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Two matching mortises connected with a strong ‘loose tenon’ will help strengthen any project.
By Bill Hylton
Pages: 36-40

From the April 2004 issue #140
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I may be a power tool kind-of-guy, but I still favor traditional joints, those proven through centuries of use.

The mortise and tenon is one of those joints. It has been in use for hundreds, if not thousands, of years, with examples found in ancient Egyptian furniture.

I’ve pretty much settled on loose-tenon joinery as my mortise-and-tenon variant of choice. Just about anywhere you’d use a traditional mortise-and-tenon joint, you can use a loose-tenon setup. I’ve used it for commonplace frames, post-and-rail constructions and leg-and-apron assemblies. I’ve also used it to reinforce cope-and-stick joints.

From the April 2004 issue #140
Buy this issue now

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