Trestle Table #27: Fitted Through Tenons into Leg Mortises

This morning I am fitting the stretcher’s long tenons into the leg’s through mortise.

A bit more hand chisel work and I will have it.

After both through tenons fit well, then I will cut a through mortise angled at 8 degrees. That mortise will be through the tenon’s top and drilled or cut all the way to the bottom of the tenon. However, a part of the mortises’ top will be hidden into the leg and more of it hidden at the tenon’s bottom. The wedge’s small bottom end will just fit through the exposed mortise .

It is the friction of the wedge against the outer wall of the leg that will hold this whole table together.

The angled sled you see on my table saw was built so I can get that angle correct on my drill press. The small but long wedge as seen laying on the leg and my workbench will hold the whole table together when fastened up.


Well, after dry fitting the through tenons in their leg mortises I had to look at my unfinshed table top on its leg assemblies.

Next I need to cut the angled through mortises so wedges can be inserted or hammered in so the legs and the table can be locked into a stable position.

-- --- Happy Howie