A good friend (and fellow Lumberjock member JTASH) spent a fantastic weekend at the Philadelphia Furniture Workshop in a handcut dovetails class. Now, JTASH has had some experience to this point in assembling actual projects with handcut dovetail joints. Me? I did a bunch of practice in sawing ‘to the line’ in preparation for the class, and even tried a crude attempt at assembling a test dovetail. The results were miserable and I would not post.
Here is my conclusion after taking the class. You can read all the articles in the world, and see all of the videos. I’ve done close to that. If you really want to have success at this skill it helps wildly if you actually see someone assemble it, like a Mario Rodriguez, and receive feedback on your technique. There were tips and tricks that Mario passed on that really de-mystified the whole process.
I walked out only assembling one practice dovetail, and the beginning of a half-blind dovetail that I need to complete at home. But I now have the tools, literally and figuratively, and the confidence to have success. Mario promised a 100% imporvement in your ability to cut dovetails, and he wasn’t kidding. Thanks Mario and Alan. Looking forward to the next class.
Here are a few photos I snapped during the class. Hope you enjoy.
10 comments so far
Vick
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49 posts in 1212 days
#1 posted 1169 days ago
Some day I WILL learn how to do this! Nice work!
-- Good energy perpetuates good energy!
skeeter
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233 posts in 1509 days
#2 posted 1169 days ago
very tight. nice work
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woodworm
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#3 posted 1169 days ago
Neat and Clean.
-- masrol, kuala lumpur, MY.
a1Jim
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87068 posts in 1745 days
#4 posted 1169 days ago
Cool job
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TopamaxSurvivor
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13192 posts in 1844 days
#5 posted 1169 days ago
Thye don’t get any better than that!! congrats
-- "some old things are lovely, warm still with life ... of the forgotten men who made them." - D.H. Lawrence Wake Up America!! Please read; http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/01/26-0
Scott Bryan
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27262 posts in 1990 days
#6 posted 1168 days ago
This is a good looking dovetail joint, and certainly a success in my book. It looks like you are ready to hand cut them on your next project.
-- Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful- Joshua Marine
Marc5
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301 posts in 1510 days
#7 posted 1168 days ago
I agree it seems that you end up with the best results in a class setting. Your dovetail doesn’t get any better than that. I’ll bet you are hooked now! Good luck with the half blind.
-- Marc
WistysWoodWorkingWonders
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11517 posts in 1325 days
#8 posted 1168 days ago
great job… would love to be able to hand cut them… never really tried… perhaps on a future project…
-- New Project = New Tool... it's just the way it is, don't fight it... :)
SCOTSMAN
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4309 posts in 1753 days
#9 posted 1168 days ago
Actually according to Frank Klaus On his dovetailing dvd and books etc we should not be so intimidated by hand cutting dovetails. I was talking about this tonight to an old friend and we intend to get some scrap wood this summer and simply try it out .I have cut dovetails by hand and had great success but gave up too easily so I intend like you guys should to be less afraid and try it out what harm can it do but say waste a few hours here or there. Grandpa Alistair
-- excuse my typing as I have a form of parkinsons disease
jtash
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30 posts in 1251 days
#10 posted 1166 days ago
Hey, great set of Dovetails.
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