I have been cutting tenons by hand the same way for some time now. When I read Robert Wearing’s book, “The Essential Woodworker” I learned of a different method that I wanted to try. Now that I have, I wonder why I have been making it so difficult all this time.
If you haven’t already, you must pick up a copy of The Essential Woodworker, available through Lost Art Press. It is a book no woodworker should be without.
Great post Shannon – I have been reading the very same book over the last week or so and realised I also cut tenons the ‘Dumb Guy’ way. Good books not only teach you new things but also reassure you that you are already doing things ‘along the right lines’. It is weird that you start near corner for tenons but far corner on the bench hook. Any tips or advice on the shoulders – straight or slightly undercut for tight joint?
I aim to cut my shoulders straight. If something goes awry and the fit isn’t what I want, then a quick undercut with a chisel fixes it. this way I don’t get gaps on the short shoulders from undercutting.
That last part about working from something already begun as opposed to breaking new trail with the saw reminds me of learning a piece of music from back to front, measure by measure, working from success. In learning a music piece that way, back to front, you are eliminating the act of flubbing, instead spending your time reinforcing what you already do successfully.
I tried learning a Wagner aria that way, and doing it backward produced satanic messages.
I think Wearing was secretly a Japanese woodworker.
This is the exact method you use when cutting joinery with a pull saw. (I wrote this much of the comment while you were cutting the tenon, then I got to the end of the video and you came to the same conclusion…. gosh you are well rounded :-p). Great Post!!!
thanks Nik, hey I cut my first dovetails using a Dozouki years ago. If I remember right there was a surge in popularity with Japanese saws before the current western makers came into being. I give credit to Jay van Arsdale and his latest DVD too.
I cut tenons this way b/c I learned it, like most of my hand tool techniques, from Frank Klausz’ videos. It seems like the hand tool “renaissance” of late ignores the old master, for whatever reason. Is it the funny accent?
Dan
I have used the Wearing method all my woodworking life because it was how both my Dad and my school woodwork teacher taught me. Mr Marjoram (aforementioned woodwork teacher) said that in effect cutting back from the far side was making a first class cut without having to chisel out the gutter for the saw to run in.
What gives Jeremy, how come you have been letting me cut my tenons this way all along? Is this your way at getting back at me for all those Australia wisecracks???
No way. I will always respond to anti-Oz comments with a suitable anti-Yankee observation, but not help a fellow woodie out because of his anti-Oz bias, never!
Seriously, I know that there is no such thing as the only right way to do anything in woodwork and therefore, I rarely suggest that just because I do something anyone else should do it too. Your tenons always seemed to come off the saw nicely, so I was happy for you to use a different technique!
While I tend to agree with you, I feel I should point out that the bench hook cross cut is something of a false analogy. One of the rationales for starting on the near side is that you are cutting more or less with the grain. With a sharp saw, this is probably a non-issue, but may be worth consideration. I will now end what may be the least strongly worded thing I have ever written.
Thanks for the post,
Ben
I concur, and watching Roy Underhill do it for many years on his show has been a help too.
yaakov….
This is reminiscent of Mark Twain’s observation that his father kept getting smarter as young Samuel Clemens was getting older.
Great video as usual, I have an original copy of Wearing, and I was surprised to see how small in comparison the reprint is, the original page size is 9 3/4″ x 7 3/8″. THis is important for aging eyes!
Thanks for the great post, Shannon. Like you, I had been cutting my tenons from the near side….mostly because it’s what I had seen many a woodworker do in videos online when I was first re-learning mortise / tenon joinery. After watching this video, I employed this method on my next small project, and I have to say…what a difference! While I still have to polish my sawing technique, I can say unequivocally that my results with this method have been far better than all of my previous attempts.