Cutting The Haunch On The Tenon — Joint Variation: Haunched Mortise and Tenon

With the tenon cut, mark the depth of the haunch directly from your mortise piece. You will have to make sure that the tenon shoulder is cleaned out so that it seats tight and square against the mortise piece. Square this line part way across the tenon (approximately 1”).

Next, stand your tenon over the mortise and mark the width directly from the start (top) of the mortise. Square this line along the length of the tenon using your finger as a gauge.

Take your reference for the depth of the haunch from the mortise haunch

Square the pencil line part way across the tenon

Place the tenon over the mortise to mark the cut line where the haunch begins

Mark the waste with an X to help you remember which side of the line to cut on

Go over the cross grain mark with a knife to create a knifewall and then make a step down for your saw with a chisel. Cut the notch out using a tenon saw.

Square a knifewall over the pencil line on the edge of the tenon piece before cutting the shoulder of the haunch

Pare into the knifewall to aid the start of the saw

Saw down the haunch across the grain first