Gold-Plated Hammers – Yes, Really!
Articles Forums Gallery Marketplace Videos

WoodCentral Forums

Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge

Good Hope Hardwoods - Walnut Slabs & Specialty Hardwood Lumber

Chat tonight -- and a survey

Posts

Chat tonight -- and a survey

#1

Ellis Walentine

Chat tonight -- and a survey

Ellis Walentine


>Hi folks. I just wanted to mention that I will be at a local guild meeting tonight, so I don't know if I will get back in time for the Tuesday night chat. I'm planning on logging the chat, so please stop by and find a good topic that interests everyone and I'll review it later.

Lately, I'm doing some research on the best ways to hand-cut dovetails (all kinds) and I'm fishing for a short list of the top practitioners. Naturally, I already have a few candidates in mind, but I'd like to hear your thoughts and count your votes for the best and why. Feel free to chime in right here on the messageboard if you like.

This is a topic that will not go away. My own feeling is that there are a lot of ways to skin the cat and the only requirements are that it be efficient and clean. I'm not as concerned with the theory or engineering of dovetails as I am with the actual cutting and fitting of them.

Cheers,

Ellis Walentine, Host

Re: Chat tonight -- and a survey

#2

I did a lot of research on DT info.

Chuck Nickerson


>IMHO, the top educator for each approach is:

Eyeball method - Frank Klaus,

Precision method - Andy Rae,

Middle method - Robert Cosman.

I've settled on the middle method. After I'm done following Chris Schwartz's recommendation to cut one set a day for 40 days, save and compare, I'll post results.

Re: Chat tonight -- and a survey

#3

Re: I did a lot of research on DT info.

Denis Ch�nard, Orl�ans, Ont.


>Can you provide details on Rae's method? Haven't seen that one yet...

Thnx,

DC

Re: Chat tonight -- and a survey

#4

I'll dig out my notes.

Chuck Nickerson


>I took a 3 hour seminar and bought his book. I'll track it down tonight.

Re: Chat tonight -- and a survey

#5

I'll keep that in mind . . .

Michael Fitterling


>. . . when I am at David Mark's dovetailing class this afternoon.

(Stealth gloat!)

Re: Chat tonight -- and a survey

#6

It may be hard to find...

Bob Hackett


>But Cecil Pierce`s book "The Precision Handcutting of Dovetails" is one of the best common sense based set of instructions I`ve found.

Cecil had a workman`s way of looking at most things.This is brought to light by the fact that even though he owned some very fine old joinery saws he most often cut DTs with a hacksaw(no need to spend $100+ for just the saw).He also explains how to make and/or tune layout tools to get the best performance from them.Most other books/videos I`ve seen just assume you own Starret,Lufkin,etc already.

For those of you interested the ISBN is 0-962800-4-7.I think you`ll agree that it`s money well spent.

Mainely,Bob

👍 This page answered my questions

Your vote helps other woodworkers quickly find the answers and techniques that actually work in the shop.