Eli,

Some of the students in this class are less experienced than others. They may not understand the joinery being used or why. They may think why not grab the old router or festool and make a loose tenon joint. Here are what I think the reasons are, if I am incorrect please correct me. I do not want to sound like a know-it-all. I certainly am not at the level of craftsmen either Tommy or you. But I think we would like to know why certain things are being done to help further our education down this journey of the “Crazy Leg Table” project. For our next project, we will all understand why many of the basic joinery is be completed the why it is and the temptation of grabbing the router or festool will not be there.

My understanding of tenon design of using haunches and twin tenons for any tenon over five inches long is as follows:

The haunches are used to help the apron from twisting over time and the twin tenons over fine inches will tend prevent joint failure due to wood movement over the span. In addition there is more glue surface for the joint.

The double tenon on the divider is used to increase glue surface on long grain to long grain surfaces.

Chuck

Eli,

Why do you chamber the ends of the tenon?

Chuck

You're right on with your reasoning, there. If you just had shoulders and no haunches, the boards could cup or twist and wouldn't be flush with your legs anymore. If you had a 5" tenon, it's going to expand and contract a lot in the mortise and could work itself loose.

I chamfer the ends of the tenons to help them fit in the mortise. It helps you align it as you fit the tenon, so the corners aren't banging up your leg. Also, if there are crumbs in the corners of your mortise, they won't stop your tenon from going in.

I'm not an expert, by any means, I'm actually still in my first year at school, but I'll do my best to answer any questions you have. Unless you have too many, then I'll just tell you to apply to the school.

Eli

NBSS Student

Neet info in there.......like the "crumbs in your corner" example.

Thanks for ask'in Chuck...Thanks for answering Eli.

Eli........I think you better get an application ready, by the by....you must feel pretty good about what you are seeing.