Arts and Crafts tables, beds
Through-tenon
The tenon comes through the leg and can be wedged or left proud.
Use when
- The joint is meant to be seen.
Don’t use when
- Do not wedge a through-tenon in a leg you still need to taper from that face.
- Keep
- Waste, hatched on the drawing
- Dimension
- Long parts are broken. The 1 in bar is true scale.
Stock
Thickness steppers move by 1/16 in, or 0.5 mm. You can type 3/4 or 1-1/8.
Sizes
| Mark | Size | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Tenon thickness | 1/4 in | Nearest bit to 1/3 of the rail. 1/4 in (matches a 1/4 in bit) |
| Tenon length | 1-7/8 in | Leg width plus 1/8 in proud. Saw it flush after the glue is dry, or leave it |
| Proud of the face | 1/8 in | 1/8 in when it will be trimmed flush |
| Tenon width | 2-1/2 in | Rail width minus a shoulder on each edge |
| Wedge kerf | 11/32 in | Two saw kerfs, about 1/3 in in from each cheek |
| Wedge angle | 4° | 3° to 5°. Stop before the wedge splits the leg |
Cut sequence
1Mortise through the leg
Chop from both faces so the exit does not tear out.
Setup: Tenon 1/4 in by 2-1/2 in.
2Saw the tenon proud
Length 1-7/8 in, 1/8 in past the face. Kerfs for wedges 11/32 in in from each cheek.
Stop when: The shoulder closes and the tenon stands proud.
3Wedge after the glue is on
Wedge about 4°. Drive both wedges together.
Stop when: The wedges are seated and the leg has not split.
4Dry-fit, then glue
Close the joint dry. Check that shoulders and faces meet, then glue. If this is a frame or a box, check both diagonals before the glue grabs.
Stop when: Dry-fit is tight with hand pressure, square, and the diagonals match.
Glue
Long grain to long grain
Strength
structural
Movement
A through tenon shows. Wedges lock it. The cheeks are still the glue joint.