The beadLOCK loose tenon joinery system has been a favorite of mine ever since John English reviewed it in the February 2000 Woodworker’s Journal (the print edition). While loose or floating tenons have been around for eons, beadLock’s system allows you to make the joints with just a clamp, a handheld drill and their handy drilling template. The key to their system was the molded tenon stock they supplied. It matched the shape created when you removed the waste with your drill. A nice tidy system for a nice tight joint.
But what if you ran out of that groovy (literally groovy) tenon stock at 10:30 in the evening? Journeyman Tool Company (the makers of the beadLock system) now has the answer. They are offering router bits that allow you to create your own shaped tenon stock — out of the hardwood of your choice — any time you need it.
These bits are designed to be used in a router table and are available in 3/8″ and 1/2″ configurations, to match the mortise shapes that are created when you use either a 3/8″ or a 1/2″ drill bit. Both bits are available in the $80.00 price range and are carbide tipped for a long cutting life.
A simple and elegant system for joining wood is a sure winner in my book. These router bits complete a system that is simple, elegant and fun to use.
