"Swingman" wrote in message
...

On 2/2/2013 3:51 PM, Swingman wrote:

I do custom work, I have the capability to dimension the
tenon for maximum strength, I cut "custom sized" tenons,
I can't buy "custom sized" tenons at Rockler and refuse to
use "standard, one size fits all to the possible detriment of the
integrity of the project joinery.

In short, there is a distinct method involved, with time, efficiency, and,
above all, joint integrity as the goal.

Most certainly a method/practice worthy of defending when it's been
discounted as being wasteful of time.

So what you are saying is that 500+ years of standard, workmanlike practice
is to be discounted as bad?

Throughout history the tools dictated the size of the mortises which in turn
dictated the size of the tenons.

Handily, Roy has done a number of programs dealing with mortise and tenon
processes... if you don't like Roy, Graham Blackburn's and Frank Klausz's
FWW videos can be substituted. Snips can be found he
http://www.finewoodworking.com/how-t...and-panel.aspx
or http://www.finewoodworking.com/how-t...e-by-hand.aspx
I cannot say for sure the FWW links are public or subscriber links...

Go back to the late 19th century and the Shakers....
http://www.pbs.org/woodwrightsshop/video/3200/3213.html ...fixed sized
mortises.

Go back to the 18th-20th centuries
http://www.pbs.org/woodwrightsshop/video/3100/3104.html ...fixed sized
mortises.

Go back to the 17th century and Roy, Megan and Peter show the same process
on what we "modern" woodworkers would consider to be much cruder stock.
....fixed sized mortises.

Today hollow chisel mortisers and chain mortisers are in common use and
again, they create fixed sized mortises.

Wide tenons (not thickness or length) were typically split into two smaller
tenons thus affording more strength in the mortised stock than afforded by a
wide mortise. Exceptionally thick stock may use two tenons across the
thickness. Both types of double tenons also nearly double the long grain
glue surface.
http://www.finewoodworking.com/how-t...-strength.aspx

How can this relationship apply to the floating tenon process? Easy... buy
the readily available tenons that are closest to the theoretical "perfect"
size and adjust the mortise size to yield a proper fit... (Adjustability is
after all one of the claimed advantages of the Multi Router type tools.)
Doing so negates the need to make custom tenons which thus saves time and
money. Once the "adjusted" mortise width is determined and recorded the
Multi Router can be set up over and over again for a given size standard
tenon.

The furniture and doors built using the old processes were certainly strong
and durable enough if reasonable care in workmanship was undertaken. There
is no reason to expect poorer performance from floating tenons "sized" the
same "standard" way with the advantage of saving time.