Originally Posted by
David Weaver
I don't know when cutting a dovetail became such a big deal
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We may never know since it is believed to predate written history.
Originally Posted by
Ed Looney
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If Rob can get a rank beginner like me to produce a joint like the one below in just to days it must speak well of his abilities as a teacher.
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Ed
This leads me back to a few of Rob's statements:
Originally Posted by
rob cosman
I added a page on my site, "student gallery".
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BTW, Ed was in my class last year, he represents the kind of work I find in one or two of the eight I have in each class.
And also:
Originally Posted by
rob cosman
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I made a comment a few years ago in a seminar that I had yet to see a properly sharpened plane or chisel show up in any of my classes, DC was in the audience and he commented that having taught since 1975 he had only seen it twice.
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My guess is that Rob's "student gallery" only shows "the kind of work found (I find) in one or two of the eight I have in each class."
Add that to poorly sharpened tools and it is no wonder his students need a guide to show them the way.
The last time I was cutting some dovetails one saw was giving me all kinds of grief. A close inspection indicated it needed a bit of filing. This lit the proverbial light above my head as to why that saw was set aside months ago. After a sharpening session all was well again. Sure, a new saw might fix the situation much better, but this saw will do fine while I wait for the "new saw fairy."
Fortunately when I took up woodworking I found a few books on wooden joints and how to make them.
If my attempts had lead me to frustration, then I would likely be interested in taking a class promising to improve my abilities.
As it was, eventually my sharpening skills improved as have my sawing skills. I have not made a cabinet full of drawers with hundreds of "air tight" dovetails. Then again, I work mostly with pine that seems to move, warp and crack as it is being sawn.
My dovetails do look better in poplar and other hard woods.
jtk
"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."
- Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965)