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Other topics for members => General Woodworking => Topic started by: POSTON WIDEHEAD on September 29, 2012, 09:53:12 PM

Title: What tool am I asking for and where do I get it?
Post by: POSTON WIDEHEAD on September 29, 2012, 09:53:12 PM
I have seen these type of legs on benches a lot of times.

A wood worker takes.....Let's just say a 3 inch diameter limb. He or she needs to taper one end down so it will fit snuggly into a hole in a bench slab thus producing a leg. What kind/name of a tool is this and where do you get it? I think it fits into a drill.

Thanks.
Title: Re: What tool am I asking for and where do I get it?
Post by: YellowHammer on September 29, 2012, 10:04:43 PM
I believe you are looking for a drill mounted dual blade tenon cutter to shape the rustic furniture tenon and also will need a Forstner bit to drill the mortise hole.  Several of them on the market, here's a link to one.

http://loghomelinks.com/furn/tenon-cutters.htm

Hope this is what you are looking for,
YH
Title: Re: What tool am I asking for and where do I get it?
Post by: POSTON WIDEHEAD on September 29, 2012, 10:13:37 PM
This is EXACTLY what I was asking for.

Thanks Yellow Hammer.  smiley_thumbsup
Title: Re: What tool am I asking for and where do I get it?
Post by: fuzzybear on September 29, 2012, 10:27:45 PM
Lee Valley hardware also sells the tenon cutters and they are very good. I have a set for making diamond willow furniture this winter. Well worth the money if you are making one of a kind pieces.
FB
Title: Re: What tool am I asking for and where do I get it?
Post by: SwampDonkey on September 29, 2012, 10:28:04 PM
Lee Valley sells them to, they have a NY office I believe. They may be on the pricy side, never looked at them for some time. But they will be good quality. ;)
Title: Re: What tool am I asking for and where do I get it?
Post by: Okrafarmer on September 30, 2012, 01:05:49 AM
At first, I was going to say, a giant pencil sharpener. But yes, I want one of those in my stocking at Christmas time, too.
Title: Re: What tool am I asking for and where do I get it?
Post by: WDH on September 30, 2012, 07:43:13 AM
That is rough use for a drill, so I would buy a very good quality cutter and not go cheap so that you get a good quality cut without killing yourself or the drill  :).
Title: Re: What tool am I asking for and where do I get it?
Post by: SwampDonkey on September 30, 2012, 07:49:07 AM
Yup, hope you have at least 6 amp drill. I burnt up a 4 amp on dowels.  ::)
Title: Re: What tool am I asking for and where do I get it?
Post by: Busy Beaver Lumber on October 24, 2012, 10:58:38 AM
David

I have about 6 different sizes of them made by veritas and they work very well. If you cut the wood when it is green, it cuts a lot easier. Worst cutting is old dried out limbs which tend to chatter and vibrate when you cut them, but they still will cut.

As mentioned you will need a good beefy drill to go with the larger size cutters and preferably one with handles on both sides so you can get a good grip on the drill because you will be fighting some decent rotational torque with the larger size ones.

Next problem is clamping the piece you want to cut the tenon on. I like to use the Rockwell Jawhorse with log holding attachment. It gets a good grip on the round logs. I prefer to elevate my work pieces and work benches to a more comfortable working height. I mounted the Jawhorse onto T shaped assembly of 8 x 8 landscape ties with rubber mounter to their bottom to get the jawhorse up higher and to give it some counter weight for when i lean into it and cut a tenon on larger diameter stock. Without the weight of the landscape ties and the rubber, the jawhorse would slowly scoot across the floor.
Title: Re: What tool am I asking for and where do I get it?
Post by: Brad_bb on October 24, 2012, 01:21:07 PM
There are antique ones out there too, like on ebay and other places.
Title: Re: What tool am I asking for and where do I get it?
Post by: Delawhere Jack on October 24, 2012, 05:33:03 PM
Go Old School, use a draw knife or a spoke shave. You'll probably need one or the other to whittle the piece down small enough to use the tenon cutter anyway.
Title: Re: What tool am I asking for and where do I get it?
Post by: POSTON WIDEHEAD on October 24, 2012, 05:35:01 PM
Quote from: Delawhere Jack on October 24, 2012, 05:33:03 PM
Go Old School, use a draw knife or a spoke shave. You'll probably need one or the other to whittle the piece down small enough to use the tenon cutter anyway.

Good thought.  smiley_thumbsup
Title: Re: What tool am I asking for and where do I get it?
Post by: scouter Joe on October 27, 2012, 07:50:27 PM
I have 5 from Lee Valley and they work OK . A couple of years ago I bought 2 from Bosworth Tools and they are far better than the Veratis in my opinion . They are easier to line up and many times faster . They are more expensive though and unless you will be using them a lot they may not be for you . Goggle them and check them out . I really like the ones that I have . scouter Joe
Title: Re: What tool am I asking for and where do I get it?
Post by: POSTON WIDEHEAD on October 27, 2012, 08:59:19 PM
Thanks Joe......I'll take a look.
Title: Re: What tool am I asking for and where do I get it?
Post by: LeeB on October 27, 2012, 11:49:30 PM
I have the ones from Lee Valley and like them ok. I wouldn't think oftryingto use the bigger ones with a 3/8 drill. I use and old real beef 1/2" drill Black and decker from when BD used to be something. You can be limited to the size stick you are tennoning but you can start with a larger size tennon and recut with a smaller cutter. The biggest one I have will cut a 2" tennon on about a 3 3/4" stick. Then I take down smaller from there with smaller cutters if I need a smaller tennon.
Title: Re: What tool am I asking for and where do I get it?
Post by: barbender on November 11, 2012, 11:32:16 PM
Another method is to use a bandsaw (shop bandsaw not your LT40 poston ;D), forstner bit and a holesaw. Use the holesaw to cut your tenon, then trim the waste off and make the taper with the bandsaw. Drill the mortise with the forstner bit. You have to do a little experimenting to find a hole saw and forstner that match up in size.
Title: Re: What tool am I asking for and where do I get it?
Post by: POSTON WIDEHEAD on November 12, 2012, 04:55:11 PM
Quote from: barbender on November 11, 2012, 11:32:16 PM
Another method is to use a bandsaw (shop bandsaw not your LT40 poston ;D), forstner bit and a holesaw. Use the holesaw to cut your tenon, then trim the waste off and make the taper with the bandsaw. Drill the mortise with the forstner bit. You have to do a little experimenting to find a hole saw and forstner that match up in size.

DanG BB......your idea sounds like it would work. :)
Title: Re: What tool am I asking for and where do I get it?
Post by: breederman on November 12, 2012, 06:40:26 PM
That's how I do it but I just use a belt sander to make the taper. If you don't look to hard it looks like you witteled it down. I think it looks more rustic.
Title: Re: What tool am I asking for and where do I get it?
Post by: POSTON WIDEHEAD on November 12, 2012, 08:19:47 PM
Quote from: breederman on November 12, 2012, 06:40:26 PM
That's how I do it but I just use a belt sander to make the taper. If you don't look to hard it looks like you witteled it down. I think it looks more rustic.

Rustic....the MAGIC word. That's my whole point in building "stuff"....that rustic look. Good ideas guys!  smiley_thumbsup
Title: Re: What tool am I asking for and where do I get it?
Post by: breederman on November 12, 2012, 08:53:53 PM
I use a spade bit they match my hole saw for a perfect fit.
Title: Re: What tool am I asking for and where do I get it?
Post by: YellowHammer on November 22, 2012, 07:23:33 AM
Poston,
What did you finally end up with?  Did you build anything with them? I was thinking of building some rustic furniture myself and am interested in what you decided was best
thanks,
Robert
Title: Re: What tool am I asking for and where do I get it?
Post by: POSTON WIDEHEAD on November 22, 2012, 08:55:03 AM
I have not done anything yet Yellow Hammer. Deer season came in since this thread started and my wood working plans went right out the window.  :)
Title: Re: What tool am I asking for and where do I get it?
Post by: m wood on February 09, 2013, 09:14:02 AM
David, I key word searched "rustic furniture" and saw your recent cedar table, very nice!  but i also found this thread on the tenon cutters.  Did you ever consider them again.  Deer season is long gone(and i completely understand 8)).  I also have several different tennon sizes and a couple different cut profiles, very glad I invested...then I saw your explanation on the wood screws and gorilla glue for your cedar table legs. probly the only way with a 2" thick slab.  Just wondering if you "bought into" the expensive tool upgrade, or are hand cutting tenons?
Title: Re: What tool am I asking for and where do I get it?
Post by: POSTON WIDEHEAD on February 09, 2013, 09:25:19 AM
Actually I'm not doing anything in the shop right now. We got a few days of pretty weather here and the logs have been coming into the mill left and right. I've been on the sawmill daily and getting ready to head out now.

That's the bad thing about being in love with so many things......sawing, building, hunting, fishing, golfing, etc.
Got to go where the most $$$$$ is. Golfing Sawmilling.  :D
Title: Re: What tool am I asking for and where do I get it?
Post by: m wood on February 09, 2013, 09:42:49 AM
I've been thinking the same thing!  Picking up the sawmill next weekend! talk about excited.  have fun today with yours :)
Title: Re: What tool am I asking for and where do I get it?
Post by: Slabs on February 12, 2013, 07:54:31 PM
Grizzly came out with a fair selection of tenon cutters on page 362-323 of their 2013 catalog but I'm not sure that's what you're looking for.
Title: Re: What tool am I asking for and where do I get it?
Post by: terrifictimbersllc on February 13, 2013, 07:18:03 AM
Quote from: POSTONLT40HD on February 09, 2013, 09:25:19 AM
Actually I'm not doing anything in the shop right now. We got a few days of pretty weather here and the logs have been coming into the mill left and right. I've been on the sawmill daily and getting ready to head out now.

That's the bad thing about being in love with so many things......sawing, building, hunting, fishing, golfing, etc.
Got to go where the most $$$$$ is. Golfing Sawmilling.  :D
Definitely costs more than golfing.