Routing a Tenon on a Dowel

Even if you don't have a lathe, there's a simple way to make a tenon on the end of a dowel. You start by mounting a straight bit in a router table. Then, set the fence so the dowel is centered on the bit. To create a channel for the dowel, clamp a guide block to the table. A second block serves as a stop to establish the length of the tenon (see Photo).

Now raise the bit ¹/₁₆″, and push the dowel forward until it contacts the stop block. Next, rotate the dowel to make a shoulder cut all around, and then "nibble" away the waste.

Have a nice weekend,

Wyatt Myers
Online Editor, Workbench

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