Cutting The Sides Of The Tails

Use a small tenon saw to cut the sides of the tails, always on the waste side of the line. Take great care to start the cut square along the top, forgetting about the side angle until you’ve established a well defined saw kerf parallel to the pencil line. (It is essential that you don’t cut into the pencil line as this is the only guide you have for sawing square.)

With a clean, square cut on the end, tilt the saw and keep sawing down to just above the depth line. Try to cut parallel to the angled line, but if you drift a little, don’t worry. This won’t compromise your joint as whatever angle it comes out at, you will lay out your pins to match exactly.