Joinery with Hand Tools

PREREQUISITE: Hand Tools classes (Saws, Planes, and Chisels) or equivalent experience

Learn to cut sturdy mortise and tenon joints and dovetails by hand using traditional woodworking tools, including hand saws, planes, and chisels. This is an intensive two-day series taking place over a weekend. Meets 12 :00 to 6:00 pm each day.

SATURDAY, APRIL 6: Mortise and Tenon

SUNDAY, APRIL 7: Dovetails 

Part 1: Learn how to lay out and construct a through and a stopped mortise and tenon joint using only traditional hand tools. Then you’ll learn a couple of methods to trim the tenon cheeks and mortise walls to achieve a perfect fit, and how to trim the tenon shoulders for a tight, gap-free fit against the mortise board. We will discuss tusk tenon, wedged, pegged, and draw bored mortise and tenon joints as well. 

Part 2: Learn how to lay out and construct both through and half-blind dovetail joints to build a small drawer/tray.

All tools will be provided for class. However, if you own any of the following tools, please bring them as well.

For Mortise and Tenons:

• Rip filed tenon saw
• Crosscut filed carcass saw
• 1/4" mortise chisel
• 1/4" and 3/4" bench chisels
• Combination square (12 inch)
• Marking knife
• Chisel mallet

For Dovetails:

• Dovetail saw or Japanese Dozuki
• Marking knife
• Smoothing plane (No. 4 or 4 ½)
• Marking gauge
• Combination square (12 inch)
• Sliding bevel gauge or dovetail gauge (1:8 ratio)
• Bevel edge bench chisel (1/4" or 3/8 ”)
• Chisel hammer or mallet