Comments on: Eye Candy: Half-blind Dovetails in 6:51

By: Dovetailing Pro

Dovetailing Pro — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 15:17:30 +0000

David Brown, your comment earlier is unacceptable and immature, get a life and don’t bring that kind of trash to a website like this. You and your perverse wife need to grow up.

By: Steve Branam

Steve Branam — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 18:09:53 +0000

Regarding cutting DT based on layout, there are probably people who can do that. However, speaking here as a student (maybe up to the level of Thomas the apprentice!) and not as an expert in either knowledge or skill, the point of "copying", or transferring the marks is that hand work is subject to error. This requires cutting the next part to the "as-built" condition of the first part, not the "as-designed" condition. It compensates for whatever minor errors you make in the first part.

That’s a common theme in hand-tool work. Cut to fit, not to layout. If you’re off a half-degree or a thirty-second in one of the dimensions of the cut, you can make up the difference in the mating part and still have it look good. You don’t want to let that get out of control, or all the little errors will add up and you’ll get a 95 degree square corner!

By: me.yahoo.com/a/KutYvpggy4lbKm8CfmXbYxC5BPhWYggC

me.yahoo.com/a/KutYvpggy4lbKm8CfmXbYxC5BPhWYggC — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 12:30:31 +0000

I would like to see cutting DT based on layout only, no copying
from pins or tails; you just layout, cut each one separately
(pins then tails, or whatever) then they should fit (no hammering
allowed).

By: Steve Branam

Steve Branam — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 03:18:28 +0000

Nice! I particularly like the trick of using the plane as a support, solid and stable, no fidgeting to set up. I watched his 3 1/2 minute full dovetail on YouTube as well. This video is better quality, so you get to see the paring more closely.

By: Aluminum Extrusions

Aluminum Extrusions — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 04:27:24 +0000

I’m with @Freddy. I’d like to see some harder wood, but impressive none the less. Videos like this are always humbling for me to watch, nonetheless.

By: Jonas Jensen

Jonas Jensen — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 21:32:17 +0000

There Cris. I’m holding you responsible.. All this talk about quality hand tools, you have a strong influence.
After seing the video, I decided that I couldn’t live without a dovetail saw. I checked the various saws from US + Canada, but there is always the extra customs and VAt + shipping etc. So instead I tried to locate one in England. I have ordered a Flinn Garlick Pax 1776 dovetail saw for 105 £ total. It better be good.

Your magazines are great.

By: Freddy Roman Maker & Restorer

Freddy Roman Maker & Restorer — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 19:15:41 +0000

Impressive! Yet Pine is soooo soft. Lets see it in Black Cherry, Walnut, or Mahogany. Great job describing the process and great tips. Thanks for sharing.

By: Christopher Fitch

Christopher Fitch — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 16:24:34 +0000

So what brand of coping saw is that? Also, what type of blade is that?

By: david brown

david brown — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 02:19:10 +0000

Am I the only one that thinks the mallet at the twelve second mark in his video looks like an . . . ummm . . . something that belongs in another sort of video?

My wife and her friend both did a double take and said, "what the, are you serious?"

I’m just sayin’ . . .

By: Rick

Rick — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 14:16:50 +0000

I own both of his saws and find the quality, fit, finish to be superb. I enjoyed the LN (owned one for about a year and it served me well – no complaints) but this saw goes to a whole new level (it is hard to explain). I love the weight/balance of it. Of course starting a cut is (now) ridiculously easy. I guess I’m in the minority that doesn’t baulk at the price of a very high quality handmade hand tool. We will drop $700 on a (very impersonal, space-wasting, take the fun out of it) dovetail jig made by a machine (very little labor – how much do you think it really costs to make that D4R) but squawk at a beautifully made hand saw – of course my comments are coming from someone that doesn’t make a living building furniture.
I’m looking forward to your review Chris.