What hand tool skill do you want to Learn?

[Mike Allen1010]

Two main topics are on my list: Chair Making, preferably a Windsor Rocker, and turning green wood. I built a pretty rough shaving horse a few years back and I have most of the chair making tools except an Adze and Travisher. Rumor has it, I’m getting a scorp for Father’s Day. A spring pole lathe is on the list. I have a lot of room to grow my basic hand tool skills. I’ve told my self no more draw knives or spoke shaves until I build my first chair! Though I may either rehab my froe or buy a “new to me” one.

Oooooh- I want to see how to build a Windsor rocker!!! Come on Joe, you can do it - we believe it you!!

[Mike Henderson]

I appreciate your perspective Maurice- removing layout marks seems pretty standard. However, I personally like to leave the baseline marking gauge line because it confirms the DT’s were hand cut. Jig or machine doesn’t require baseline layout. In the same way, I like finding layout marks on non show sides of antiques- connection to craftsman of previous era.

Cheers, Mike

I leave the baseline mark on hand cut dovetails, also, just to show they were hand cut. Another thing you can do is to make the tails different sizes. By that, I mean maybe a large one in the center and smaller ones coming out from that, or a mix of large and small. Things that would be difficult to do with a jig. But having a mix of tail sizes without any pattern just looks sloppy (to me).

Finally, the space between the tails is always an indicator. Any tails cut with a router have to have a space as wide as the shaft of the router bit, and that's usually 1/2 inch. If you want to really show off, you can make that space as thin as the saw plate.

Mike

[Jim Koepke]

If you want to really show off, you can make that space as thin as the saw plate.

Or you can make different shaped tails.

100_2476.jpg

The story on these is here > https://sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?135061

Different shapes can be used. One could even use a dowel cutter bit and have a hole in the middle of a tail.

jtk

[Maurice Mcmurry]

Inlay fitting, that is actually quite good.
Sanded flush should be even better.
Although if it is dyed wood, might be messy/bleed?

Thanks for the heads up about bleed! I put some red back with a Sharpie.
Sharpie + lacquer = tears of a clown. Sharpie + Smiths epoxy = OK.

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[Maurice Mcmurry]

Or you can make different shaped tails.

100_2476.jpg

The story on these is here > https://sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?135061

That is Adorable! I love the hearts. Before I learned that Antonio Stradivari incorporated hearts into his work I made a few heart inlays in silver. Now I am too intimidated to inlay another heart.

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http://www.sabionari.com/