How to Cut a Tenon
The tenon is a part of the mortise-and-tenon joint. According to Merriam-Webster's, it is defined as "a projecting member in a piece of wood or other material for insertion into a mortise to make a joint." The mortise-and-tenon joint has been in use for thousands of years by many cultures. Below you can find information on how to cut a tenon.
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Instructions
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1
Find two pieces of wood that are similar in thickness. If you do not have two pieces of wood the same size, cut one board into two pieces.
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2
Decide what size you would like your tenon to be. Tenons can start at 1/2 inch for each shoulder, but the size is up to you. Use a ruler and a pencil to mark both sides of the board where you need to cut your tenon.
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3
Adjust the dado blade on your table saw to the depth you need to make the cut for your tenon.
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4
Make use of the miter gauge on the table saw to feed the wood across the blade. You might have to do this more than once if the tenon you are cutting is wider than the blade.
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5
Take the board from the table saw and repeat Step 4 with the other side.
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6
Check your tenon by dry fitting it in the mortise. You can adjust the fit of the tenon by cleaning the tenon with a chisel, if you need to. Be careful not to remove too much to make sure the fit is snug.
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