Here’s a basic tenoning jig I made for my Dewalt DW745 portable table saw. It should make cutting tenons a breeze! (Click on the thumbnails below to see a larger version of each photo.)

The mortise and tenon joint is one of the most fundamental joinery techniques used in woodworking because it is both simple and strong. It is what separates “IKEA-style regurgitated termite barf” from fine furniture. Although there are many variations on that joint, the basic mortise and tenon is comprised of a male piece — the tenon — and a female piece — the mortise. The photos below show how I usually cut a square mortise using a plunge router, a custom made jig and a chisel. The plan for the jig can be found in issue #90 of ShopNotes magazine. (Click on the thumbnails below to see a larger version of each photo.)