Uploaded May 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 day ago
One of the easiest frame joints to make is the bridle joint. It’s like a lap joint—except it uses two full faces. It's very much like a mortise joint in that it has two cheeks and a shoulder. But unlike a traditional mortise and tenon, the slot is open, so it’s incredibly easy to cut and put together.
And the best part? You can make the entire thing using a tenoning jig with the table saw.
To make it, we’ll divide both joint pieces into thirds. My stock pieces are 3/4 of an inch, so I’m marking out a 1/4” tenon and slot.
We’ll cut the tongue by raising the blade to match the width of the second half of the joint. Line up the outer tooth to the mark, make the first cheek cut, flip the board, and make the second.
Before we finish the tongue, we’ll shift the jig arm over by just the thickness of the blade to cut our slot. Make a cut, flip it, and make another, then hog the remainder out. Our bridle slot is done.
To finish the tongue, lower the blade and cut the two outer sections we started earlier. Add your glue, and you're done.
Check out my other channel! → @makethingswithrob
Become a patron! → patreon.com/makethings ←
Huge thank you to my patrons that keep this thing going!
*MAKER TEAM*
Michelle B
Keith Current
William L McNally
Rich Lightfoot
Tutor the Barbarian
Aubrey G.
Nukebert
Sam W.
Aaron Knows DIY
G. Salazar
David B.
Make Things
#MakeThings #mtbitesize
One of the easiest frame joints to make is the bridle joint. It’s like a lap joint—except it uses two full faces. It's very much like a mortise joint in that it has two cheeks and a shoulder. But unlike a traditional mortise and tenon, the slot is open, so it’s incredibly easy to cut and put together.
And the best part? You can make the entire thing using a tenoning jig with the table saw.
To make it, we’ll divide both joint pieces into thirds. My stock pieces are 3/4 of an inch, so I’m marking out a 1/4” tenon and slot.
We’ll cut the tongue by raising the blade to match the width of the second half of the joint. Line up the outer tooth to the mark, make the first cheek cut, flip the board, and make the second.
Before we finish the tongue, we’ll shift the jig arm over by just the thickness of the blade to cut our slot. Make a cut, flip it, and make another, then hog the remainder out. Our bridle slot is done.
To finish the tongue, lower the blade and cut the two outer sections we started earlier. Add your glue, and you're done.
Check out my other channel! → @makethingswithrob
Become a patron! → patreon.com/makethings ←
Huge thank you to my patrons that keep this thing going!
*MAKER TEAM*
Michelle B
Keith Current
William L McNally
Rich Lightfoot
Tutor the Barbarian
Aubrey G.
Nukebert
Sam W.
Aaron Knows DIY
G. Salazar
David B.
Make Things
#MakeThings #mtbitesize
