re: Mortise and Tenon on curved top rail

The plaque is a memorial. “In memory of xxxx xxxxx, wonderful wife and mother. 19xx to 20xx, with love from her family.” These benches sit behind a columbarium at a local church, overlooking the St Johns river. Right now there are two, but there is room for a third. The gentleman that passed was a step father to a good friend of mine, and was just an all around great guy, so when his wife asked if I would build it, I was honored.

I’ve been working on it over the weekends, and have been fretting this part of the build. It’s just something that I was worried I wouldn’t be able to accomplish. I managed to get past it this weekend though, using A1jim’s suggestion to start the mortise with the mortising jig while it was still square, then extending it with chisel and mallet till it was deep enough to register past the curve. Then I cut the curve, and extended them a little more. Worked great. Still have a good bit of work to do, but the stressful part for me is done!

Thanks to everyone for your advice! It is appreciated!