haunched tenon joinery . . . how big a difference? when needed?

It’s mainly for looks. Nothing necessary about it.

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

for looks but also for big solid wood entry doors. if you have a nice big solid mahogany entry door you need the groove there for the panel. a tongue and groove might cut it but a haunched tenon would add that extra support of a mortise and tenon but the haunch is so it fills the groove for looks. other than that the haunch isn’t necessary. it is the mortise and tenon that is

I use haunched tenons primarily because the “painter” who taught me used them and I wasn’t given a choice. I do believe the additional shoulder area does increase the rigidity of the joint in traditional joinery where wood movement must be accounted for….I don’t view it as a additional step in setup or layout…but once again it was just the way I was taught…...there are many options and techniques available today.

-- If knowledge is not shared, it is forgotten.

It fills the gap in the groove for the panel. These
grooves were at one time cut with hand planes,
so they could not be made “stopped”.

In delicate work with thin rails/stiles the haunched
tenon can be used to provide a little more support.

-- Need help with marketing your business? Look in my profile.

I’ve also read about haunched tenons being used in framing construction for buildings. The haunch part apparently adds considerable bearing load strength to the joint. If you think about the stresses on the horizontal member of a framed building the ‘extra’ material supported by the haunch makes the member all the more rigid, and capable of carrying that much more load. In smaller applications I can see that the haunched M/T is for appearance, but I believe that in framing it is actually a stronger joint.

-- ....next big purchase is wood for the next project, Mark

Hello John;

—-and yes, if you’re still wondering….I hope I can help.

Through haunched mortise and tenon....Secret haunched mortise and tenon and, so in my own words let me add: ”....haunching the tenon creates an extension of the tenon at the start of the tenon, by adding a ‘shoulder’, which in turn gives extra strength at the end of the mortise….”

Now if I may let me also add/quote from one Sam Allen in his book Wood Joiners Handbook and page 96.....

Haunched Tenon

”The haunched tenon has a notch cut on the top cheek. This creates a short stub tenon that extends to the end of the board. It strengthens the joint by adding support in this area that would otherwise be left unsupported. The haunched tenon is well suited for use in panel-frame construction because the tenon will fill the same groove that has to be made for the panel. If a haunched tenon is not used for the panel fame, then the groove must be stopped. The standard haunched tenon can be used as well in parts that are not grooved for panels, but you can also use a secret haunch that will not show on the end.”

—by Sam Allen; Wood Joiners Handbook

Let me also add that in my learning and studies into ‘wood joinery’, I myself was first learned from the western tradition of thinking, that much of the extra’s of making wood joints, (beyond the strength of the joint) was much about what one sees in regard to appearance….and the woodworkers ‘ego’. But that was in the ages of ago that I left ‘western thought’ to where I am at now in the ‘eastern thought’ of wood joinery.

In my studies I first went after early Japanese wood joints, but that soon lead me to earlier Chinese and Korean masters of these joints. What I learned was to first forget all that I had been taught by western thought into wood joints….and the need to show the joint off. I came to learn that dovetails were one joint that early eastern woodworkers learned first and then moved on to the more sound but hidden joints. I mean when you come to think about it, were does ‘ego’ fly when you are doing a ‘secret haunched tenon and mortise’ and yes, you can tell folks it’s there….but how are they going to know when no-one sees it?

....and no, I don’t speak on this much anymore, since we are western thought woodworkers and…..those who know eastern thought of woodworking….well they have all-ready conqured the ‘ego’ thing….

Hope this helps and….,

Thank you.
GODSPEED,
Frank

-- --frank, NH, http://frank.wordpress.com/

Frank, I would love to learn about the joints you mention (sound but hidden). maybe a blog?

-- The woods are lovely, dark and deep, but I have promises to keep...