Replies

1. 
   domermatt | Sep 27, 2004 03:04am | #1

   gosh dangit, i missed it.  All I ever see him use are routers and sanders.  I'm still waiting to make something without sanding it.

   When people 100 years from now see my work, they'll know I cared. --Matt Mulka
2. 
   BobSmalser | Sep 27, 2004 03:41am | #2

   That's a first.

   I'm surprised his Delta benefactors let him do it.

   “When we build, let us think that we build forever. Let it not be for present delight nor for present use alone. Let it be such work as our descendants will thank us for; and let us think...that a time is to come when those (heirlooms) will be held sacred because our hands have touched them, and that men will say, as they look upon the labor and wrought substance of them, ‘See! This our father did for us.’ “ --John Ruskin.

1. 
   OrchidGuy | Sep 27, 2004 08:15pm | #5

   Hey Bob,

    Speaking of Delta benefactors, what will Russ & Norm do if the quality of Delta's product goes down the drain, or, if B&D pulls the sponsorship!?

   Those daring young men in their flying machines!

2. 
   BArnold | Sep 27, 2004 10:16pm | #8

   "I'm surprised his Delta benefactors let him do it."

   Not doubt he used his Unisaw during the program.Bill Arnold - Custom Woodcrafting

   Food for Thought: The Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals.

3. 
   OrchidGuy | Sep 27, 2004 04:24am | #3

   Hi gov,

    I watch Norm as often as possible, as talented as he is and as much as I enjoy the New Yankee, I'm surprised he cut dovetails by hand. Considering his proclivity for power tools! Incidentally what was the project he did this on? I would love to see his technique.

   Those daring young men in their flying machines!

1. 
   snorky | Sep 27, 2004 09:41pm | #7

   He did his usual by copying an antique.  It was a small end table. The top looked to be about 24" X 36".  It had one drawer, which was where he cut the dovetails.

4. 
   CajunDan | Sep 27, 2004 03:37pm | #4

   Did he cut tails or pins first?

   Homestead Heritage is a great place. Have you made the rocker, yet?

   regards,

   Dan

1. 
   snorky | Sep 27, 2004 09:37pm | #6

   He cut the pins first.  His technique wasn't the greatest.  He used his overworked utility knife to do his marking.  Yes, I"ve made the Brazos Rocker.  Two weeks of hard work, but very rewarding.  I have it entered in the Tulsa State Fair next week.  Don't know yet if it's worthy or a ribbon.

5. 
   Alan | Sep 27, 2004 11:51pm | #9

   Gov,

   I saw that show too.  What you didn't mention is he used a router to remove most of the wood around the half-blind pins--even though he announced he was going to "hand cut" the dovetails.  At the end of the show he pointed out his "hand cut" joinery.

   For Norm, as for David Marks, it seems a "hand tool" includes any power tools that can be hand held.  I'm not too sure how many others would agree.

   Alan

1. 
   eddiefromAustralia | Sep 28, 2004 12:01am | #10

   Alan,

   I work wood for a living (training others now) and would do the same if I had a trimmer and fence close handy.  If it was one drawer and everything was packed away, I'd cut them completely by hand.  Quicker than the setup and cleanup time for one.

   Cheers,

   eddie

1. 
   Alan | Sep 29, 2004 12:07am | #11

   eddie,

   What's your point?  I wasn't questioning his hows or whys, just his terminology.

   There was another shocker in that same show.  When he glued up the panel for the top, he DID NOT use biscuits!  Again, no mistake, he did not use biscuits.

   Nahm even explained why he didn't use biscuits.  He said that panels he's made with biscuits over time have developed "divots" over the biscuits, which, he said, "doesn't look very good."  Indeed!

   Interestingly, in the same show, he waxed about the quality of modern glues, and said how long the old-timers' works would have lasted if they had modern glues.

   Hey Nahm!  If modern glues are so great, why did you use biscuits in the first place?

   Alan

1. 
   eddiefromAustralia | Sep 29, 2004 12:24am | #12

   No point there Alan, (I've no interest in rising to any bait and/or arguing about the pro's and con's of Norm) - just making the comment that it's quicker to hand cut one pair and use a trimmer and a chisel to do several.  I've even been known to use a dovetail cutter (1/4" shank, slope 1:7) to cut into the corners of a lap dovetail socket, and then pare back to a 1:8 slope and the base of the sockets square.

   As to claiming that they're hand cut - I'll stay away from that one...

   attached file is a 'how-to' hand cut lap (half-blind) tail sockets from my trade training notes (found this scan when I was cleaning up a few folders on the computer,) as well as this link from Popular Woodworking that describes the process in entirety.  The only difference is that we were trained not to overcut the bottom of the tail socket.

   Cheers,

   eddie

   Edited 9/28/2004 5:44 pm ET by eddie (aust)

   
1. 
   Alan | Sep 30, 2004 01:20am | #13

   eddie,

   My apologies.

   I didn't intend--or want--to bait you or lead you into any big disagreement.  I just didn't understand what you were trying to say.

   Though I argue for a living (or did before the big disablement) I thoroughly dislike any shows of enmity among such agreeable people.  Once again, sorry.

   Alan

2. 
   eddiefromAustralia | Sep 30, 2004 01:43am | #14

   No offence taken Alan,

   Greetings from a damp day Australia (we're in the third year of drought and in the last 2 days have had some rain (about 6mm/ 0.25").  In an average year, we get 981mm/48" rain Jan-Sept in centre of Sydney, to date we've had about 500mm in the centre of Sydney, approx 350mm where we are.

   My thoughts and wishes are with those in the US SE corner being battered by hurricanes.

   Cheers,

   eddie

   edit 275mm (11")  rain this yr to date, not 350mm

   Edited 9/29/2004 7:21 pm ET by eddie (aust)