Replies

1. 
   MikeHennessy | Jan 13, 2009 07:28pm | #1

   Exactly.

   Pretty much any semi-reasonable joint, made out of pretty much any type of wood, assemble with pretty much any amount, of pretty much any modern woodworking glue, clamped with pretty much any pressure, will be "strong enough" for pretty much any typical woodworking project.

   Simply stated, the thing should look good and not break under normal use. Anything more than that is merely overkill.

   YMMV.

   Mike Hennessy
   Pittsburgh, PA

1. 
   Napie | Jan 13, 2009 09:16pm | #2

   You know this is not the first time FWW has done this test, I'll have to find the old issue and I think they came up with very different results.  But when they did that test my thought was why???  What use is the info?  I’d much rather see an article from the classic days, say an interview with a well known woodworker, or a story on some oddball segment of the craft like bamboo fly rods, wood longbows, cooperage, rebuilding old iron machinery, something other than this never ending focus on furniture.  Or change the name to Fine Furniture Making, just a thought….. <!----><!----><!---->

1. 
   PeterDurand | Jan 14, 2009 12:16am | #3

   Good points. Although I am furniture orientated I would welcome some diversity as you mentioned.Cheers,Peter (back from viewing yet another dust up at CT starring [insert name here]) :-) 

   Better life through Zoodles and poutine...

1. 
   Napie | Jan 14, 2009 01:08am | #5

   I’m with you Peter.  60% of my woodworking is furniture, the rest is turning and carving, but the other stuff is inspirational nonetheless. But I guess it really is all about who buys the full page ads…

1. 
   idahoknotty | Jan 14, 2009 03:47am | #6

   Yes, I'm afraid that either I've learned enough over the past several years that the excitement has worn off in general or the scope of the magazine has narrowed.

   I'm afraid I've started referring to the magazine occasionally in my head as "fine tool using", which of course is not far from "fine tool selling"....

   I'll add a vote for more breadth, even if it included subjects covered in other magazines such as boatbuilding (gasp!) because as noted, much inspiration can come from the outside the box (pardon the pun).

    

    

    

2. 
   Napie | Jan 14, 2009 06:07am | #8

   I have them from issue #1.  I dumped the subscription a year ago, have not missed it I’m sad to say.  You know they used to have the occasional boat building article, Simon Watts was a great contributing writer, the current editorial staff could learn something from his work.

    

2. 
   jagwah | Jan 14, 2009 12:53am | #4

   You can advertise and sell more cabinet and furniture making tools. Not to many people after reading a story on cooperage are going to go out and buy those tools to do it.

   I miss a lot of the old articles as you say. It was more about learning the different techniques. Most of my best woodworking ideas cam from those obscure crafts.

    

    

   Just A Guy With A Hammer

   Edited 1/13/2009 4:54 pm by jagwah

2. 
   heartwould | Jan 14, 2009 04:02am | #7

   Frosty, I agree.  Instead of going through all of the MIT stress test business, I would challenge any and all of those joints to a true test.  Let my 8 precious grandbabies--including "Cain and Abel"--loose on the joinery and see what happens!  (Wooden chair joinery is quite challenged by them). 

   Under normal circumstances, in normal households and with normal usage, any properly made, properly glued joint will do fine.

1. 
   Jfrostjr | Jan 14, 2009 05:19pm | #9

   Cain and Abel - that was good for a real chuckle. We've all had our in-house furniture-distressing machines.Frosty"I sometimes think we consider the good fortune of the early bird and overlook the bad fortune of the early worm." FDR - 1922

1. 
   heartwould | Jan 14, 2009 05:34pm | #10

   Those two are first cousins, both 6 1/2 years of age with birthdays only 3 weeks apart.  They are a very interesting pair!