My mortise and tenon joints always fit too tight or too loose?

[nimzz]

Been woodworking for about 2 years and still can't get consistent mortise and tenon fits, its either they're too fit and I risk splitting when I assemble, or they're sloppy and I'm relying too much on glue. Using a mortising chisel and cutting tenons with a tenon saw and shoulder plane, measuring everything carefully but something is off with my process. Do you guys cut tenons to fit specific mortises or aim for a standard and adjust? watching videos makes it look so straightforward but I'm clearly missing something, I'm getting frustrated because everything else on my projects looks okay but the joinery is letting me down

 

[y0ng3r]

Cut your mortise first, then fit the tenon to it, not the other way around. Are you cutting your tenon cheeks by hand too or just the shoulders?

 

[Alan]

@nimzz yep, always cut the mortise first, then fit the tenon to it. Makes it way easier to get a snug but not tight fit. Are you doing all the tenon cheeks by hand or using a router?

 

[frenchriviera]

I’ve found the most consistent approach is to always cut the mortise first, then pare the tenon to fit. Just like other replies here. I think it's best to hand-cut the cheeks carefully and test frequently. Take off a little at a time until it slides in snugly without forcing. Using a shoulder plane for fine adjustments makes a huge difference in getting that perfect fit.

 

[sailor]

Agree with all of them about cutting the mortise first, then fitting the tenon to it. Clear marking with a gauge or knife helps keep shoulders square, and taking your time ensures a snug fit without forcing, preventing splits and sloppy joints.