Thread: Handcutting mortices

Adam

Two ideas come to mind (well it is a small mind). Both on the assumption that you cannot draw straight lines around to the other side!!!! Ideally you should be chiselling half-way from each side, meeting in the middle.

(1) Draw the lines anyway and mark off the exit side of the mortice. Then begin chiseling from the exit side but keep it to the centre section of the mortice. Work you way outwards towards the mortice walls.

(2) Clamp a block of wood securely at the exit end to prevent tear out (cut into the block instead).

The problem with going straight through the timber is that you are likely to end up off-centre. Try and chisel half way from both sides. Even if you are slightly off in the middle, no one will notice (and I won't tell).

Regards from Perth

Derek

Linelefty,

Exactly what Derek said plus I use a marking gauge to mark the mortises and I do this from both sides of the joint. If your timber is square these marks will be so close on both sides the difference will not matter.

Keep at it, I made a flywire door for the back of our house using 3/4" X 90mm tassie oak with the 1/4" mortises going right through. these were done by hand with no problems but the marking out was done as described above.

The door cops the weather and even after more than 10 years of being slammed it is still 100%.

- Wood Borer

I dont havea marking guage, I'm just using a few steel rulers and a good square. But I take the point, that they should be approached from both sides of the piece.

Thanks

linelefty,
you dont need a drill press to drill through can do by hand close to both ends and makes it much easier It good fun to know you can do the whole job by hand
still mark out both sides though

LineLefty,

You need to get yourself a marking gauge, they are not that expensive even new but you might be able pick one up for next to nothing at a flea market.

I use my marking gauges probably more times than I use my squares and I would be lost without them. You will not regret purchasing one of these important marking tools and your through mortise and tenon joints will be far easier to make.

- Wood Borer

Originally Posted by peardo

linelefty,
you dont need a drill press to drill through can do by hand close to both ends and makes it much easier It good fun to know you can do the whole job by hand
still mark out both sides though

Using a brace and bit of course

Mick

I know that I should get one, it's just that being a beginner my tool purchasers are things that I can't substitue. I've been able to get by without a MG but I think I'll have to go get one.

btw, all my $$ seems to be spent on bloody Silicon Carbide paper for Scary Sharp!

I drill out as much waste as possible, the chisel out the corners. This should give your chisels a bit of a rest, and save you money on the silicon carbide (I don't have a drill press either, if your not confident, use a smaller bit).

I agree with the others, working from both sides is best, if you don't you must put a board under your work to stop the breakout.

My life was made considarably easier with the purchase of a corner chisel (about $90) I simply drill as close to the mortise diamater as possible, then square up the edges with the chisel.

Ben.