Kent A Bathurst
09-07-2011, 6:31 PM
Couple months ago, I got an LN face float and a cheek float. Priorities got juggled. Back on track.
Making A+C dining room table, plus end tables and chairs. But - the dining table is the critter that has large through-tenons. 2-5/8" x 11/16" though 3" square legs, and an I-dunno-yet [maybe, like, 13/16" x 7"] where the stretcher joins the lower end rails.
Anywhooooo......cut the leg mortises + rail tenons. Time to tune them up for a nice, tight fit. Got out the face float and the triangular file. Spent maybe 30 minutes filing it sharp, then off to the races.
Cat's pajamas. Very easy to go inside that deep mortise, and tune it up, keeping the faces flat and evenly cut. Had never used one before, but I took a shot and bought them [cheek float still on the sidelines for now]. It's certainly a one- or two-trick pony, but I'm very happy. Also used it for just one or two quick, light swipes on the tenon cheeks - Lenox 1/2" Tri-Master really does a job.
Derek C has a great derek-ism posted here [2007?] & on his site - he shows how to sharpen it, and what it's like in use. I definitely like it better than rasps - much easier to control with more consistent end results. And - for the inside of the mortises, the rabbet block plane didn't seem like the ticket :p.
BTW - same project[s] provided a "plausible excuse" for drawbore pin sets & dowel plate. I like them too - rather than finessing everything, those tools give you stress-relief by getting a hammer and just whacking the crap out the wood.
Making A+C dining room table, plus end tables and chairs. But - the dining table is the critter that has large through-tenons. 2-5/8" x 11/16" though 3" square legs, and an I-dunno-yet [maybe, like, 13/16" x 7"] where the stretcher joins the lower end rails.
Anywhooooo......cut the leg mortises + rail tenons. Time to tune them up for a nice, tight fit. Got out the face float and the triangular file. Spent maybe 30 minutes filing it sharp, then off to the races.
Cat's pajamas. Very easy to go inside that deep mortise, and tune it up, keeping the faces flat and evenly cut. Had never used one before, but I took a shot and bought them [cheek float still on the sidelines for now]. It's certainly a one- or two-trick pony, but I'm very happy. Also used it for just one or two quick, light swipes on the tenon cheeks - Lenox 1/2" Tri-Master really does a job.
Derek C has a great derek-ism posted here [2007?] & on his site - he shows how to sharpen it, and what it's like in use. I definitely like it better than rasps - much easier to control with more consistent end results. And - for the inside of the mortises, the rabbet block plane didn't seem like the ticket :p.
BTW - same project[s] provided a "plausible excuse" for drawbore pin sets & dowel plate. I like them too - rather than finessing everything, those tools give you stress-relief by getting a hammer and just whacking the crap out the wood.