Search the Community

So I've been striking out on what I think is a common technique. I can't wrap my brain around the process and oddly enough I can't find a single reference on the ol' internet- and I haven't been able to get to the library. Maybe I'm looking under the wrong topics? Would love a reference and/or discussion. A bit of a two part question- the first leads into the real project... Part 1 How do you make an angled mortise and tenon joint? This seems to be a common technique in traditional stairway pickets in order to maintain a nice joint while keeping the picket nice and vertical and the handrail at it's correct angle (that is without the handrail cap). It's really a question about the shoulder I think; I can make a nice 90 degree joint, but how do you make that joint a different angle without bending the tenon and ending up with a sloppy looking joint? Part 2 Ok, so the project I'm working on is a firewood holder (and sorry, no pictures yet and we'll see how far my description goes). Think 2 half circles next to each other with the ends/top being closer than the base like a cradle- or two tires leaning on each other if that makes sense. The circles would be joined with stock tenoned on both ends flush with the inside of the two circles. The Upper joint would be perhaps 1 foot wide, and the base/feet would be riveted at about 1.5ft. I know I could just rivet some stock on the outside of the circle with this spacing, but would like to figure this out. Oh- I'm using 5/8 square and looking at a diameter of about 3.5ft wide and about that tall (we'll see if I fall back to 1/2''!) Hope this isn't to confusing, but appreciate any thoughts and suggestions! Thanks a whole bunch!