Joining end grain to long grain forms the king of joints. A mortise and tenon is one of the most ubiquitous and useful means to join wood together. Primarily used in solid wood woodworking to join end grain to edge grain, or long grain, it is a time-honored and proven technique. A mortise and tenon […]
Tusk Tenons Add Style and Security
Take advantage of the power of a wedge when making this ancient, yet modern, handmade joint. The tusk tenon is a time-honored technique that woodworkers have found useful in a variety of ways. The basic idea behind the joint is that, in addition to chopping a mortise (typically in a leg or similar member) in […]
Timber Framed Pergola
A timber framed pergola can be a welcome addition to your yard, garden or any outdoor space. A pergola hints at a destination, whether it’s used as a passageway or a seating area. Choosing timber framing for your pergola ensures strength and longevity. Your pergola can be any dimension and size you want, designed to […]
Flat-Pack Wooden Chairs
These chairs are my heavy-duty version of the classic 2-piece wooden beach chair (or “camp” chair). They are comfortable to sit in and are rock solid. The best part is that they pack away tidily with the seat section nesting into the back section for storage or transport. I made these from 1″ thick solid […]
Successful Breastfeeding: How To Get Baby To Latch Deeper
Even though breastfeeding is an instinct, this doesn’t mean that all babies automatically know what to do during their first nursing sessions. In fact, there are numerous tips on how to get a baby to latch deeper, which just shows you how common this is! A deep latch equals a good latch. This means that […]
Baby Only Wants Mom: 5 Tips You Need to Know About
When baby only wants mom it can be equally flattering and exhausting. I used to think that people with clingy babies were doing something wrong…until I had one. My first was never super clingy except for the odd occasion. My second, on the other hand, was a mama’s girl from day one. The first year […]
The Much-Heralded Mortise And Tenon
End grain is not the best gluing surface, so it’s fortunate that Chinese artisans in the twelfth century perfected an ancient joint that today allows us to maximise gluing surfaces while also permitting a more mechanical approach to joint making. In short, a finger (called a tenon) is milled on the end of a workpiece, […]
Wedged tenon and mortise joint
A good way to fasten tenons is to wedge them. This can be done whether the tenon goes through the mortise piece or only part way, as in a blind mortise and tenon joint. The wedges can be driven between the tenon and the ends of the mortise, or, as is often better, driven into […]
Blind Dovetail Thru Mortise and Tenon
Blind Dovetail Thru Mortise and Tenon This joint shows up fairly regularly in books that document joinery and it seems to be predominately utilized in timber framing applications. Even so, I have wanted to explore this joint for a while and see if it would lend itself to furniture building. Given that I tend to […]
How to Build Deck Stairs
Building stairs for your deck is often considered “the most difficult part of” the construction project. Having the right calculations before getting started can make the task a lot easier. To simplify the process, we’ve created this deck stair calculator to help you determine the correct measurements needed to carry out your project. Once you’ve […]