Let me start off by saying that I know this is a dumb question... but I have to ask just out of plain curiosity.
I don't do a ton of hand tool work, but I like to cut dovetails by hand as much as possible. I've recently been working on a shaker-style sideboard, and currently making 3 drawers for it. I prepped the stock abut a week ago (fronts from 4/4 stock, sides and back re-saw to ~1/2", planed, cut to size, etc.). This past weekend, I did the layout for the first drawer, cut and fit the dovetails. When I looked at the clock, I was surprised to see that it took me almost 2.5 hours to finish one drawer. No big deal -- I hadn't cut dovetails for a long time, so I was sure the next drawer would be a little faster. Nope. The next drawer took just as long, though it is quite a bit better in terms of little gaps, saw over-runs, etc., and my process seemed more efficient. 3rd drawer yet to come, so I guess I'll see if i get any faster.
Woodworking is a hobby for me and I truly enjoy the process, so not really a problem at all if it takes 10 times as long as it has so far -- BUT this does have me wondering how long _should_ this sort of operation take? For reference, the drawers are roughly 4.5" deep -- half-blind dovetails in the front with a 1/4" overlay, full dovetails on the back. Picture of drawer #1:
drawer.jpg
Material is hard maple, so I do end up going back to the strop frequently with my chisels, but honestly I think this would take me about the same time in something easier to work.
So -- how much time would you expect this type of drawer to take you from joinery layout to finished joints?
--Dan