Why you should try mortising by hand 

I work on Hammond Organs. These were extremely expensive and considered high-end mass-produced furniture in their day. My earliest organ is a 1937 model, and I have been trying to figure out how they made their mortises: there are pencil marks on the stretchers, indicating they had not moved to a purpose-built machine yet. I have no doubt they used mortising chisels. I have also been trying to figure out how to replace a stretcher - two tenons, one mortise - for about 8 years. Now I know exactly how to tackle this problem. Thank you!

I'm going to Woodcraft Saturday. I think I'll see about picking up a mortising chisel. The 3/8" costs $47. I've always got a bunch of scrap 2x4s that'll be perfect for practicing. I might be 70, but I don't consider myself too old to learn something new. In fact, I've always lived by the old adage, "If the day goes by that you don't learn something new, it's a wasted day." Thanks, James.

I am in my first year as a woodworker. I've been a carpenter by trade since my early 20s. It is so clear that you not only are a wealth of knowledge but a passionate woodworker! Thank you for the content you create! And the website is legit sir. What a wonderful resource you have created to share with all of us! Dying breeds? Nope. Keep it alive!

ok James, love your video's. Please consider adding closed caption to them so old, and I mean old woodworkers like myself can follow when we cannot hear the words. Thanks BobT

Live and learn, indeed. I started chopping mortises when I was ten years old. How I am 66, and watching this video I realised how it should be done properly. Thanks a lot for it👍

I followed your steps and was able to make a snug mortise and tenon on my first attempt. The mortising chisel makes the job easy. The trick to the tenon for me was to saw it a bit larger than the mortise and sneak up on the fit with a sharp chisel.

It's always a pleasure to watch a skilled craftsman at his trade!

CONSISTENTLY a fine and fun learning experience from a presenter who is CONSISTENTLY a fine and fun teacher.

Extremely simple, very easy to follow. I used to think I just needed conventional wood chisels, but now I will definitely buy a couple of mortising chisels.

Thanks, that was very helpful. Great to see how this approach was used on a real project.

Marking and cutting a mortise this way was my second ever woodworking lesson at school when I was 10, the first lesson being how to use a tenon saw. To hold the wood on the bench we put all four of our workpieces on it side by side then hopped up and sat on them. It never occurred to us, of course, that we had been supplied with nicely planed wood. I wonder how many schools these days would supply 10-year-olds with mahogany for a first project.

Very satisfying to see a sharp chisel expertly handled!

You make this look so easy. The only time I cut a mortise by hand, it took me at least 30 minutes, not the two minutes you took. Neat!

We were talking about planes and chisels at work the other day. As always it comes down to the ability to sharpen the tool which seems to be a lost art for many!

I was always taught to drill out the waste with a brace and bit, then chisel out the waste keeping well away from the ends. The ends are the last thing to be cut out. Sorry that's showing my age a bit as some younger readers may not use a brace and bit. Excellent video once again. I always learn something from them

One more point may be that by leaving that 1/8 inch margin at each end you are able to lever without damaging the ends of your mortise. Nicely done.

I've only just come across your videos. You are a natural educator and an excellent teacher. Thank you for making your videos!

Best demo of a hand cut mortise I have ever seen.

Thank you sir! I just stumbled upon some antique Ulmia morticing chisels and grabbed them. Thank you so much for this tutorial, it helped me the most.💯/💯

I want to thank you for making all the videos, i look forward to and really enjoy them

I waste my time in so many ways, buts time with you is never wasted.

Thanks Stumpy, I have been woodworking for 30 years, I did not know about mortising chisels.

That was an excellent demonstration on cutting mortises by hand! Thank you so much for sharing and keep up your great work!

I think that's the best tutorial I've seen on this topic, thank you.

You're the best. Always something new to learn with everyone of your videos.

You explain things so well, James. I'm yet another of your viewers about to go into the shed and give this a try. I think I even have an inherited mortise chisel. Many thanks.

I'm so thankful for you and your videos. Its cool to think that all your knowledge will be available to me and the rest of the world forever, helping us to be the best woodworkers we can be and pass this on to others the way you do for us. Your a hero. Thank you for everything you do.

Paul Sellers has an amazing video on cutting mortises

I learned way more in this video than I thought I would. I've had this exact chisel in my shop but always used a bench chisel for mortises. No wonder I found it so time consuming. Thanks for posting.

Damn. Kick ass tutorial! I now have to buy even more Narex chisels!

Brilliant tutorial containing great advice. Thank you Stumpy Nubs.

Great demonstration James, thanks for sharing it.

This is an awesome tutorial! Thank you for this video! I am terrible at mortises and I think this will really help me! The proper tool is as always key! Thank you!

Loved this tutorial!! Heading to the shop as soon as my mortising chisel arrives!

Excellent! I am going to use this exact method in the next few weeks for a chest project I finally have the material to get started.

Great content. Really useful for someone having problems cutting mortises with standard chisels.

That’s the clearest explanation I have seen. Thanks!

WOW! You made that look easy, I will be adding to my list of skills to learn. Will be picking up a mortising chisel soon. Thank you.

Stumpy nubs is the man 👍🏻

Excellent video, all the little details that count, thanks.

Watched this for the fun of it and liked it, I just finished chopping mortises in a window sash I am making. Yes, I can mark and cut faster than any setup on a machine. No need to buy a set of chisels, you typically only use two sizes in most work. Practice makes perfect, so I practice more.

Good Simple Clear. Thanks James!

Great video, just ordered a decent mortise chisel for my table project where I need to do this in hardwood. Now to get it done!

That was shown and explained very well thanks!

Great job and excellent information James, thanks for sharing with us. 👍👍👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Great video. You're so right about the amount of time to setup when using power tools, especially when sharing the workspace with a car. Will definitely pickup a Narex mortising chisel and practice doing this by hand. BTW, love that can of Billy Beer in your recent videos.

Loved this!!! More, more, more on hand tool wood working. Thanks.

Thanks for this video. I am starting a job next week as a carpentry and joinery tutor and I am watching videos like yours to brush up on my skills as I have not worked as a carpenter/joiner for some time. I found your video very good. Thanks.

Yet another well explained how to video. Good job.

This may be too basic for some, but it's this kind of instruction and detail in that instruction, that some of us need. It makes us all better at working the details of woodworking that, in this day of all power tools, we may not get exposed to. Thanks, and I'm looking forward to more like this.

That may be the clearest explanation I've ever heard of the mortising process. The way I was taught (in what seems a 100 years ago now) was to start in the middle of the mortise by chopping a V and working outwards. I am NOT saying this is THE method, in fact I think I like your method better. Just that (like everything else) there are many methods to accomplish the same outcome. The other thing is that perversely, it is easier chopping wider mortises with a mortise chisel than smaller ones. By easier, I mean more consistent. Thank you.

Such a clear explanation - thanks

Thank you for your very helpful video. I'm in Malaysia and yr tutorials are really beneficial. I did my first mortise and I'm really pleased.

Another superb video with great explanation.

Love your videos. This was a very clear explanation of how to chisel a mortise. Thank you. Seems less scary now.

Thanks James-very instructive!

Thank you very very much for this really great video! So far I didn't know how fast and exact it is to make a mortise by hand! Greetings from Germany, Robert.

Thanks for this tutorial. M and T is one of those joints that has always scared me to try, so I have gravitated towards dowels. This looks like something I think I could do with a bit of practice.

Great video! Thanks so much for the demo and explanation.

Nice demo. Ive had a 3/8 mortising chisel for ten years and enjoy using it, but i dont remember seeing this technique before. Ill sure try this next time !

Excellent demonstration and explanation

Perfect explanation. Thanks.

Learned something new, once again. 🇬🇧

Thanks!!! thanks for the explanation. I made small coffee table last month and i looked at it as experiment to use and improve hand skills ( I'm new to it) i chose to make it with mortise and tenons, i used my chisels set ( Narex) very comfortable set, but the mortises didn't go as expected i finished the table so it hard to notice they didn't go as expected, but after watching Rob Cosman video and techniques if mortising i bought 2 mortise chisels, and after your explanation it is much more clearly technique!!!

This is the best clip under 10 mins

I like old school methods. 👍

All I can say is thank you!

Wonderfully clear. Just tried my first mortise earlier today, got lots of room for improvement but I was still really happy, Can’t wait to see how much better it would be with a mortising chisel.

Best mortise and tenon video on RU-vid. Good stuff!

Very good explanation

I can endorse what James says about Narex chisels, they are very good and really affordable. Regards Jim UK

I have been avoiding mortising but now i will get the mortising chisel and try it . Thanks aging .Julien Lamarche

I tried using a chisel for a mortise and made a mess. However, after watching your video it all made sense. It was easier and enjoyable. Thank you for sharing!

This makes it look so clean and easy compared to my attempts haha. I will see if next one goes better with more proper technique

Fantastic tutorial. You just took all of my angst out hand cutting mortises.

Awesome! Thank you!

Excellent. Thanks.

Fantastic! Thank you.

Thank you so much, really crear and useful! Stefano

Nice presentation and nice mortise.

Great information - Thanks

Nice job. Thanks.

Thank you.

Friggin brilliant James! Great explanation and example. When you see it, it's bloody logical, but without that insight it was damn frustrating. Gotta get me a mortising chisel. As always, thatnk you James - stay blessed and regards, Mark (South Africa)

Thank you very much

Wow, that's pretty impressive how quick and easily that went. I definitely would have done that wrong, too, if I had tried. (Would have tried chopping out at an angle). Definitely agree that your explanations are great and easy to understand. I'll have to keep my eyes peeled once garage sales start again... I don't do enough woodworking (or really, any fine hardwood woodworking) to justify buying a new mortising chisel but I could definitely see having one around the shop would be useful by opening "mortising" as a reasonable way to connect pieces.

Thank you so much for this video

Saudações. Excelente vídeo, que me ensinou algumas diferenças importantes entre os formões. Este canal é excelente nos detalhes técnicos e aprecio ver os vídeos. --- Greetings. Excellent video, which taught me some important differences between chisels. This channel is excellent in the technical details and I enjoy watching the videos.

Thanks! that was great I learned something!

This video has removed my doubt that i couldn't do chiseling..thank u

I have several Narex chisels, mortise and bench. The handles are a bit large for me but they’re excellent and reasonably priced.

Fantastic tips, man! Thanks a lot! 😃 Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

Terrific video. Extremely clear and helpful. I'm going to give my router a break.

Thank you

Would you consider making a video on hand cutting mortises larger than the chisel you have? Thanks for all of your education. My hand tool game exists because of you.

This was an amazing video

Good video, keep up with the good work.

Great video

very informative, video thank you.

Have seen many videos about chopping morteses but nobody has said it so simple and "tasty". I understand now how important are the correct chisels. Thanks