Reply by BigJimAK

David,

Let me throw out a way to think of it that might help:

Think of the total excavated area as being 3 parts:

• The volume only in the first mortise (A),
• The volume only in the second mortise (B) and
• the overlap©.

We normally think of doing it by:

First mortising to the depth that it excavates the “only first” mortise (A) + the overlap©,
then mortising the “only second area” (B), which leads to the end of the second cut being unsupported.

Instead we are going to mortise the “only the first” (A),
then mortising the “only the second area” (B) + the overlap©.

With two intersecting mortises to cut, you will need to decide which one is best being (A) and which (B) but the process remains the same.

Using this technique will permit you to have fully supported mortises for both cuts.

Jim in Alaska

-- Jim in Alaska