Originally Posted by
Edward Clarke
Ok, here's a question for you experts. The undercutting method that Lonnie Bird recommends is specifically recommended against by Jim Kingshott. Kingshott agrees that it will look good, but says that the final strength of the joint will be much less and apparently there was a fine involved for apprentices that did it in the old days.
So ... yes or no? Kingshott pares slowly to the line ( his example was a half blind dovetail though ) while Bird does the undercut. I don't mind doing either but I don't want to mix the two techniques until I get a lot better.
People often undercut the end grain part of the joint since it doesn't contribute much strength and a belly there will keep the two pieces of wood apart. Undercutting on the tails, for example, will decrease strength.
Mike
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