This year I have been trying to improve my skills in joinery and bring in hand tools into my skill set. With this goal I have purchased some new equipment. The first was a sharpening system so I can have sharp tools. After this project I have upgraded my set of chisels to better steel and longer blade for ease of sharpening.
The skill set on this project was hand cut mortises for mortise and tenon joints. I usually do not use this type joinery because it means hand cut mortises (I am not going to buy a mortising machine) and I have not really been very good at them. I have only done them twice before and both were machine made. The high chair had 16 mortises. I attempted to make two. Only one made it to the end. Here are some of the things that I learned and took away from the experience:
I set myself the best I could for success. I watched videos and read information. I created jigs to make sure my measurements were all the same. This was a simple block with a groove so I could mark the location to all the mortises and they would all be the same. All the mortises were the same and only four were in a different location. Just as I started pounding nails in a 2x4 with my name on it I had 32 mortises that were all the same to practice.I had sharp tools. I have previously used chisels and have a set. They were only sharpened recently for this project. This is why I had purchased a sharpening system.
I learned that mortises could be cut crooked. That was the fate of the second one. I could not square to save my life. So it turned into blocks.I understand now what a marking knife is for. It creates a small cut in the wood that allows the blade of the chisel to sit in. I am sure it has other purposes but this is the one that I realized.
I learned that a wobbly table is not the best to chop out mortises. I would love a work bench but I need something that can get out of the way of a car.This was a challenging project and took a longer than normal time to make. The plan will not be up for sale at this time. I will be making one with doweled construction to put on my plans page. I am glad I did it and a little more confident in making and cut mortises. I might use them a little more often now.
