[OP]
Member
I posted some time ago the bedside tables I had made from mesquite. I cut the first casement dovetails by hand. Not as tight as I would have liked, so I did the second with a D24R jig. Perfect.
I am currently building the dresser for the set and yesterday I cut the tails wrong side facing me.
Jan 2, I am going to a handcut dovetail class (which I had already scheduled).
Member
Don't feel bad. When I was beginning to cut dovetails by hand, I carefully marked out the tails, made the saw cuts cleanly, then chiseled out the wrong material! I discovered this only after cutting the tails, putting the boards together, and realizing that the tails and pins were sliding past one another. Now I take the time to clearly mark the waste.
Regardless of the tool, we all make mistakes.
[OP]
Member
This is not the worst I have ever done. This resulted in redesigning the dresser. Shortened it by 1 1/2".
Contributor
This was seen in a book somewhere, "The difference between an amateur and a professional is how they deal with their mistakes."Originally Posted by Tom Winship
I like doing work by hand, it lets me make mistakes slower.
jim
"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."
- Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965)
Member
That is a good signature line quote!!!
“Courage is being scared to death - but saddling up anyway”
- John Wayne (1907-1979)
In Memoriam
By Hand also lets you catch your mistakes quicker! They are out where you can see them instead of hidden by a jig.
X is the waste area!
Last edited by harry strasil; 12-03-2009 at 6:53 PM.
Jr.
Hand tools are very modern- they are all cordless
NORMAL is just a setting on the washing machine.
Be who you are and say what you feel... because those that matter... don't mind...and those that mind...don't matter!
By Hammer and Hand All Arts Do Stand
Member
Mistakes?... ?!?... Oh! You mean redesign opportunities!
Friend of the Creek
Absolutely, when you do them by hand you can realize you cut the piece wrong on the first pin instead of when the whole end is done. You also get more opportunities to mess it up. On a brighter note, the more opportunities to mess up result in fewer mistakes down the road.
Contributor
Another reason to hand cut your dovetails is the pins can have a different shape.
These are easiest to do "tails" first.
100_1099.jpg
This was just a practice piece for proof of concept.
jim
"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."
- Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965)
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