Tenon Jig

Want Fast, Easy, & Precise Tenons?

This Tenon Jig gives sharp, precise tenons, and guaranteed safety. I have yet to see tenons as pretty, as exact and as easy as the ones you will make with this jig. What more could you ask?

Making Tenons with a router is natural and easy. This jig supports the router and holds the work. You clamp your wood piece in a vise, or you can clamp the jig to your bench.

There are no setup hassles or adjustments. Very little skill is required for perfect results. You have no workpiece length limitations. This jig accepts a baby crib headboard for example — even on a stepladder!

With the work indexed to the jig, the router rabbets the end of the stock. It makes uniform crisp shoulders. Any tenon takes less than a minute to make and index. Once the depth is set, you can make multiple tenons that match exactly.

The depth of cut controls the tenon length. The router bit and its bearings control the shoulder width. Shoulder widths from 1/8" to 9/16" in 1/16" increments are possible.

You can purchase one from Pat Warner (Router Expert) for over $100.

If you would like me to make you one, let me know.

Or You Can Make Your Own:

All you need is a couple of pieces of MDF or high-density plywood, a hardwood board and a DeStaCo toggle clamp.

This jig will amaze you with perfect tenons every time.

To make your own, go to Plans Page - Tenon Jig.
The plans include large diagrams, material list, and cutting guide.

This jig is precise and safe!

To see this Tenon Jig in action, click on the movie tab. It takes less than 10 seconds to rout a four-faced tenon.

How to Use:

1. Clamp your workpiece vertically in a vise.
2. Clamp the jig on your workpiece.
3. Place your Router with wide platform on top of Jig. I use my fixed-base router with router table insert plate for this. It works great!
4. Make sure that the rabbet bit's bearing produces the size of shoulder on the tenon.
5. Set the depth of cut.
6. Rout the perimeter of the wood piece.
7. Check for length of tenon. Adjust router depth of cut to final.

Can't Get Any Easier!

Router Bit & Bearings:

A rabbet bit comes with one bearing. You can purchase several bearings to give you more versatility in size of rabbets (shoulders). The bearing kit gives you a rabbet from 1/8" up to 1/2".

If you need help in finding a fair price, go to the Best Place to Buy Page!

Which First — Tenon or Mortise?

With the tenon jig, you make the shoulder of the tenon with a rabbet bit. The rabbet bit's different size bearings give you the size of the shoulder. They are in 1/16" increments.

I think it best to make the tenon first. It is easy to set-up the Mortise Jig to make any size mortise that you need. Therefore, you will have a snug fit when you know the tenon's size. You can make the mortise to accept it.

Once you use the system, you will understand how quick and easy it is. Make the tenons. Setup the mortise jig and make multiple mortises exactly the same size and depth.

Tips:

Keep one side flat for indexing on the Tenon Jig's Fence.

Example: I kept one side of the curvy Crib Headboard flat. Cut the tenons. Then use a template to rout the final curve on the Crib Headboard.

Use sharp router bits. If you need a good place to purchase, please visit my Best Place to Buy Page.

Once setup, you can route multiple tenons exactly the same!

Climb cut a little at final depth of cut for crisp edges.

You can turn the tenon jig on its side to make precise Lap Joints.

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