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The “mortise” is the recess where the tenon goes. It can be cut by hand with a mallet and mortising chisel, or mechanically with a mortising machine and a hollow chisel bit. If you don’t have those ...

In this short clip I’m testing out a hollow chisel mortiser on a piece of oak. You’ll see the bit plunge in and quickly carve a clean, deep mortise while the chips pile up. I’m still getting familiar ...

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