For historical work, joist hangers won't cut it, so turn to traditional woodworking joinery
It is suitable for structural floor systems where framing needs to surround a chimney, or anywhere there needs to be an opening in a structural floor system.
The process begins with a template, especially if you're cutting more than one of these.
Make a template from 3/8 inch MDF
- Tennon: /6 of the overall height of the timber
- Tusk is 1/4 of the thickness of the timber.
- The shoulder for the beveled housing is precisely in line with the tusk. This shoulder prevents the timber from rotating due to cupping or other movements.
- Mark the timber using the template, cleaning the lines up with a framing square.
- Cut the lines using a circular saw and a handsaw. (Make sure to cut on the right side of the line.)
Next, cut the mortise and housings for the joint.
- Sharpen your chisel
At this point in the video, an integrated ad for SkillShare comes in (from 7:38 to 8:27). Skip it if you want to. It will not hurt our feelings.
- Cut the tenon with a Forstner bit and then remove the excess with a sharp chisel.
- Use a precision marking gauge to transfer the exact depth of the shoulder to the tenon board.
- Use a sharp chisel to cut out the housing for the shoulder.
- Clean the surfaces with a block plane and chisel.
Mark for the wedge
- Assemble the joint and mark the tenon where it comes through the mortise.
- Disassemble the joint and mark with a square just inside the line you just made. This will pull the joint tighter.
- Make a hardwood wedge and then mark the top and bottom shoulders of the wedge's mortise on the tenon.
- Drill and chop the wedge mortise.
Assemble the joint and pound the wedge in place. That's it — timber technology from our forefathers!
—This video is from Skill Builder, a YouTube channel that focuses on carpentry training.
