Mortise and tenon

A mortise and tenon (occasionally mortice and tenon) <a href="/facts/Woodworking_joints/7gnWtUoA">joint</a> connects two pieces of <a href="/facts/Wood/z13NpHPl">wood</a> or other material. <a href="/facts/Woodworking/JSttCtkP">Woodworkers</a> around the world have used it for thousands of years to join pieces of wood, mainly when the adjoining pieces connect at right angles though it can be used to connect two work pieces at any angle.
Mortise and tenon joints are strong and stable joints that can be used in many projects and which gives an attractive look. They connect by either gluing or friction-fitting into place. This joint is difficult to make, because of the precise measuring and tight cutting required; as such, modern woodworkers often use machinery specifically designed to cut mortises and matching tenons quicker and easier. Many woodworkers prefer to cut these by hand in a traditional manner. In its most basic form, a mortise and tenon joint is both simple and strong. There are many variations of this type of joint, and the basic mortise and tenon has two components: 

<ol><li>the mortise hole, and</li>
<li>the tenon tongue.</li></ol>
The tenon, formed on the end of a member generally referred to as a rail, fits into a square or rectangular hole cut into the other, corresponding member. The tenon is cut to fit the mortise hole exactly. It usually has shoulders that seat when the joint fully enters the mortise hole. The joint may be glued, pinned, or wedged to lock it in place.
This joint is also used with other materials. For example, it is traditionally used by both <a href="/facts/Stonemasonry/kzvdRB4A">stonemasons</a> and <a href="/facts/Blacksmith/StvqhmLx">blacksmiths</a>.

Mortise and tenon open-in-new

Mortise and tenon