Mortise and tenon construction, why is it used so little now?

Cost reasons:

Difficulty of mechanization.

We can see from the above gallery that there are actually most of the mortises and tenons that are very difficult to shape mechanically by making simple molds.

This results in nothing but higher costs.

For example, the zongjiao tenon

The zongjiao tenon is mostly used for the connection of the frame shape, which is very beautiful from the outside with 45-degree diagonal lines on all three sides, and the triangle is flush-pointed, but the internal structure is complicated. This kind of tenon is almost impossible through modern machinery once or twice out of type, need experienced carpenters to spend some time to do well. We see most of the solid wood furniture practice, the best is only the side of the use of dovetail tenon, and then spliced with the back panel. The dovetail is exactly what can be mechanically produced in a single pass.

Square mortise and tenon & round mortise and tenon class

Used in tables and chairs, cross braces or corners and other structures mostly, very simple mortise and tenon. The degree of mechanization is very high, the production of molds, and kebabs like turning a flip move a good. There is also a higher degree of automation, feed without moving out.

The time cost and labor cost of the structurally sound and beautiful zongjiao tenon is currently most factories are unwilling to bear. Therefore, in addition to expensive mahogany furniture party can keep these skills. There are times when we are against mahogany furniture, but to a certain extent, only they can carry the value of mortise and tenon. Labor difficulty. Have to admit that now only a very few woodworkers still have these mortise and tenon production skills. In the factory of the teacher of my Ming furniture study, the salary of a tenth-grade woodworker ranges from 1.2W - 2W. Even the tenth grade woodworker, he did a set of zongjiao tenon and mortise and tenon time will take half a day. Although mortise and tenon also has most of the mechanical assistance, semi-handmade form, but the full handmade techniques and tools still need to be precisely mastered.