New Article: Double Twisted Dovetail *LINK*

Bad link?

Robin Frierson

>I couldnt access the link. Is it just me?

Fixed it. Thanks, Robin.  *LINK*

Ellis Walentine

>


Double Twisted Dovetails

More joint twists *LINK*

Gary in Vancouver, BC

>I love these joints (link). Done by Kintaro Yazawa in Miyazaki, Japan. Don't know how some of them are done. Obviously a great deal of skill involved and precise execution. Note the box in the lower right, where all 4 corners of the box use an interlocking type finger joint. I can't even figure out how he does one of those joints, let alone 4 around a box configaration. Beautiful work - have a look.


http://www.eurus.dti.ne.jp/~k-yazawa/jointwork.html

Way to much time on his hands,

Victor Parisian - Houston

>

Re: More joint twists

Sgian Dubh

>The trouble is Gary with the execution of tricky joinery like this is that you can fall into the trap of joinery, skill and material (the wood) triumphing over all aesthetic considerations.

You admire the skill as a fellow maker, but the finished item looks like crap. It's all making skill and no sensible design input.

This is why I don't really push the technical ability I have because that's practice of a certain type.

I prefer to focus on the design aspect because clients can see how something might enhance their living or work space. I just knock out the joints for a wee bit of fun, and if they enhance the design in a specific piece, all the better. Slainte.

Re: Way to much time on his hands,

Sgian Dubh

>Just like you then, Victor. You too could be doing something useful instead of pissing about like a wet fart on woodworking forums. Slainte.

Design vs. jointery

Gary in Vancouver, BC

>Hi Sgian; I personally don't have a problem with the design ascetic of his work. After all, it is Japanese design work and function, which may not be everyone's taste in North America. I do know that Kintaro's work is well known in Japan and he has built a successful wordworking career.

My point is his jointery is executed using hand tools and shows a mastery of technical skill. Perhaps this is more appreciated in the Japanese market than here in North America. Therefore, I do agree with you on spending more time on the design aspects of a piece vs. time spent on elaborate jointery for our market.

Why? Because in North America very few people appreciate the skill, time, and cost involved in producing a piece with fine jointery. Most would be just as happy to buy a piece of crap furniture from Ikea or Wal-Mart,etc. and ironically not even know it's crap. Pieces designed well and creatively is not in the mindset of most people, and hence not often sought out.

Re: Design vs. jointery

Pam Niedermayer - Austin, TX

>Harrelson Stanley has said just the opposite about our populations, that many more Americans appreciate fine quality than Japanese these days. So at least it's an assessment open to interpretation.

However, it doesn't really matter. I for one have a lot to learn about joinery and really appreciate both Richard's and Kintaro's tour de forces.

Pam

Re: Design vs. jointery

Bob Hackett

>I don`t know which Americans he`s refering to but my experience has been that pretty wood wins out over pretty joinery or sound design every time.

Most people who come into our gallery having excess expendable income seem to have very little knowledge of what`s sound design or even proper execution,what they want is WOW.Even when you take the time to explain and educate them they still walk away with the nice colors(that are bound to fade away in less than 5 years).

A friend suggested that we stop trying to impress other WWers and just buy alot of curly and birds eye and kick it out as fast as we can.I don`t see it happening any time soon(we`re too hard headed to be anything but true to our craft)but judging by sales there`s more of what one member dubbed "chachkee" going home with customers than the good stuff,dollar wise and volume wise.

Sometimes what you end up doing to keep the wolf away from the door can really suck.

Mainely,Bob

Re: Design vs. jointery

Pam Niedermayer - Austin, TX

>I suspect fairly rich people; but I agree with you, sometimes the business of business sucks.

However, I'd bet that with time the good joinery, accompanied by beautiful wood and design, will win out. As one's clients testify to the longevity of your pieces, which is enhanced with quality joinery, you should get more work from others who appreciate, even if they don't know why.

Pam

Spelling *LINK*

Bill Houghton, Sebastopol, CA

>I think your fellow member may have meant "tchotchke," yet another contribution to our language from Yiddish - "cheap showy trinket," according to Dictionary.com.


online dictionary reference if it works

You Folks Have the Tolerence of a Saint

Roland H.

>Folks, I�ve been lurking here just a short time but it�s been long enough to notice this Sgian Dubh guy is a real jerk. Who crowned him High Holy Arbiter of Good Design and God�s Gift to Woodworking? How do you put up with this guy? I�ve checked out his website. He seems to be a good craftsman but his design is rather obvious and lacking in restraint. Is it worth his abuse waiting around for him to dole out meager servings of his �words of wisdom�?

Re: You Folks Have the Tolerence of a Saint

Bob Hackett

>If you follow the critiques board at all you`d see that he actually has a very sound method of moving through the design process.He has helped others work thru problems more than afew times by acting as a coach to help them solve thier own problems.

That being said,I did think it was a little harsh calling the fellow who didn`t favor the joinery a "wet fart".Funny,but harsh.

He`s not a troll in my book.I don`t always get his humor but I enjoy his input.

Mainely,Bob

Bob's Gallery

Don Thompson - Cutler Ridge, Florida

>Bob, did you not post a link to pictures of the gallery of which you speak, a while back? Has the site been updated? Would you be so kind as to post the link again?

Thanks,

Don

Re: Bob's Gallery

Bob Hackett

>As you know I`m not that computer savy so I have no idea how to post a link. the site is at www.saltrivergallery.com.

Maybe one of these days Todd O. will teach me how to do the link trick and post pics.One of us will have to scrape up the money to buy a camera first though.

Mainely,Bob

Re: Bob's Gallery *LINK*

Don Thompson - Cutler Ridge, Florida

>As nice as I remembered!

When you have finished typing the text of a message to post, and BEFORE you click on Post Message, look between the box in which you typed your message and the Post Message button, and you will see a box labeled, Optional Link URL:, and one labeled Optional Link Title:.

Type in the URL (the www.etc. thing) in the URL box. It already has http:// in it. Do not duplicate it.

Type in whatever title you want in the Optional Link Title box.

Then click on the usual Post Message button.

For this message:

I typed in http://www.saltrivergallery.com (actually I cut-and-pasted it) in the URL box.

I typed in Salt River Gallery in the Title box.


Salt River Gallery

Re: You Folks Have the Tolerence of a Saint

Frank D. in Montreal

>Hi Roland,

I don't know Mr Dubh personally, but I think his posts are quite funny! That's British humour, though, so maybe not to everyone's taste. I also know he worked in Texas for a while (Houston I think), so there are good chances that he knows Mr Parisian and is just poking a little friendly fun at him.

FWIW,

Frank (who has gotten into trouble more than once because of his sense of humour...)

Thanks Don.

Bob Hackett

>

Re: More joint twists

Chris Knight

>Richard,

I think it is going too far to call it (all) crap. This piece http://www.eurus.dti.ne.jp/~k-yazawa/jointwork.html is dramatic and at least as handsome as most of the stuff one sees posted.

Cheers,

Chris

Re: You Folks Have the Tolerence of a Saint

Ed Thomas, Leaside (Toronto) Ontario

>Google "Sgian Dubh" and, separate search for, "slainte". It might give some small insight into Richard's form of British humor, but then again it might not. ;-)

Ed, b '53 Wimbledon Park

I mean this piece

Chris Knight

>http://www.eurus.dti.ne.jp/~k-yazawa/picture/english/kokuten1x.jpg

Isn't a Sgian Dubh....

Todd Hughes

>a Very Small Ornamental knife worn by Scottish men on thier Skirts or tucked into the top of thier Hose and today is pretty irrelevant to anything other then being just an ethinic dress accessory?........Todd

Calling Todd Hughes...

Bowie Knife

>Oh good, maybe Todd can tell us about making Black Knives.

Bottoms up!

Re: You Folks Have the Tolerence of a Saint

Bill Houghton, Sebastopol, CA

>He does have a rather tart sense of humor, but as always, so much is in context. As I've read his posts over a period of time, I've come to see a poster of strong opinion and a good deal of substance. Having observed that, I interpret his occasional flashes of dark and even crude humor as just that. If that were all he posted, I'd be as irritated as you were.