Tricky Tenoning Jig

This shop-made version has features found on expensive commercial models

When it comes to making tenons on the tablesaw, I’ve always preferred using a tenoning jig over removing waste with dado blades. A tenoning jig yields cleaner cheek cuts with just two passes over the blade and a lot less sawdust. Many shop-made tenoning jigs are saddle-type constructions designed to ride on a Biesemeyerstyle rip fence. But I needed something different for the tablesaw I’m currently using. Borrowing a feature from expensive commercial tenoning jigs, I designed mine to ride in a table slot. Like commercial jigs, it’s got plenty of flexibility. The base slides on the sled and locks in place, enabling you to adjust for workpieces and joints of different sizes. What makes this jig especially useful are the adjustable stops built into the sled (see photo above). Riding in a pair of T-tracks, these flip stops enable you to easily and accurately reset cuts—a big time-saver. The next two pages show you how to make your own tricky tenoning jig.