Mortising guides

 

 

Select your guide material carefully

Pick the right guides
By gluing up four pieces to create the guide opening, you size it perfectly and create precise 90° corners. Depending on the application, make the end and side guides from hardboard or MDF. Both materials provide smooth edges. Use 1/4" hardboard guides [top drawing] when you need to see into small, shallow mortises such as those used for holding decorative square buttons. For larger, deeper mortises, 3/4" MDF [bottom drawing] provides a broader support surface for the back of your chisel, keeping the tool vertical as you pare the full depth of the walls.

Download PDF of drawings