Rustic Furniture and Built-ins, Rails, etc

[glenn kangiser]

Dustin said in another post:

You can also make some cool rustic furniture out of them.  Google "making rustic furniture". You basically take an industrial-size pencil sharpener and chuck it into your drill to make tenons.....  

I think this is a great topic for accessories for your home and or cabin.

I have seen the tenon makers - the pencil sharpener type take a pretty healthy drill and quit a bit of money.  I am working on a cheap easy way to do this - I have the idea - haven't tried it yet - for making rails for stairs - chairs - benches etc from limbs or other material.  If successful I'll post the method and pix here.

[Dustin]

I also saw at Rockler (www.rockler.com) an alternative version to the pencil sharpener type that uses a router, router table, and a jig that supposedly does the same thing faster and easier. It looks a bit cheaper too. (provided you've already got a router and a router table) Go to the site and search for "Rockler Log Tenon Maker".  

[glenn-k]

The one I am considering making would use the router also, but would have a pivot pin to rotate the branch or log on - you would predrill a 1/4 hole in the end of the log - it would be adjustable to make any size tenon and do it easily.