Large Tenon Cutting with TS55

[LaserGecko]

Compared to using a tenoning jig and a table saw, I can see where one aspect of cutting large tenons (in table legs, for example) would be much easier with the guide rail. (The shoulder cut? It's been awhile.) Just line them all up, clamp them, and do all four legs with one perfectly straight cut.

However, does anyone have any ideas or jigs for cutting the cheek/end grain cut?

 

[clintholeman]

Compared to using a tenoning jig and a table saw, I can see where one aspect of cutting large tenons (in table legs, for example) would be much easier with the guide rail. (The shoulder cut? It's been awhile.) Just line them all up, clamp them, and do all four legs with one perfectly straight cut.

However, does anyone have any ideas or jigs for cutting the cheek/end grain cut?

I don't cut them with a saw, but I do cut the tenons with the OF 1400 pretty regularly.  Stack the legs on the MFT, using the guide rail and a stop to set the width of the cut.  Route one side, flip over do the other, rotate 90 degrees, adjust your depth, route, flip for the final.  It actually works well in practice.

You will need a "riser block" to align the ends and to rest the foot of the router - a couple of pieces of scrap usually work well for that.  You may want to sandwich the pieces with scrap to minimize tear-out.

Fast and very accurate.

 

[LaserGecko]

Ahhh, cool. I think I get it. Instead of cutting four hunks of wood off the end with a saw, you just rout it all away with the router.

Any tricks for the mortising?

BTW, that Purpleheart and Ash Chest is astounding.

 

[clintholeman]

Ahhh, cool. I think I get it. Instead of cutting four hunks of wood off the end with a saw, you just rout it all away with the router.

Any tricks for the mortising?

BTW, that Purpleheart and Ash Chest is astounding.

Thanks for the nice words about the chest!

Mortising I have done with my router as well.  The solution depends on the piece.  I just built a bench with through tenons and cut the mortises with my router and guide rail - I think there are some pix on my blog.  As a rule, I just cut them with the router and square them up with a chisel.  I used to do it all by hand, so it seems pretty quick to me. .