Hey folks! I had this idea regarding tenon joinery that I'm hoping to get your thoughts on. Typically, we chamfer tenon ends for easier insertion into mortises, right? Well, I was thinking maybe it could be even easier if I sliced the ends of my tenons in a grid pattern with a thin kerf blade—like one cut lengthwise and a few across the width of the tenon. My thought process is that this would allow the tenons to bend a bit when going into the mortises, increasing glue surface area and potentially replacing more lignin with stronger glue without overly compromising the joint's strength.
I'm inspired to consider this because I've already made three mortises in a tall fence post and created corresponding tenons with 2x4s. Now, I need to connect them to another post that's firmly set in an uneven ground with concrete. Since the alignment might be tricky, I figured making the tenons a bit more flexible could help account for that without leading to loose joints. Am I onto something here, or is this idea just plain dumb?
3 Answers
I’d stick with snug-fitting tenons for strength. Sure, adding cuts might help fit a bit, but it seems like it could introduce more problems than it solves. If alignment is a concern, maybe focus on that instead of altering the joints. You don’t want to risk compromising the structural integrity, especially for something like a fence.
Honestly, using 3-4 cuts on the tenons sounds way more complicated than just adding a chamfer. You could look into wedged tenons instead; they might be a easier option for your setup without over-complicating things.
Your idea isn't completely off-base, but what you're describing is fairly standard practice in some woodworking applications. People often use splines to reinforce joints. However, if you're just trying to make the tenon easier to fit, a good chamfer could achieve a similar effect with less hassle. It sounds like it might work, but consider simplifying your approach.
I see what you're saying! I guess the chamfer really does save time and energy while still keeping the joints strong.