tenonmen

Tenonmen are craftspeople who specialize in the design, manufacture, and fitting of mortise-and-tenon joints, a traditional method used to join pieces of wood at right angles. The term tenonmen is uncommon in modern industry; professionals are usually called joiners, carpenters, or timber framers. The title may appear in historical accounts or in fantasy literature to denote a guild or school devoted to this technique.

Origins and practice

Mortise-and-tenon joinery dates back thousands of years and appears in furniture, architecture, and timber framing across many cultures. Tenonmen study the geometry of the projecting tenon and the corresponding mortise to ensure joints are strong, aligned, and capable of withstanding movement and load. They work with hand tools such as saws, chisels, and marking gauges, as well as powered mortisers, planers, and clamps. The craft emphasizes precise fit, proper wood grain orientation, and clean shoulder lines.

Types of tenons

- Through-tenon: extends completely through the mortise and is visible on both faces.

- Stub-tenon or shoulder-tenon: shorter, with a clearly defined shoulder.

- Haunched tenon: includes a haunch near the shoulder to resist twisting.

Applications

Tenonmen work in furniture workshops, cabinetry, and historic timber-frame restoration. Joints are typically secured with wedges or drawbore pins, and fit tolerances are kept tight to ensure strength and ease of disassembly for maintenance or relocation.

See also

Mortise and tenon joint, timber framing, joinery.

References

General woodworking manuals and historical sources on traditional carpentry provide background on mortise-and-tenon techniques.