Hey, all
I’d just like to introduce myself. Being in Shelby, MI with 10 degrees makes you feel good in a heated shop with all your tools surrounding you. But I am in school now 17 yrs a junior, and am really just starting out in woodworking. Well, did I say woodworking, maybe meant making messed cuts and wierd glue lines. But i’m learning, so if you have tips for me you came across, let me know, especially on dovetails, I’m trying to perfect them.
Replies
Knaughty,
In my opinion, good process and good technique are half the battle to creating good dovetails. I like Ian Kirby's process up to the actual cutting, it's highly organized and helps avoid confusion and mistakes.
I like Phillip Lowe method fof the actual cutting. I believe he practices the Sloyd method..with body position being a key element to success. good luck
I think what I need is a gauge marker or whatever they are called where they go along the side of the wood and mark a line so far in as you travel along the board. But I am wondering what a decent one would cost, because I have only seen a few in magezines and such, but was wondering on anybody's opinions to the marker things.
THANKS!
Brad
Hi Knaughty... It's time for lesson number 2. Start collecting catalogues. The following are just a few catalogues I have in my book shelf. E-Mail these guys and request your own catalogue.
Woodcraft http://www.woodcraft.com
Armor Crafts http://www.armorcrafts.com
Lee Valley http://www.leevalley.com
Rockler http://www.rockler.com
Meisel http://www.meiselwoodhobby.com
Klockit http://www.klockit.com.
and... stop at the Tool Department at Sears. Ask them for the latest tool catalogues.Find a woodworking show near you. Pay the admission price. Pick up literature at every booth you stop at. Some stuff you will throw away after a day or two, some you will keep. Don't try to sort it out at the show. Time is too short.When you get these cataloguse, read them and start making a list of tools you would like. The tool you mention is called a 'Marking Gauge'. There are three types. Type 1 (usually made of all metal) has a wheel at the end of the bar to mark a line on the wood. It leaves a nice thin line. Type 2 (Usually wooden construction is sometimes called a slitting gauge. Instead of a point it has a steel 'knife edged' blade, better for marking across the wood grain, but will mark with the grain too.. Type 3 is the same as type 2 but the point is usually conical, looking like someone put a brad in the end of the tool. This is better for marking with the grain of the wood, but will rip up the grain if you mark across the grain. You can find the 'type 2 and 3's at flea markets and garage sales. You can also buy them at decent hardware stores. In either case, they take a bit of practice to use, but can give very accurate markings on wood. DO NOT use the scales printed on these tools. Always use an accurate steel ruler and measure from the face of the marking gauge to the point or blade. Just remember, once you have cut a line into the wood, it can not be easily removed.That reminds me, the first tool you should get is a GOOD 2 or 3 foot ruler. (the ZERO mark is at the very end of the ruler, not a bit inside. If you can't measure it accurately, you can't build it properly.
SawdustSteve
Well, I really appreciate the response and could do with a marking gauge. From what you are saying, these are fairly cheap, and maybe should buy several different ones. Only RECENTLY have I been marking very accurately, to a 64th or less and realized the benifits of doing so. About the woodworking show, how do I find out about that, on the internet or elsewhere, because I live in a rural place, not much happening.....
B Near
B Near
Hi Knaughty, and welcome to the board. Todays words of wisdom are...
1...Be sure your cutting tools are sharp. Do not make sharpening the major focus of this hobby, just sharpen and get those splinters flying.
2... Learn to measure accurately. Most poorly fitted joints were not measured properly to begin with.
3... Take your time. Go slowly. Start with small projects and let them grow as your skills grow.
and 4... The only difference between a good woodworker and a poor woodworker is the good woodworker learns from his (and her) mistakes and does not repeat them.
SawdustSteve (Long Islandf, NY)
Good ideas, and I usually do joints I'm familiar with. I just bought a big book from Taunton Press on joinery by Gary Rogowski, and it is invaluable for different and unique joints to try. But one thing for sure is definitly start out with small, skill-biulding project. One thing I notice at school here, is that whenever I talk about the aspects of woodworking, kids look at me like I'm wierd, because they just are interested in vidio games or music or fashion, but I grew up with all this, so I think I am better off.
Hi Knaughty,
If you've been a junior for 17 yrs, I think you should spend more time studying, and less time in the shop!
I'll add this to Sawdust Steve's advice. When I was about your age, an old-timer told me the difference between a good workman and a poor one was that a good craftsman has learned how to cover his mistakes, so they look like they're supposed to be that way! Don't be afraid to make mistakes, it's only wood.
Good luck,
Ray
I meant I am 17 now am and a junior in high school, but I suspect that you figured that our.
I know many times that my dad has said that a good craftman knows he can fix his mistakes and even use it to his advantage but, I make mistakes sometimes that are TOO big to fix, so start over. But right, I'm learning.
The perfect thing about handcut dovetails... is that they don't have to be perfect. That's the beauty of the handwork in your pieces. Learn to love the individualism of your style of handwork. Use it to sign your pieces and your stock will go up substantially in the marketplace. thnx
scottd.
scottd
Damschroder Scott Furniture
[email protected]
A craftsman needs three things: Accuracy, Technique, and Quality. Accuracy can be set; technique can be learned; but quality must be bought and built.
Thanks for the reassurance
wish I had started at 17,,,,,,,but nooooooooooooo
I had to be hanging out at the local Pool room. I had to wait till I was about 40 to get into wood working. It is hard to learn at 40...........
More patience but that is about all
Wicked Decent Woodworks
Rochester NH
" If the women dont find you handsome, they should at least find you handy........yessa!"
Well, I certainly enjoy woodworking, maybe you didn't at my age, but maybe I will get tired of it all at 40. Who knows...
B Near
B Near
If there had been teenaged girls in a wood shop I would have started earlier.......... but , in general, there are few of them and a lot of old men. Wicked Decent Woodworks
Rochester NH
" If the women dont find you handsome, they should at least find you handy........yessa!"
That's funny, but I dont have an interest for girls yet..... just for wood!
B Near
Hi Knaughty. Glad to see that you are interested in some hand work. I started off being mainly interested in power tools but I have since come to the hand tool side of things. The best advice that I could give would be to buy a video on dovetailing. As always I would recommend Rob Cosmans dovetailing video available at Lie-Nielsen. I learned from Rob and in about 4 hours myself and 11 other guys in the class were turning out near perfect dovetails. Make your tails first and the only real important thing to remember is to keep all of your cuts perfectly square and parallel on the end grain. The angle of the tail is no big deal. If this goes well you are literally 50% of the way to a perfect dovetail. Lay the tails on the pin board and mark TIGHT to the side of the tail with a single sided knife. These are probably the 2 best tips that I could give on technique. If you want, e-mail me directly and I might be able to help you out. Good luck Peter
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