Got my first solo timber frame joint right, took 3 tries in my buddy's barn

Last month I finally cut a proper mortise and tenon on a 6x6 white oak beam without the older guys hovering over me, used a sharp chisel and a lot of patience after ruining two practice pieces the week before. Anyone else remember the exact moment their joints stopped looking like firewood and started looking like something they'd trust under a roof?

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harperwright25d ago

Honestly all that hand-cut stuff is just for show, a router and a good jig will beat any chisel work for strength and speed, and nobody's going to see the joint anyway once it's covered up. You'd trust it more if you just let the machine do the thinking.