Cutting mortise by hand, the fast and painless way.

Since a mallet will not be used, your neighbour will be pleased. It is a faster method too, somewhat similar to using a hollow morticer.

Tools required: Square, mortice chisel, pencil(or /scribe/awl/marking knife)

Step 1) Lay out the mortice

Bore holes to remove as much wood as you could within the perimeter of the marking. The expensive Starrett square is there to let readers think that a hole perfectly perpendicular to the surace is being bored. In actuality, I simply rest my chin on the top knob of the brace and using my peripheral vision 360 degrees, try to bore straight down. (Hideous facial expression, so please ensure no wives or young children present) Bore to the depth you require the mortice to be. Make sure the lead screw of the auger does not go through the other side, if it's the face (show) side

This is how it will look.

This is how it will look after you take thin, straight-down slices towards the perimeter.

The bottom of the mortice usually do not have to be flat, nor are there any structural merits to meticulously flatten a mortice bottom.

There.

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