Leslie, I use an axe on all joints with the exception of non-housed stuff, as in scribed mortices. I have for the first time in over 15 years cut a bunch of 3" wide mortices, I used an axe chop the excess off one side in the mortice. 1-1/2" x 2 at the ends and a 2" down the length.
I run some flip video today, nothing up loaded, yet. My corner chisel worked to a point, I snapped the long handle off which ended the experiment. It was only a 7/8" square stock rounded and stuck into the socket. It was like a fishing rod, almost. It need to be at least 5/4", I am going to try again. I must say it did work but not as well as I had wished. Trial and error, it needs more trial.
7 hours today, some fooling with the video, verbal banter, the usual, 22 mortices with housings, Brace pockets, 16- 2" x 10.5" x 4.5"deep. Post mortice, 6- 3" x 10" x 6.5" deep, these are not fully done an hour tomorrow will finish them up. Labor force, two and a half men, like the tv show. Some number for the accountant, DL.
