Cutting tenons on the table saw is straightforward, but getting clean, consistent shoulders can sometimes be a challenge.
The problem with my setup was the rip fence I was using as a stop. It wasn't perfectly square to the table, which meant the shoulder cuts weren't all registering from exactly the same point. The result was a small step between the shoulders.
This simple tenon-cutting sled solves the problem. It attaches to the table saw miter gauge and uses a single-point stop to establish the tenon length consistently.
Build a Simple Miter Gauge Sled
There's not much to the jig.
The sled consists of a hardboard platform with a pair of wood fences. It attaches to the table saw miter gauge, allowing the gauge to guide the entire assembly through the cut.
The platform supports the workpiece while the fences provide reference surfaces for positioning it.
The clever part is how the sled establishes the shoulder of the tenon.
Use a Single-Point Stop for the Tenon Shoulder
Instead of referencing the workpiece against the face of the table saw rip fence, this sled uses a single-point stop.
Drive a finish nail into a small stop block and clamp the block to the sled. The head of the nail becomes the reference point for positioning the end of the workpiece.
Position the stop to establish the desired tenon length. Then place each workpiece against the nail before making the shoulder cut.
Because every cut references the same single point, you can establish the shoulder location consistently without depending on the alignment of a larger fence surface.
Cut Consistent Tenon Shoulders
Once the stop is set, use the miter gauge and sled to guide the workpiece through the blade.
Reference each shoulder cut from the finish nail. This allows the same tenon length to be transferred around the workpiece as you make the necessary cuts.
The result is a simple setup for producing repeatable tenon shoulders without the stepped shoulders that prompted the jig in the first place.
Woodsmith Tip: Make a test tenon from scrap before cutting your project parts. Use it to dial in the position of the nail stop and verify the tenon length before moving on to your finished stock.
A Simple Table Saw Jig for Better Tenons
You don't need a complicated jig to improve the consistency of table-sawn tenons.
A hardboard platform, a couple of fences, and a finish nail used as a single-point stop turn the table saw miter gauge into a simple tenon-cutting sled. Once the stop is positioned, each shoulder references the same point for consistent results.
It's an easy shop-made solution to a small problem that can make a noticeable difference when fitting mortise-and-tenon joints.
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