page_title: Mortise and tenon
section_title: Mortises
hierarchical_section_title: Mortise and tenon / Types / Mortises
caption_attribution_description: English: Mold, brick
context_page_description: A mortise and tenon joint connects two pieces of wood or of material. Woodworkers around the world have used it for thousands of years to join pieces of wood, mainly when the adjoining pieces connect at right angles.
  Mortise and tenon joints are strong and stable joints that can be used in many projects. The mortise and tenon joint is considered to be one of the strongest joints next to the common dovetail joint. They furnish a strong outcome and connect by either gluing or locking into place. The mortise and tenon tenon joint also gives an attractive lookout. One drawback to this joint is the difficulty in making it due to the precise and tight cutting required.
  In its most basic form, a mortise and tenon joint is both simple and strong. There are many variations of this type of joint, but the basic mortise and tenon comprises two components:
  the mortise hole, and
  the tenon tongue.
  The tenon, formed on the end of a member generally referred to as a rail, fits into a square or rectangular hole cut into the other, corresponding member. The tenon is cut to fit the mortise hole exactly. It usually has shoulders that seat when the joint fully enters the mortise hole.
context_section_description: A mortise is a cavity cut into a timber to receive a tenon. 
  There are several kinds of mortise:
  Open mortise
  a mortise that has only three sides. (See bridle joint).
  Stub mortise
  a shallow mortise, the depth of which depends on the size of the timber; also a mortise that does not go through the workpiece (as opposed to a "through mortise").
  Through mortise
  a mortise that passes entirely through a piece.
  Wedged half-dovetail
  a mortise in which the back is wider, or taller, than the front, or opening. The space for the wedge initially leaves room to insert the tenon. The wedge, after the tenon is engaged, prevents its withdrawal.
  Through-wedged half-dovetail
  a wedged half-dovetail mortise that passes entirely through the piece.
caption: Brick mold from ancient Egypt held together with mortise joints
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