A mortiseand tenon (occasionally mortice and tenon) joint connects two pieces of wood or other material. Woodworkers around the world have used it for thousands of years to join pieces of wood, mainly when the adjoining pieces connect at right angles.
1) Through tenon and 2) mortise as a shouldered joint
Mortise and tenon joints are strong and stable joints that can be used in many projects. They furnish a strong outcome and connect by either gluing or locking into place. The mortise and tenon joint also gives an attractive look. One drawback to this joint is the difficulty in making it because of the precise measuring and tight cutting required. In its most basic form, a mortise and tenon joint is both simple and strong. There are many variations of this type of joint, and the basic mortise and tenon has two components:
the mortise hole, and
the tenon tongue.
The tenon, formed on the end of a member generally referred to as a rail, fits into a square or rectangular hole cut into the other, corresponding member. The tenon is cut to fit the mortise hole exactly. It usually has shoulders that seat when the joint fully enters the mortise hole. The joint may be glued, pinned, or wedged to lock it in place.
This joint is also used with other materials. For example, it is traditionally used by both stonemasons and blacksmiths.
The noun mortise, "a hole or groove in which something is fitted to form a joint", comes from c. 1400 from Old French'mortaise' (13th century), possibly from Arabic'murtazz', "fastened", past participle of 'razza', "cut a mortise in".[1] The word tenon, a noun in English since the late 14th century, developed its sense of "a projection inserted to make a joint" from the Old French 'tenir' "to hold".[2]
History and ancient examples
Egyptian stool with through tenons, c. 1991–1450 BC
The mortise and tenon joint is an ancient joint dating back 7,000 years. The first examples, tusked joints, were found in a well near Leipzig – the world's oldest intact wooden architecture.[3] These were created by early NeolithicLinear Pottery culture, where it was used in the construction of the wooden lining of the wells.[4] Mortise and tenon joints have also been found joining the wooden planks of the "Khufu ship",[5] a 43.6 m (143 ft) long vessel sealed into a pit in the Giza pyramid complex of the Fourth Dynasty around 2500 BC.
Ship hull demonstrating the Phoenician joint technique of locked (pegged) mortise and tenon
Mortise and tenon joints have also been found in ancient furniture from archaeological sites in the Middle East, Europe and Asia. Many instances are found, for example, in ruins of houses in the Silk Road kingdom of Cadota, dating from the first to the 4th century BC.[6] In traditional Chinese architecture, wood components such as beams, brackets, roof frames, and struts were made to interlock with perfect fit, without using fasteners or glues, enabling the wood to expand and contract according to humidity.[7] Archaeological evidence from Chinese sites shows that, by the end of the Neolithic, mortise and tenon joinery was employed in Chinese construction.[8]
The thirty sarsen stones of Stonehenge were dressed and fashioned with mortise and tenon joints before they were erected between 2600 and 2400 BC.[9]
A variation of the mortise and tenon technique, called Phoenician joints (from the Latin coagmenta punicana)[10][11] was extensively used in ancient shipbuilding to assemble hull planks and other watercraft components together. It is a locked (pegged) mortise and tenon technique that consists of cutting two mortises into the edges of two planks; a separate rectangular tenon is then inserted in the two mortises. The assembly is then locked in place by driving a dowel through one or more holes drilled through mortise side wall and tenon.[12][13]
Description
Generally, the size of the mortise and tenon is related to the thickness of the timbers. It is good practice to proportion the tenon as one third the thickness of the rail, or as close to this as is practical. The haunch, the cut-away part of a sash corner joint that prevents the tenon coming loose, is one third the length of the tenon and one-sixth of the width of the tenon in its depth. The remaining two-thirds of the rail, the tenon shoulders, help to counteract lateral forces that might tweak the tenon from the mortise, contributing to its strength. These also serve to hide imperfections in the opening of the mortise.
Brick mold from ancient Egypt held together with mortise joints
A mortise is a hole cut into a timber to receive a tenon. There are several kinds of mortise:[14]
Open mortise: a mortise that has only three sides. (See bridle joint).
Stub mortise: a shallow mortise, the depth of which depends on the size of the timber; also a mortise that does not go through the workpiece (as opposed to a "through mortise").
Through mortise: a mortise that passes entirely through a piece.
Wedged half-dovetail: a mortise in which the back is wider, or taller, than the front, or opening. The space for the wedge initially leaves room to insert the tenon. The wedge, after the tenon is engaged, prevents its withdrawal.
Through-wedged half-dovetail: a wedged half-dovetail mortise that passes entirely through the piece.
Tenons
Two tusked through tenons are used to hold the trestles of this trestle table together.
A tenon is a projection on the end of a timber for insertion into a mortise. Usually, the tenon is taller than it is wide. There are several kinds of tenons:
Stub tenon: a short tenon, the depth of which depends on the size of the timber; also a tenon that is shorter than the width of the mortised piece so the tenon does not show (as opposed to a "through tenon").
Through tenon: a tenon that passes entirely through the piece of wood it is inserted into, being clearly visible on the rear side.
Loose tenon: a tenon that is a separate part of the joint, as opposed to a fixed tenon that is an integral part of one of the pieces to be joined.
Biscuit tenon: a thin oval piece of wood, shaped like a biscuit[15]
Pegged (or pinned) tenon: the joint is strengthened by driving a peg or dowel pin (treenail) through one or more holes drilled through the mortise side wall and tenon;[16] this is common in timber framing joints.
Tusk tenon: a kind of mortise and tenon joint that uses a wedge-shaped key to hold the joint together.
Teasel (or teazle) tenon: a term used for the tenon on top of a jowled or gunstock post, which is typically received by the mortise in the underside of a tie beam. A common element of the English tying joint.
Top tenon: the tenon that occurs on top of a post.
Hammer-headed tenon: a method of forming a tenon joint when the shoulders cannot be tightened with a clamp.
Half shoulder tenon: an asymmetric tenon with a shoulder on one side only. A common use is in framed, ledged, and braced doors.
Gallery
A traditional through, wedged, mortise and tenon joint
A stub tenon corner joint
A haunched stub tenon corner joint
A foxtail wedged tenon joint
A pinned corner tenon joint
A modern feather tenon joint (primarily called a loose tenon)
^Roberts, Rachel (2012). "House-building in Ancient Niya". IDP News. 39. Retrieved 26 October 2012.
^Steinhardt, Nancy W. (2002). Chinese Architecture (English ed.). Yale University Press. pp. 1. ISBN978-0-300-09559-3.
^Xujie, Liu (2002). Chinese Architecture - The Origins of Chinese Architecture (English ed.). Yale University Press. pp. 11. ISBN978-0-300-09559-3.
^"Building Stonehenge". English Heritage. Retrieved 2020-10-27.
^Cato, Marcus (1934) [c. 160 BC]. "XVIII". De agri cultura [On agriculture]. Loeb Classical Library (in Latin). Translated by Henderson, Jeffrey. Loeb Classical Library. Retrieved 2021-04-27.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
^Sleeswyk, A. W. (1980-08-01). "Phoenician joints, coagmenta punicana". International Journal of Nautical Archaeology. 9 (3): 243–244. doi:10.1111/j.1095-9270.1980.tb01303.x. ISSN 1057-2414.
^López-Ruiz, Carolina; Doak, Brian R. (2019-07-29). The Oxford Handbook of the Phoenician and Punic Mediterranean. Oxford University Press. ISBN978-0-19-049935-8.
^Teague, Matthew (2007-05-01). "The Pegged Joint, Exposed". FineWoodworking. Taunton Press. from the original on 2020-09-25. Retrieved 2021-04-28.
mortise, tenon, mortise, tenon, occasionally, mortice, tenon, joint, connects, pieces, wood, other, material, woodworkers, around, world, have, used, thousands, years, join, pieces, wood, mainly, when, adjoining, pieces, connect, right, angles, diagram, mortis. A mortise and tenon occasionally mortice and tenon joint connects two pieces of wood or other material Woodworkers around the world have used it for thousands of years to join pieces of wood mainly when the adjoining pieces connect at right angles Diagram of a mortise left and tenon right Tusked through tenons used on a French granary 1 Through tenon and 2 mortise as a shouldered joint Mortise and tenon joints are strong and stable joints that can be used in many projects They furnish a strong outcome and connect by either gluing or locking into place The mortise and tenon joint also gives an attractive look One drawback to this joint is the difficulty in making it because of the precise measuring and tight cutting required In its most basic form a mortise and tenon joint is both simple and strong There are many variations of this type of joint and the basic mortise and tenon has two components the mortise hole and the tenon tongue The tenon formed on the end of a member generally referred to as a rail fits into a square or rectangular hole cut into the other corresponding member The tenon is cut to fit the mortise hole exactly It usually has shoulders that seat when the joint fully enters the mortise hole The joint may be glued pinned or wedged to lock it in place This joint is also used with other materials For example it is traditionally used by both stonemasons and blacksmiths Contents 1 Etymology 2 History and ancient examples 3 Description 3 1 Types 3 1 1 Mortises 3 1 2 Tenons 4 Gallery 5 See also 6 ReferencesEtymology EditThe noun mortise a hole or groove in which something is fitted to form a joint comes from c 1400 from Old French mortaise 13th century possibly from Arabic murtazz fastened past participle of razza cut a mortise in 1 The word tenon a noun in English since the late 14th century developed its sense of a projection inserted to make a joint from the Old French tenir to hold 2 History and ancient examples Edit Egyptian stool with through tenons c 1991 1450 BCThe mortise and tenon joint is an ancient joint dating back 7 000 years The first examples tusked joints were found in a well near Leipzig the world s oldest intact wooden architecture 3 These were created by early Neolithic Linear Pottery culture where it was used in the construction of the wooden lining of the wells 4 Mortise and tenon joints have also been found joining the wooden planks of the Khufu ship 5 a 43 6 m 143 ft long vessel sealed into a pit in the Giza pyramid complex of the Fourth Dynasty around 2500 BC Ship hull demonstrating the Phoenician joint technique of locked pegged mortise and tenon Mortise and tenon joints have also been found in ancient furniture from archaeological sites in the Middle East Europe and Asia Many instances are found for example in ruins of houses in the Silk Road kingdom of Cadota dating from the first to the 4th century BC 6 In traditional Chinese architecture wood components such as beams brackets roof frames and struts were made to interlock with perfect fit without using fasteners or glues enabling the wood to expand and contract according to humidity 7 Archaeological evidence from Chinese sites shows that by the end of the Neolithic mortise and tenon joinery was employed in Chinese construction 8 The thirty sarsen stones of Stonehenge were dressed and fashioned with mortise and tenon joints before they were erected between 2600 and 2400 BC 9 A variation of the mortise and tenon technique called Phoenician joints from the Latin coagmenta punicana 10 11 was extensively used in ancient shipbuilding to assemble hull planks and other watercraft components together It is a locked pegged mortise and tenon technique that consists of cutting two mortises into the edges of two planks a separate rectangular tenon is then inserted in the two mortises The assembly is then locked in place by driving a dowel through one or more holes drilled through mortise side wall and tenon 12 13 Description EditGenerally the size of the mortise and tenon is related to the thickness of the timbers It is good practice to proportion the tenon as one third the thickness of the rail or as close to this as is practical The haunch the cut away part of a sash corner joint that prevents the tenon coming loose is one third the length of the tenon and one sixth of the width of the tenon in its depth The remaining two thirds of the rail the tenon shoulders help to counteract lateral forces that might tweak the tenon from the mortise contributing to its strength These also serve to hide imperfections in the opening of the mortise Types Edit Experimental archaeology cutting a mortise with a cannonbone chisel Mortises Edit A through mortise is used in this wooden hinge Brick mold from ancient Egypt held together with mortise joints A mortise is a hole cut into a timber to receive a tenon There are several kinds of mortise 14 Open mortise a mortise that has only three sides See bridle joint Stub mortise a shallow mortise the depth of which depends on the size of the timber also a mortise that does not go through the workpiece as opposed to a through mortise Through mortise a mortise that passes entirely through a piece Wedged half dovetail a mortise in which the back is wider or taller than the front or opening The space for the wedge initially leaves room to insert the tenon The wedge after the tenon is engaged prevents its withdrawal Through wedged half dovetail a wedged half dovetail mortise that passes entirely through the piece Tenons Edit Two tusked through tenons are used to hold the trestles of this trestle table together A tenon is a projection on the end of a timber for insertion into a mortise Usually the tenon is taller than it is wide There are several kinds of tenons Stub tenon a short tenon the depth of which depends on the size of the timber also a tenon that is shorter than the width of the mortised piece so the tenon does not show as opposed to a through tenon Through tenon a tenon that passes entirely through the piece of wood it is inserted into being clearly visible on the rear side Loose tenon a tenon that is a separate part of the joint as opposed to a fixed tenon that is an integral part of one of the pieces to be joined Biscuit tenon a thin oval piece of wood shaped like a biscuit 15 Pegged or pinned tenon the joint is strengthened by driving a peg or dowel pin treenail through one or more holes drilled through the mortise side wall and tenon 16 this is common in timber framing joints Tusk tenon a kind of mortise and tenon joint that uses a wedge shaped key to hold the joint together Teasel or teazle tenon a term used for the tenon on top of a jowled or gunstock post which is typically received by the mortise in the underside of a tie beam A common element of the English tying joint Top tenon the tenon that occurs on top of a post Hammer headed tenon a method of forming a tenon joint when the shoulders cannot be tightened with a clamp Half shoulder tenon an asymmetric tenon with a shoulder on one side only A common use is in framed ledged and braced doors Gallery Edit A traditional through wedged mortise and tenon joint A stub tenon corner joint A haunched stub tenon corner joint A foxtail wedged tenon joint A pinned corner tenon joint A modern feather tenon joint primarily called a loose tenon See also EditBox joint Dado Dovetail jointReferences Edit Harper Douglas mortise Online Etymology Dictionary Retrieved 2019 02 19 Harper Douglas tenon Online Etymology Dictionary Retrieved 2019 02 19 The Neolithic Toolkit Archaeology org Retrieved 7 January 2015 Early Neolithic Water Wells Reveal the World s Oldest Wood Architecture Tegel W Elburg R Hakelberg D Stauble H Buntgen U 2012 Early Neolithic Water Wells Reveal the World s Oldest Wood Architecture PLoS ONE 7 12 e51374 doi 10 1371 journal pone 0051374 Ward Cheryl World s Oldest Planked Boats in Archaeology Volume 54 Number 3 May June 2001 Archaeological Institute of America Roberts Rachel 2012 House building in Ancient Niya IDP News 39 Retrieved 26 October 2012 Steinhardt Nancy W 2002 Chinese Architecture English ed Yale University Press pp 1 ISBN 978 0 300 09559 3 Xujie Liu 2002 Chinese Architecture The Origins of Chinese Architecture English ed Yale University Press pp 11 ISBN 978 0 300 09559 3 Building Stonehenge English Heritage Retrieved 2020 10 27 Cato Marcus 1934 c 160 BC XVIII De agri cultura On agriculture Loeb Classical Library in Latin Translated by Henderson Jeffrey Loeb Classical Library Retrieved 2021 04 27 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint url status link Sleeswyk A W 1980 08 01 Phoenician joints coagmenta punicana International Journal of Nautical Archaeology 9 3 243 244 doi 10 1111 j 1095 9270 1980 tb01303 x ISSN 1057 2414 Lopez Ruiz Carolina Doak Brian R 2019 07 29 The Oxford Handbook of the Phoenician and Punic Mediterranean Oxford University Press ISBN 978 0 19 049935 8 Teague Matthew 2007 05 01 The Pegged Joint Exposed FineWoodworking Taunton Press Archived from the original on 2020 09 25 Retrieved 2021 04 28 Dekker Michael Mortise and Tenon Woodwork Details Retrieved 2015 02 18 Our Reviews Your Decision Man Of Family Retrieved 2017 07 28 Teague Matthew May 2007 The Pegged Joint Exposed Fine Woodworking Taunton Press Retrieved 2015 02 18 This article is partly based on a Quicksilver wiki article at A Glossary of Terms For Traditional Timber Framing Timberbee under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mortise and tenon amp oldid 1133632286, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
