Slightly Embarrassing M & T Question.

[Andy Kev.]

Evening All,

if one has managed to ill fit an M & T joint i.e. the T is a bit too slack in the M, can it be cured by glueing a shaving to each side of the T in the hope of tightening things up?

 

[Blackswanwood]

I don’t see why not Andy.

 

[AJB Temple]

It may be better to turn it into a wedged tenon by cutting a saw slot in and making a wedge to lock it in place. However, the shoulders will need to cover the mortice slot to look good.

 

[SamQ aka Ah! Q!]

Veneer fragments are better (than shavings) DAMHIKT. They're even thicknessed and can be cut to size with a Stanley knife.

 

[PAC1]

I was told by a friend it is a solution.

 

[PAC1]

Veneer fragments are better (than shavings) DAMHIKT. They're even thicknessed and can be cut to size with a Stanley knife.

The same friend also told me that if you have to plane the new thicker tenon down that a thicker piece is better than a thin shaving.

 

[Blackswanwood]

It may be better to turn it into a wedged tenon by cutting a saw slot in and making a wedge to lock it in place. However, the shoulders will need to cover the mortice slot to look good.

Surely that risks splitting the piece the mortise has been cut into? Wedges are usually used at right angles to the cheeks?

 

[AJB Temple]

I agree that care is needed. I've wedged decoratively both ways at once when playing about with Japanese joints. I think you can tell when you are close to too much force.

 

[BravoNovember]

It should work fine, a ‘friend’ who had to do this recently just then flattened the tenon after gluing a shaving on with a router plane registered on the rail side.

 

[NickM]

Only the best craftsmen go to the lengths of veneering their tenons. That's what I told myself when I had to do it...

 

[meccarroll]

Evening All,

if one has managed to ill fit an M & T joint i.e. the T is a bit too slack in the M, can it be cured by glueing a shaving to each side of the T in the hope of tightening things up?

Yes of course you can glue a sliver of wood on each cheek and re-work the tenon to fit nicely. So long as you use a good quality glue the joint sould be ok after the re-work. The joint will be good as long as the glue holds so make sure you use a good glue.

 

[AndyP]

If this was to be done would it be best to make the veneer from the same timber as the tenon with the grain running the same way?

 

[Lons]

Choice of timber doesn't matter Andy though I'd run the grain in the same direction. Not that I've ever done it you understand.

 

[Woodbloke]

I've been wood mangling since the early 70's and have never had to do that, even for a 'friend' Cut the tenons a gnats thicker then use the rounded side of a geno hammer to compress the fibres so it's a squeaky push fit. Works every time - Rob

 

[Steve Maskery]

This is precisely why I cut my tenons with a jig on a tablesaw...
S

 

[Pete Maddex]

Its not how good you are, it's how good you are at covering your mistakes that matters.