A mortise hole is a type of hole that is cut or formed in timber or other materials, with sides perpendicular to the surface, to accommodate a mortise or tenon joint. Mortise holes can vary in rectangular or square shape, depending on the joint and the depth of the mortise will depend on the joint it is supporting.
This type of joinery is commonly used in furniture and timber-frame construction and provides strong joints. Mortise holes are usually cut using a drill press, a chisel and mallet, or a combination of both.
The finished hole should fit the mortise tightly and be free of any splinters, especially when used in furniture. For strength, it also helps to use glue when fitting the mortise into the holes.
What is mortise and tenon meaning?
Mortise and tenon is a kind of joint used in carpentry and joinery where one part is inserted into another to form a strong, secure connection. Mortise and tenon joints can be found in furniture making, cabinetry, woodworking, and other forms of woodcraft.
To create a mortise and tenon joint, both pieces of wood must be cut to size. The end of one piece is cut to receive a tenon – a tongue-shaped protrusion – while the other piece is cut with a hollowed mortise that the tenon sits in.
The mortise and tenon joint is then glued, pegged, doweled, or otherwise secured and clamped while the glue dries. A mortise and tenon joint provides long-lasting strength and stability to the pieces of wood that are connected, making it a popular joint for furniture making, cabinetry, and other forms of woodworking.
What is the purpose of a mortise?
A mortise is a hole or recess cut into a piece of wood, usually in the shape of a square or rectangle, to fit with a tenon, which is a corresponding projection on the piece of wood that is to be joined to it.
Mortise and tenon joints are used in woodworking to attach two pieces of wood together, providing a strong and secure joint that is difficult to break apart. Mortise and tenon joints were used in traditional woodworking and they are still used today; however, technology has allowed for other methods of joining two pieces of wood.
Mortise and tenon joints are used in many furniture applications and for various other purposes. The mortise itself serves as a socket for the tenon to fit into, securely joining the two pieces of wood together.
How do you lay out tenons?
When laying out tenons, it is important to take your time and use a combination of hand tools and power tools to get the desired results. Begin by laying out the shoulders of the tenon with a marking gauge.
This should be done parallel to an edge or face of the workpiece. Use a chisel to cut the shoulders of the tenon to the desired depth, using a straightedge to ensure the shoulder lines are plumb. Use a tenon saw to cut the cheeks of the tenon, starting from the shoulder line and working down.
Once the cheeks are cut, the remaining wood can be chiseled away until the desired fit is achieved. To ensure an accurate fit, test it by lightly tapping the tenon into the mortise and then sliding it against a straight edge.
Once the fit is satisfactory, you can shape the edges of the tenon with a router and chisels for a more refined look if desired.
What is an advantage of using a mortise and tenon or a dovetail joint?
A mortise and tenon joint or a dovetail joint is an essential feature of high-quality woodworking projects because they are strong and provide a more uniform load transfer than other types of joinery methods.
Mortise and tenon joints involve cutting a hole into the end of one piece of wood to fit a tongue on the end of the corresponding piece of wood. This creates a much more secure connection between the pieces.
Dovetail joints, on the other hand, involve interlocking triangular-shaped grooves and pins cut into the corresponding pieces of wood. Both mortise and tenon joints and dovetail joints are incredibly strong and result in a much sturdier final product than other types of joinery.
In addition to being strong, they also provide a much more aesthetically-pleasing finish than alternative methods, which is an important factor when creating fine woodworking projects.
When did they stop using mortise locks?
Mortise locks were used for centuries and continued to be used up until the early 20th century. After that, mortise locks began to fall out of favor in favor of other lock technologies. By the 1940s, advancements in technology allowed for manufacturers to provide secure deadbolts that provided superior protection for consumers.
As technology evolved and lock designs improved, mortise locks became increasingly obsolete.
Today, mortise locks are no longer used in residential or commercial settings as other lock types have become the industry standard. Many of the core components of the mortise lock, such as the latchbolt, can still be found in locks utilized today, but the mortise lock has been largely relegated to a place in history.
Why is it called a mortise lock?
A mortise lock is so named because of the way it is attached to the door. It is installed by cutting a rectangular-shaped mortise into the door edge, into which the lock body is fitted and held in place by screws.
The mortise is a cavity cut into the door edge to receive the lock body and a strike plate, and it can be found in doors throughout the world, from high security buildings to residential homes.
The design of the mortise lock is highly secure and reliable, and its widespread popularity is due to its strength and versatility. The lock body itself consists of two main parts: a lock cylinder, which is the portion that contains the tumblers used to secure the door, and a case, which holds the locking mechanism in place within the mortise.
The mortise lock provides a very high level of security, as the lock is not visible from the outside and is safely recessed within the door. Furthermore, the strong and consistent strike plate helps to ensure that the lock is not tampered with and stays firmly in place.
These features are what make the mortise lock a popular and reliable choice worldwide. Its longevity and strength make it an excellent security feature for buildings of all kinds, and its unique design is sure to remain a popular choice for a long time to come.
Is a mortise lock more secure?
Yes, a mortise lock is more secure than many other types of locks. Mortise locks are often installed in entry doors, as they provide strong resistance against entry by force. They are typically installed in the edge of a door, where the body of the lock is recessed into the surrounding door frame.
This makes it more difficult to pick, drill, or bypass the lock and provides a greater range of locking points. Furthermore, the locking mechanism is usually comprised of multiple components including a deadbolt, an auxiliary latch, and a spring-loaded strike plate, adding additional layers of protection.
Additionally, many mortise locks come with advanced features like key control and smart lock technology, which further enhance their overall security.
Should you cut the mortise or tenon first?
It depends on personal preference, the type of woodworking project and the material. Generally, the tenon should be cut first as it is the foundation of the joint and its fit should be exact. If the tenon is not cut accurately, the joint won’t fit properly and could be weak since the mortise won’t have enough material for support.
That said, there are some projects where it may be more convenient to cut the mortise first. For example, when cutting a mortise and tenon in a large panel, it can be more efficient to cut the mortise first so that the tenon can be move around the panel in order to fit the mortise or any other sized or shaped mortises in the same panel.
Ultimately, it depends on the woodworker’s skill level and the complexity of the project.
What is the rule of thumb for the thickness of a tenon?
A good rule of thumb for the thickness of a tenon is 1/3 the thickness of the board that it is being joined to. For example, if the board you are joining is 3/4″ thick, then the tenon should be approximately 1/4″ thick.
Of course, this is only a general guideline and there may be times when you need to make a thicker or thinner tenon for a particular situation. Additionally, the length of the tenon should be at least twice the width of the board that it is joining.
Can you use a mortise bit in a hand drill?
Yes, you can use a mortise bit in a hand drill, although it is not the ideal tool for the job. A hand drill is not as powerful as a dedicated mortise machine, which means your mortise bit may produce shallower and less accurate joint than a machine would.
Additionally, a mortise bit is designed to be used at specific RPMs, and a hand drill may not be able to reach the desired speed.
Because of the risk of inaccurate joints and poor performance, it is generally recommended that mortise joints be achieved with a dedicated mortise machine, not a hand drill. However, depending on the project, a hand drill might be adequate, such as for shallow mortise joints or those that don’t require precise measurements.
You should keep in mind, however, that using a hand drill with a mortise bit may produce less precise results than with a mortise machine.