How to Make Mortises in Wood

A mortise is a cavity cut into wood, often with a rectangular shape. Among other possibilities, the mortise receives another piece of wood into it, as is the case with joints in table and chair frames. A mortise can also include a metal lock, such as a mortise lock installed into a door. Make sure you create a mortise of the correct width and depth for the object you plan to install into it.

Wood
Pencil
Electrical tape
Tape measure
Drill bit
Power drill
Chisel

Instructions

- 1
  Place the edge of the object that you intend to insert into the mortise against the wood, at the point where the mortise will go. Trace an outline around the object onto the wood, using a pencil.
- 2
  Place a drill bit against the length of the object. Wrap a small strip of black electrical tape around the drill bit at the exact location, marking the depth the mortise should be to hold the object. Or, measure the object's length with a tape measure, and set the depth adjustment on a power drill, according to the instructions of your specific drill, if the drill has that feature.
- 3
  Install the drill bit into a power drill. Use a bit that is slightly smaller than the width of the outline on the wood.
- 4
  Position the drill so that the tip of the drill bit aims straight into the wood, at one end of the mortise outline. Drill straight into the wood, to the set depth, using steady pressure.
- 5
  Drill a second hole into the wood at the opposite end of the mortise outline. Drill a series of holes from the second hole down to the first hole.
- 6
  Remove any wood left between the series of holes inside the mortise, using a chisel.

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