Mortice and tenon facts for kids

Diagram of a mortise (on left) and tenon joint

1) Through tenon and 2) mortise as a shouldered joint

A mortise and tenon joint is a super strong way to connect two pieces of wood or other materials. Imagine fitting a puzzle piece perfectly into a hole – that's kind of how it works! Carpenters have used this joint for thousands of years because it's so reliable. It's especially useful when pieces need to join at a 90-degree angle.

What is a Mortise and Tenon Joint?

This joint is made of two main parts: a hole called the mortise and a tongue-like piece called the tenon. The tenon is usually cut at the end of one piece of wood. It then slides perfectly into the mortise hole, which is cut into the other piece.

How Does It Work?

The tenon is carefully shaped to fit the mortise hole exactly. It often has "shoulders" that rest against the surface of the other wood piece when the joint is fully pushed in. This makes the connection even stronger. Once the tenon is in the mortise, the joint can be made even more secure. People often use glue, pins, or small wedges to lock the joint in place.

Why is This Joint So Popular?

The basic mortise and tenon joint is simple to make and incredibly strong. This is why it has been used for such a long time. There are many different ways to make this joint, but the main idea stays the same. It's not just for wood either! Stonemasons and blacksmiths also use similar methods to join their materials.

Images for kids

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  Tusked through tenons used on a French granary

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  Egyptian stool with through tenons, circa 1991 –1450 B.C.

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  Experimental archaeology; cutting a mortise with a cannonbone chisel

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  A through mortise is used in this wooden hinge.

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  Brick mold from ancient Egypt held together with mortise joints

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  Two tusked through tenons are used to hold the trestles of this trestle table together.

See also

In Spanish: Caja y espiga para niños