| Blog series by Smitty_Cabinetshop | updated 10 days ago | 9 parts | 11609 reads | 168 comments total |
Part 1: Mitered Dovetails Anyone?
Every project’s layout phase, for me, is like spring training – what happened last season is a foundation to build upon; all things are possible when starting fresh. And it’s also an opportunity to set goals that, upon further review, seem almost unattainable. I find myself in that situation right now on something in the shop that’s been underway for a couple weeks. One specific joinery element I’ve decided to incorporate into the build is the mitered dovetail...
Part 2: Mitered Dovetails, Part Two
Okay, if mitered dovetails are the objective and three tries is what it takes to make it happen, then here is number two… In pictures: First, set gauge: Mark tailboard w/ miter: Mark, knifeline and cut mitered edge: Using coping saw to clear the pin ‘waste’ between the tails: All Clean! Now for the challenge. Hard to scribe cutlines on the pinboard because of the miter cut: Cutting the pin board miters: Clearing pin waste: H...
Part 3: Mitered Dovetails - Part Three of Three
Lots of great input on the second installment of this mini-serial; how will it end?? For the third rehearsal of the joint, I took on the tails-first method suggested by @Alstar: Start with a pin board, cut and trimmed and mitered. Trace to tailboard, which is easier with pins that are mitered: Then cuts done to tailboard: And it assembled pretty well! Some smoothing or block plane action to clean things up and it’s not far from good. And for one additional suggestio...
Part 4: Raised Panels with the Stanley #78
Did a search on LJs for anyone using the venerable Stanley #78 and found nothing. Tonight in the shop I staged a bit of a dry run with the plane, making a ‘raised panel’ drawer bottom, and took some pictures along the way. First step was to check the blade. I bought the plane probably more than a year ago and my sharpening skills have improved since then, so it was a natural place to start because “sharp fixes everything” and I’m going to be cutting across the grain… The back had to be fla...
Part 5: More Fun with the #78 and Other hand Planes
I have another recent post ‘lamenting’ underutilized space, so I’ve been in the shop to rededicate a large storage cabinet to fasteners. It’s an old harware store case and needed a piece of face trim to dress it up a bit. Nothing fancy, just something missing, you know? Presenting furring strip and cabinet: There’s a slight overhang to the top vs. the face of the case, so the trim piece needs a shallow rabbet. I’ll use the Stanley #78 moving fi...
Part 6: The Stanley #45 Multiplane and Door Trim
Okay, added a wall to define my shop space for heating, etc. and included a pair of pocket doors. They’re framed but need trim. Enter some spaulted (stained, really), flat-sawn sycamore. Dressed the edges and faces, needed something to dress them up a bit. How about a bead? First the flat stock, ready to go. With the #45 set up and ready, an early key is to take multiple, shallow passes. Here’s a scratch pass: Start on the end of the piece, taking multiple passes ...
Part 7: An Excellent Tool for Dovetailing
I’ve read about The Schwarz using a rabbet plane as a first step to dovetails, and it’s made me think I need to get me the Veritas Skew Rabbet. With a little project I’m doing with #2 Son, I have recycled boards that needed cleanup. What I tried was the Stanley #278. I set the fence to the baseline, Did some cutting (sorry for the lack of strong shaving, I was in a hurry), Results were very strong! The tool has a Special Purpose! ;-) Thanks...
Part 8: A Dovetail Tongue and Groove Plane
Last time I messed with the Stanley #444, the side walls of groove were pretty ratty. Not that they’d be seen, of course, but the product means the nickers aren’t sufficiently sharp. A little work on the fine DMT showed it wasn’t flat on the outer surface of either of the two nickers. I worked each just enough to get the surfaces flat. Then I carefully worked the primary bevels of each on the fine DMT. They’ve got a ‘camber’ to them alr...
Part 9: Oh, my. I'm building the wrong stuff!
http://www.gallerypauleanglim.com/Beech.html#3 Time to re-focus and find my inner minimalist and sense of visceral elegance so my work brings in real money…
