Page 3 of 8 FirstFirst 1234567 ... LastLast
Results 31 to 45 of 106

Thread: A little practice for a lot of drawers...

  1. #31
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Stony Plain, Alberta
    Posts
    2,702
    Roy

    I was in the shop again tonight and snapped a few pics
    on some of the steps I use.

    With the tails cut out I cut a small ledge with a skew block
    plane to help in pin marking.


    IMG_5016.jpg


    The tail board will stay put when I mark them out.


    IMG_5017.jpg


    I make sure I mark my chisel with a felt pen to ensure
    That when chopping I don't go to deep.
    When I start the chopping it take 3 or 4 times before
    I am to the right depth. If one goes to deep to quick
    there is a good chance it will blow out below my line.


    IMG_5019.jpg


    When I am doing the clean up I have a backer board
    to again make sure I don't again blow out any thing.
    There is only 1/8" face on these so they are not very strong.


    IMG_5022.jpg




    And here is the fruits of a couple nights in the shop.


    IMG_5025.jpg


    Turned out pretty good. But there sure is a lot more to do...
    Tails are cut for the next 2 drawers and the pins done for one.
    With any luck might have the next two done in my next session.


    .

  2. #32
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    West Simsbury, CT
    Posts
    384
    Looking good, Gary!

    BTW, this appears to be almost an "all L-N" session...saw, chisels, plane, and workbench. And maybe the titemark gauge for good measure?

    Keep up the great work and please let us see the finished product.

    Kevin

  3. #33
    Great pics Gary - and much appreciated. I am watching this thread closely, having just finished watching Cosman's set of DVDs, and ordering the rest of the "stuff" I need to embark on this handcut thing.

    Over the past few weeks, I have been reflecting on the first click I made in this "Haven". I have determined that you guys are somewhat (but in a much nicer way!) akin to crack dealers. You suck in us "pitiful powered putterers" with your pretty tools, and sly ways - and, before we know it - we are hooked. Sly indeed!

    Please post more pics as you progress - I need daily fixes until the rest of my "stuff" arrives.

  4. #34
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Laguna Beach , Ca.
    Posts
    7,201
    Gary,
    That is very similar to my technique. Your results are really tight and precise! Great work!
    "All great work starts with love .... then it is no longer work"

  5. #35
    Gary,

    Very nice. That gives me hope. I was just going to start a thread and ask how well other people are doing handcut dt's. I can attest to practicing as Rob states and shows in his DVD's. i can already cut MUCH more accurately with some simple exercises with the DT saw. I like your all LN setup. That's the route i'm going as well. Slowly but surely - their stuff is spendy, but its quality.

    I have been watching Rob C's DVD's and really like his method. I was all about Frank K, but after seeing Rob's method, I like it better. Just a bit more accurate and easier for a beginner IMO.

    As for your bench, very nice! I have been on the LN waiting list for over a year now. The price was 1899 when i got on the list and its now 2500. I gave up since I can't justify it for myself - went w/ a Sjoberg elite 2000 instead. But man, i am envious of that bench to an extent - i just love a european bench layout.

    I just got my bench last week and am looking forward to working on some dovetails now that i can properly hold the boards.

    Good luck on the drawers!

  6. #36
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Stony Plain, Alberta
    Posts
    2,702

    The Pile Gets Higher

    Good day to the Creek!

    I got good shop time this weekend and smashed together a few more drawers.

    As I was doing the last ones I took a couple of extra pics.

    For anyone that has trouble with the glue up I use this.
    A little spatula that makes spreading glue evenly a breeze.


    IMG_5031.jpg


    Before the tail and pin board are put together I use a chisel
    and ease the back corners to relieve a little of the stress
    as the two pieces are going together.


    IMG_5035.jpg


    A lot of the times I will clamp the pin board lightly.
    Just in case the joint wants to crack.
    I have a tendency to have the joint too tight rather than too loose.
    Clamp will come off in a couple of hours.


    IMG_5032.jpg


    And my pile gets higher....
    6 done but a lot more to go.


    IMG_5036.jpg


    This evening I will try and get the tails cut for the next 4 drawers.

    Thanks for taking a look..

    .

  7. #37
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    North Carolina
    Posts
    167
    Looking good. Keep it up, one step at a time gets the job done. Is your back doing alright. I tend to stoop when cutting/chopping my DTs which makes for a stiff back the next day.

  8. #38
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Stony Plain, Alberta
    Posts
    2,702

    A little More Progress

    Good Day To The Creek

    A little more progress on my drawers this week.
    10 done. Double digits!

    Again there are a couple of extra pics as tips.

    I use two dividers with my lay out. They were set on the first
    drawer and give me consistent pins, tails and shoulders.

    IMG_5040.jpg

    As I don't know if my bench is perfectly level I make sure my
    tail and pin boards are plum with a level.

    IMG_5042.jpg

    The results I have been very happy with.

    IMG_0035.jpg

    And a quick shot of how the project is coming along.
    I hope this week I can get the last 5 3 1/2" drawers done.
    Then I will take a break and start my uppers.

    IMG_5043.jpg

    Hope everyone gets a little shop time this weekend.


    .

  9. #39
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Colorado Springs, CO
    Posts
    456

    Question

    Gary,
    I hope I don't turn us off topic of this thread because I love what you are doing, but I have a question... You mentioned taking Rob Cosman's 1-week 'Training the Hand' workshop. Question - would you consider it worth the money and time. I have been wanting to take that class but it would be a lotta coin for me. I would be traveling from Atlanta so I'm guessing around 3K in expenses (including the class). I have all the tools so no added cost there. Any comment would be greatly appreciated.

    Oh, and the drawers look superb - I guess that in itself may answer my question.

  10. #40
    Gary, I'm just finishing lunch and heading out to finish up some dovetails of my own. You've done a great job! I like your trick about clamping the drawers so that they don't split. Everything is coming along nicely. Thanks for the progress pics.

  11. #41
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Stony Plain, Alberta
    Posts
    2,702

    This Weeks Goal

    Well the tails are done for the next 5 small drawers.

    IMG_0043.jpg

    Nice and tidy. Except for one little problem.
    Two of the tail boards were machined backwards.
    The grain running the wrong way and may be a bit
    of a pain with tear out with this birch. I will have to be
    careful on the cleanup on these two.

    One more little thing that I do.
    During the glue up I rub the excess glue around.
    This will fill any small imperfections.
    Won't hide big mistakes, but turns a great joint into
    something even better.

    IMG_0036.jpg

    My goal is to get these 5 done this week.
    And then do a little work on the uppers.


    .

  12. #42
    Gary, these are coming along great! Another late nite in the shop. Your post shows 12:46 am, and I believe there is a 2 hour zone difference. You are really making some good progress. I meant to ask you, are you gang cutting the tails? Others have talked about that, but it looks like it would compound any error - maybe not?

    I am still in "practice" mode, but getting more consistency in my saw cuts. Really enjoying watching this project come together!! Thanks, again.

  13. #43
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    Granbury, TX
    Posts
    1,458
    OK, dumb question...

    What difference does it make if your tail and pin boards are perfectly level?

    My dovetails are not nearly as good as yours, but I angle the tail boards so that I saw straight up and down, or close to it.

    Just curious, your technique obviously works for you...
    Martin, Granbury, TX
    Student of the Shaker style

  14. #44
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Western Illinois
    Posts
    55
    I noticed you "altered" one of your LN's into a fishtail. Does that one aid in the cleanup of the tail sockets?

  15. #45
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Stony Plain, Alberta
    Posts
    2,702
    Michael.

    I have 3 chisels that were ground into fish tails.
    They do get nicely into the corners when doing 1/2 blinds.
    I also have some skew chisels but really don't use them.
    For me it's too much switching back and forth to get into each corner.

    Martin.

    I know my dovetail saw will cut straight. All I have to do is aim it. When I am cutting the pins for a half blind I concentrate on the angle on the top. Through muscle memory it seems to fall straight down. With the tails, if the board is level the angles are the same. So for me to repeat it each way seems to work. Again all I worry about is to line up top line and just aim the saw on the angle.
    As you said one goes with whatever works for them.

    John.

    I have heard about the gang cutting but have not tried it.
    The sawing for me goes quite quickly. So I guess if its not broke why try and fix it..


    Got some shop time again tonight and have another 2 drawers put together.
    As I was going out I saw Jasons curly cherry table in the project forum.
    Holy crap are those pretty dovetails. Real pretty dovetails....


    .

Similar Threads

  1. Hollowing Practice
    By Richard Madison in forum Turner's Forum
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 07-20-2008, 1:19 AM
  2. Wax for Drawers
    By Greg Cuetara in forum Project Finishing
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 10-20-2007, 12:40 PM
  3. Blum TandemBox drawers
    By Molly Hart in forum General Woodworking and Power Tools
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 03-06-2007, 8:03 PM
  4. My First Turning.... Don't Laugh!!! :)
    By Corey Hallagan in forum Turner's Forum
    Replies: 21
    Last Post: 01-15-2006, 3:06 PM
  5. Drawers without metal/mechanical glides
    By Tom Hoffman in forum Design Forum
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 06-29-2004, 7:35 PM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •