How Do You Space Mortices Equally?

This is very ingenious,Tim. Obviously, the time you’ve saved punching mortises gives you more time to think up stuff like this. I like it. I use a dedicated drill press with a sliding cross vise for my mortise drilling, so this wouldn’t work for me. I have a couple of different size spacers that I use for layout almost the same way, but I have to actually mark it on the stock.
Tell me you have a one step method for cutting the tenons on all those spindles ;]

-- Tim -- http://tmuli.com

On my side table the spindles were done by cutting a groove the width of the spindles and spacers from “extra” spindle stock. The spindles do not have tenons, they just float in the groove.

-- Chelle http://artsgranddaughter.blogspot.com

tenontim, I got your one word, one step answer—————Sublet.

I wish! I use several methods, none of which is quick or easy.

cheller, I’ve used that method, just was never satisfied with the outcome, although,I looked at your project photos & it looks good! This is on reason why I’ll never get rich making furniture. Too much of a perfectionest.

-- http://www.grandprairiewoodworks.com

I have duh moments all the time but never seem to come up with anything clever. I don’t have a dedicated morticer but now I have an excuse to buy one.

-- Bob, Rockford IL, http://www.woodandwax.net

great system. I prefer memory sticks, measurement blocks and the like to a ruler.

-- making sawdust....

Takes out any errors with measurement… Now THAT’S a great idea…

-- Tom's Workbench - http://tomsworkbench.com

I use story sticks. but It’s slower than what you use.

See my blog on Buffet Hutch creation. I hope to get back on it in the next week. I use the Story sticks to layout the mortises in the legs.

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com

Anybody have other methods to speed up this task?

Nope – but I probably have several that’ll slow you down. I know – not funny.

I can relate with the lay out time and think your spacer block idea is probably one of the most efficient ways to do what you’re doing. I’ve seen a similar technique used to cut dovetails on the table saw.

Beats marking it all out! Which is what I’ve done…but, I don’t build this stuff on a daily basis like you do.

-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA

Thank you! I have been putting off building a bed because of just that problem (Lay out) I think the bed has about 70 spindles. Now I don’t have an excuse, Thanks buddy!
LOL just kidding

-- Just another day in paradise.

Well described Tim. Thanks for sharing.

-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python

That is an ingenious method. I don’t have a dedicated mortiser – but I have been toying with the idea of getting one – this may just push me over the edge to buy yet another tool.

-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/

Hi Tim

Your idea is not one of the best ideas but, it’s THE best idea for equal and precise spacing…

It takes 3 minutes (or less) to cut the spacers on the TS and it saves all the time of measuring, marking and guess work…reminds me the Metabo logo “Work, don’t play”...

I used it a few times for spacing dowel holes that I drilled on the router table and require very high precision, works like a charm especially on “mass production” like you did.

I don’t know what you are building there but, it looks beautiful.

Very well done

Regards
niki

Wow Tim, I wish I had thought of that when I built my arts n crafts headboard. I taped a measuring tape to top of the rail and marked off every 3/4” increment. 3/4” space, 3/4” spindle. 46 spindles, 2 ends per spindle, 4 holes per end with the morticing attachment on my drill press = 2 full days of drilling holes and cleaning them out with a chisel. I wish I could tell you a better way but I can’t.

I’ve tried the method of cutting a groove on the table saw and then cutting a bunch of little spacers and was also dipleased with the results. For some reason, I can’t get the walls of the groove perfectyl vertical so that when I stick the spacers in there’s always a vivible gap.

Karson, thanks for the post about the story stick & how you count the leg faces. Cutting all those mortices & making sure you have them all in the right places still scares the heck out of me. If it’s possible, I usually make at least 1 extra leg, ”just in case” . I’m forever checking & re-checking to make sure I don’t mess up. Ill try your method on the next job. But I think I’ll still make an extra leg just in case of an oops! lol.

-- http://www.grandprairiewoodworks.com