasure to watch a skilled craftsman at his trade!

[@robertbarry6392]

Excellent video, all the little details that count, thanks.

[@BentusiProgenitors]

I'm so thankful for you and your videos. Its cool to think that all your knowledge will be available to me and the rest of the world forever, helping us to be the best woodworkers we can be and pass this on to others the way you do for us. Your a hero. Thank you for everything you do.

[@cliveturner2664]

Brilliant tutorial containing great advice. Thank you Stumpy Nubs.

[@erictheviking672]

You explain things so well, James. I'm yet another of your viewers about to go into the shed and give this a try. I think I even have an inherited mortise chisel. Many thanks.

[@cgrovespsyd]

Damn. Kick ass tutorial! I now have to buy even more Narex chisels!

[@butlergl]

We were talking about planes and chisels at work the other day. As always it comes down to the ability to sharpen the tool which seems to be a lost art for many!

[@brucelangridge6302]

You gotter practise

[@msgwood2]

I've only just come across your videos. You are a natural educator and an excellent teacher. Thank you for making your videos!

[@-ZIO]

Excellent! I am going to use this exact method in the next few weeks for a chest project I finally have the material to get started.

[@joeyleerobbins]

This is an awesome tutorial! Thank you for this video! I am terrible at mortises and I think this will really help me! The proper tool is as always key! Thank you!

[@BaconDanish]

Yet another well explained how to video. Good job.

[@frankcornfield5915]

Great content. Really useful for someone having problems cutting mortises with standard chisels.

[@markbryan9989]

Good Simple Clear. Thanks James!

[@morrisonsusan]

Loved this!!! More, more, more on hand tool wood working. Thanks.

[@MrCigar911]

I waste my time in so many ways, buts time with you is never wasted.

[@deany5709]

Great video. You're so right about the amount of time to setup when using power tools, especially when sharing the workspace with a car. Will definitely pickup a Narex mortising chisel and practice doing this by hand. BTW, love that can of Billy Beer in your recent videos.

[@mikegrawvunder6346]

Love your videos. This was a very clear explanation of how to chisel a mortise. Thank you. Seems less scary now.

[@redsalem7686]

I learned way more in this video than I thought I would. I've had this exact chisel in my shop but always used a bench chisel for mortises. No wonder I found it so time consuming. Thanks for posting.

[@crazy_dreamer7616]

Thank you very very much for this really great video! So far I didn't know how fast and exact it is to make a mortise by hand! Greetings from Germany, Robert.

[@olddawgdreaming5715]

Great job and excellent information James, thanks for sharing with us. 👍👍👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@davidhill5684]

Very satisfying to see a sharp chisel expertly handled!

[@urbanlumberjack]

Best mortise and tenon video on KZbin. Good stuff!

[@orbitalair2103]

Great video, just ordered a decent mortise chisel for my table project where I need to do this in hardwood. Now to get it done!

[@daviddejulio863]

Great video! Thanks so much for the demo and explanation.

[@harrypowers9412]

Thanks James-very instructive!

[@chillyspoon]

Such a clear explanation - thanks

[@truckdrivinmilanr]

Excellent demonstration and explanation

[@I-Love-Taylor-Swift]

Another superb video with great explanation.

[@jprassl]

Fantastic tutorial. You just took all of my angst out hand cutting mortises.

[@9700am]

Learned something new, once again. 🇬🇧

[@davnunn1]

Thanks, that was very helpful. Great to see how this approach was used on a real project.

[@VAspeed3]

Nice demo. Ive had a 3/8 mortising chisel for ten years and enjoy using it, but i dont remember seeing this technique before. Ill sure try this next time !

[@franciscosahagunjr6792]

That was shown and explained very well thanks!

[@magans21]

Agree

[@steveholloway738]

Thanks for this tutorial. M and T is one of those joints that has always scared me to try, so I have gravitated towards dowels. This looks like something I think I could do with a bit of practice.

[@Renassainceman]

This may be too basic for some, but it's this kind of instruction and detail in that instruction, that some of us need. It makes us all better at working the details of woodworking that, in this day of all power tools, we may not get exposed to. Thanks, and I'm looking forward to more like this.

[@lako7531]

Oh its so nice to see so many woodworkers in US use Czech Narex chisels.

[@katherynlamarche7308]

I have been avoiding mortising but now i will get the mortising chisel and try it . Thanks aging .Julien Lamarche

[@CatonaWall175]

Thanks for this video. I am starting a job next week as a carpentry and joinery tutor and I am watching videos like yours to brush up on my skills as I have not worked as a carpenter/joiner for some time. I found your video very good. Thanks.

[@garvamel]

Perfect explanation. Thanks.

[@johne7100]

Marking and cutting a mortise this way was my second ever woodworking lesson at school when I was 10, the first lesson being how to use a tenon saw. To hold the wood on the bench we put all four of our workpieces on it side by side then hopped up and sat on them. It never occurred to us, of course, that we had been supplied with nicely planed wood. I wonder how many schools these days would supply 10-year-olds with mahogany for a first project.

[@mustafanaser4099]

Very good explanation

[@edmundnyamupepema]

Thank you sir! I just stumbled upon some antique Ulmia morticing chisels and grabbed them. Thank you so much for this tutorial, it helped me the most.💯/💯

[@jools5509]

Thank you for your very helpful video. I'm in Malaysia and yr tutorials are really beneficial. I did my first mortise and I'm really pleased.

[@user-vc5wf2ox4m]

Live and learn, indeed. I started chopping mortises when I was ten years old. How I am 66, and watching this video I realised how it should be done properly. Thanks a lot for it👍

[@phillipelwood5760]

Nice presentation and nice mortise.

[@jakubmakalowski6428]

This makes it look so clean and easy compared to my attempts haha. I will see if next one goes better with more proper technique

[@stevenprice4810]

Stumpy nubs is the man 👍🏻

[@markforrestsm]

Friggin brilliant James! Great explanation and example. When you see it, it's bloody logical, but without that insight it was damn frustrating. Gotta get me a mortising chisel. As always, thatnk you James - stay blessed and regards, Mark (South Africa)

[@VickyAmaru]

Extremely simple, very easy to follow. I used to think I just needed conventional wood chisels, but now I will definitely buy a couple of mortising chisels.

[@dataphool]

You make this look so easy. The only time I cut a mortise by hand, it took me at least 30 minutes, not the two minutes you took. Neat!

[@stefanocalandri4027]

Thank you so much, really crear and useful! Stefano

[@Charlesredporsche]

Terrific video. Extremely clear and helpful. I'm going to give my router a break.

[@coreygrua3271]

CONSISTENTLY a fine and fun learning experience from a presenter who is CONSISTENTLY a fine and fun teacher.

[@gabrielkoby6308]

I like old school methods. 👍

[@user-qg6fy4yp8t]

Thanks!!! thanks for the explanation. I made small coffee table last month and i looked at it as experiment to use and improve hand skills ( I'm new to it) i chose to make it with mortise and tenons, i used my chisels set ( Narex) very comfortable set, but the mortises didn't go as expected i finished the table so it hard to notice they didn't go as expected, but after watching Rob Cosman video and techniques if mortising i bought 2 mortise chisels, and after your explanation it is much more clearly technique!!!

[@dpbjlee83]

Great information - Thanks

[@rpavlik1]

Wow, that's pretty impressive how quick and easily that went. I definitely would have done that wrong, too, if I had tried. (Would have tried chopping out at an angle). Definitely agree that your explanations are great and easy to understand. I'll have to keep my eyes peeled once garage sales start again... I don't do enough woodworking (or really, any fine hardwood woodworking) to justify buying a new mortising chisel but I could definitely see having one around the shop would be useful by opening "mortising" as a reasonable way to connect pieces.

[@DanCarlyon1]

Thanks! that was great I learned something!

[@martinneff4675]

Thank you.

[@markkaes3144]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@ibrhemahmed170]

Thank you very much

[@kennethvogt9379]

There’s always a perfect tool(s).

[@Grumpycat0405]

Thank you so much for this video

[@danielbell2288]

All I can say is thank you!

[@1qazandrew333]

Excellent. Thanks.

[@MCsCreations]

Fantastic tips, man! Thanks a lot! 😃 Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

[@sdcofer52]

One more point may be that by leaving that 1/8 inch margin at each end you are able to lever without damaging the ends of your mortise. Nicely done.

[@multis]

Fantastic! Thank you.

[@timothydaniels504]

I have several Narex chisels, mortise and bench. The handles are a bit large for me but they’re excellent and reasonably priced.

[@richardgerhard7559]

Good video, keep up with the good work.

[@paintingwithatwistfriendsw392]

I tried using a chisel for a mortise and made a mess. However, after watching your video it all made sense. It was easier and enjoyable. Thank you for sharing!

[@groermaik]

Nice job. Thanks.

[@mikeseymour1560]

This was an amazing video

[@martinwoodworking]

Paul Sellers has an amazing video on cutting mortises

[@Control-Freak]

Watched this for the fun of it and liked it, I just finished chopping mortises in a window sash I am making. Yes, I can mark and cut faster than any setup on a machine. No need to buy a set of chisels, you typically only use two sizes in most work. Practice makes perfect, so I practice more.

[@williamfitzer4805]

I have used a 1/2” mortising chisel to hand cut mortises up to 2” wide and 2 1/2” long on a table whose legs were thru tennons and wedged. Takes more time and some care but it did great.

[@octavmandru9219]

Have seen many videos about chopping morteses but nobody has said it so simple and "tasty". I understand now how important are the correct chisels. Thanks

[@snail5341]

Great video

[@kerryfoster1]

Beautifully cut! Its so long since I used a Mortice chisel I had forgotten all about them. Must look out for one at a car boot sale. Not too hopeful though!!

[@MOSTAFA131160]

very informative, video thank you.

[@sajidrafique375]

This video has removed my doubt that i couldn't do chiseling..thank u

[@bluewren65]

Best demo of a hand cut mortise I have ever seen.

[@edwinghysebrechts9377]

Blue Wren you should watch the paul seller’s too, but i agree he does explane it well

[@bluewren65]

@@edwinghysebrechts9377 I find Paul Sellers presentation a little dry although he is no doubt an excellent teacher. I do like Rob Cosman though and Matt Estlea and Steve Hay of Woodworking Masterclass.

[@edwinghysebrechts9377]

Blue Wren a matter of preference i suppose, i do enjoy matt estlea’s enthousiastic video’s too, but can’t seem to get over rob cosman’s short pants.

[@jenniferg6818]

very helpful.

[@Dennis-ud2nh]

I followed your steps and was able to make a snug mortise and tenon on my first attempt. The mortising chisel makes the job easy. The trick to the tenon for me was to saw it a bit larger than the mortise and sneak up on the fit with a sharp chisel.

[@brucelarson4659]

Thank you

[@AncoraImparoPiper]

I just tried this with an ordinary 10 mm wood chisel. A bit of effort but it got easier by the second one and now I'm confident I can hand make a tenon (with my japanese pull saw) and a mortice with my plain ordinary wood chisel. And yes, it is satisfying!

[@ilive4livemusic]

Wonderfully clear. Just tried my first mortise earlier today, got lots of room for improvement but I was still really happy, Can’t wait to see how much better it would be with a mortising chisel.

[@ConfiscatedZyra]

ya i remember when i first got a mortising chisel and was in awe of how clean the sides came out because of the squared sides on the chisel. just have to keep it perpendicular to the piece and keep all your chops parallel. easy peasy

[@mikeromeo922]

I had a pair of narex chisel maded in old chekoslovakia and they cut like a katana.