Pathfinder instructions - The WoodRat

If you work from an exact centre line, both your tenons will be
of equal length. They may be too long but you can cut them
down later. If too short, you will need longer rails.
Cutting the Tenon
Drop the bit and with the pin up and the bit down, you’re set
to go. You can now cut anywhere, so be careful.
Cut clockwise all around the rail to clean the shoulder of the
tenon. This without the pin hitting the Island. It is just to skim
the outside of the rail to make a clean shoulder all round.
Now drop the Pin and continue to cut the tenon clockwise. The
Pin wheel will now hit and run around the Island and describe
the outline of the tenon on the rail end at the same time. Go
gently and take your time.
With a little practice, you’ll find the best track to take, and
will develop your own techniques for maximum speed and a
perfect finish.
Go for finish first and speed later.
Nothing much can go wrong. If you find that the cutter is
cutting into the tenon, check that your locking pins are reasonably
tight: the plate or the template can come loose, but
shouldn’t.
Be sure you are aware when the Bit is up and harmless, and
when down and meaning business, and when the Pin is up
and the bit not controlled by the template and when down and
only cutting where you need it.
Repeat for the tenon on the other end by cart-wheeling the
rail (the face side kept always against the machine face)... and
then the next, and so on.
Twin Tenons
Twins are made by running around the two twin islands together
on the one rail. The centering method is a little bit
different:
Slacken the DropPin Plate Locking Screws. The y-axis alignment
is done with the pin in the center hole as before.
But the centreline of the joint north/south is given by placing
the pin central between the Islands, and aligning the blades
of the bit on the y-axis lines.
14
Now the Pin Plate’s Locking Keys
are slackened. The Pin stays in
the hole, but the Bit is brought
forward to line up with the horizontal
line.
The bit cuts round the tenon as
the Pin rolls around the island.