Mortise and tenon joints are a type of woodwork joint that have been used for thousands of years to connect two pieces of wood together. They are known for their strength, durability, and ability to withstand stress and strain.

A mortise is a rectangular hole that is cut into a piece of wood. A tenon is a protruding piece of wood that is cut to fit into the mortise. The tenon is usually rectangular in shape and is designed to fit snugly into the mortise, creating a strong joint.

Once the mortise and tenon are cut, they are test-fitted to ensure a tight and secure joint. If the joint is loose, the tenon may need to be adjusted or the mortise may need to be made slightly smaller. Once the joint fits properly, glue is applied to the surfaces and the joint is clamped together until the glue dries.

Mortise and tenon joints are used in a wide range of woodworking projects, including furniture, doors, windows, and cabinetry.

There are several types of mortising machines that are commonly used in woodworking, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Here are a few examples:

Hollow Chisel Mortiser: This type of mortiser uses a hollow chisel to cut the mortise, and a drill bit to remove the waste material. It is a popular choice for woodworking shops, as it is fast and accurate.

Benchtop Mortiser: This is a smaller, more portable version of the hollow chisel mortiser. It is designed to be mounted on a workbench, and is suitable for smaller woodworking projects.

Chain Mortiser: This type of mortiser uses a chainsaw-like mechanism to cut the mortise. It is typically used for heavy-duty timber framing and other large-scale woodworking projects.

Horizontal Mortiser: This type of mortiser could use a hollow chisel, oscillating chisel, or chain, but as the name suggests it's used horizontally. Typically for making mortises in larger workpieces, such as doors, panels, fences or gates. It is designed to be mounted on a horizontal table, and the workpiece is fed into the machine using a sliding table. Typically these are CNC Mortisers.

There are several types of tenoning machines that are commonly used in woodworking, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Here are a few examples

Firstly a Table Saw or even a bandsaw can be used to make a tenon with a Tenoning Jig: A table saw with a tenoning jig is a popular option for cutting tenons. The jig holds the workpiece securely and allows the saw blade to make precise cuts. This is the slowest way to tenon but most accessible. You could also use a Router Table with Tenon Jig.

Dedicated Tenon Machines

The three-headed tenoning machine is designed to cut tenons with great precision and speed, allowing for the efficient production of large quantities of wood components. The 2 heads are used to make a cut fo the top and bottom tenon, and the third head is used to profile the tenon and add any necessary details or ornamentation. Sometimes additional heads may include a cut off saw, or additional scribe heads for deeper profiles, or stacked tooling.