Zhuhai and Meixi village #1: In search of the perfect handcut dovetail

Nice joints and beautiful chests.

-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

Wow to have the patience and tools sharp enough to preform such a task.Maybe it will come as might wisdom if one lives longenough

-- Steven Big Timber Mt.

Interesting story, thanks. Just out of curiosity, besides the artistic joints that are done, what did the Chinese feel was a difficult joint to cut?

-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)

Excellent story…beautiful chests. I love the diversity of the posts on LJ….we get to laugh with Mot and David and the “Cybertool Share” and we get deep thought provoking stories from passionate people. You just got buddied Chris….keep em coming.

Good point Mot…exactly what is a hard joint?

-- Bob, Carver Massachusetts, Sawdust Maker http://www.capecodbaychallenge.org

Hi Chris;
—-great story you have put together here, and the pictures add clarity to your story! Also those are some nicely cut dovetails in the two chests. Do you get to China often, and then I would expect that entrance into Macao is fairly easy through Hong Kong?

I am wondering also about the finish on the chests, especially the one on top in your first picture, since there is such a high sheen coming off.

Welcome here to LJ and I’m glad to see you’ve come out of the woodwork, and I might add, keep these stories on ‘wood joinery’ coming….
Thank you.
GODSPEED
Frank

-- --frank, NH, http://frank.wordpress.com/

That’s some very fine, & beautiful craftsmanship.
Also a great job of photography.

-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

Just absolutely beautiful[, true artisans to last this long is unbelievable. jockmike

-- Mike. mwurm13@yahoo.com

Thank you for the warm comments.
I’ll try to address a few of your questions:

• The most difficult common joint: This is probably the double mitered tenon joint for rounded legs. I will post pictures as time permits.
• Finish of the Chinese furniture: Tung oil originates in China, shellac was mentioned somewhere as well as wax. Black or red lacquer was commonly used for softwoods. About a year ago there was a show lacquer carving on the Chinese equivalent of the history channel. Bamboo brushes to polish wood are mentioned in the literature. According to Wikipedia, some form of sandpaper was known in China since the 13th century; no mentioning what it was used for though. In general historians, curators and collectors of Chinese furniture seem to focus on form, function and philosophy and not so much on tools and methods.
• Frequency of travel: In average every other year. The supposedly are building a bridge between Hong Kong and Zhuhai. Until this is fiished it is easiest to fly into Guangzhou and take the bus to Zhuhai. The main bus terminal is a short taxi ride from Macao. Just came back from a trip, am sifting through pictures trying to work things into stories. I promised Wiktor Kuc copy for his internet magazines Old Tools Shop and WKFineTools. The main stumbling blocks are 1) time and 2) the fact that I have not found a good pro-bono copy editor.
• Photographs: Just updated the pictures (mostly perspective and color correction); those are just grabshots, too much hassle to bring a tripod and lighting gear along.

-- Chris Scholz, Arlington, TX, www.Galoot-Tools.com

Extended article has been published at
http://www.wkfinetools.com/tUsing/art/pDovetail/pDovetail11.asp

-- Chris Scholz, Arlington, TX, www.Galoot-Tools.com