Because of a last-minute cancellation, I was able to get into the
course. The instructor and the course were both excellent, but my
hand-made dovetails were bloody awful. My eyes were too weak and my
eye-hand coordination too useless to make even ONE adequate dovetail.
The instructor was even kind enough (diplomatic?) to encourage me to
try using the Japanese saw/magnetic dovetail guide setup. It was a
little better, *almost* rising above pathetic.
At least I spent only $40 (which goes to charity) to discover that some
kind of jig and router is the ONLY way I will ever attempt another
dovetail.
Gerry
In article <[email protected]>, Robin Lee
<[email protected]> wrote:
> Lessons are great for familiarization with the correct techniques -
> and will serve you well as your skills develop.
Rob, your guys at the Toronto West store are to be commended. First, I
only discovered the seminar a few days before the Saturday it was to be
on and, even though it was already full, I left a voice-mail message
late at night asking for a call if there were any cancellations.
I got a call on the Thursday and the chap booked me in even though I do
not use credit cards. He allowed me to pay cash when I arrived on
Saturday morning. The course and the instructor, Andrew, were great.
However, after 59 years of experience with my strengths AND WEAKNESSES,
I *know* I will never have the patience or the dexterity for handmaking
dovetails. So, it was $40 well spent for finding out for sure that it's
not for me.
You have good guys there. Maybe you should give them a raise. ;-)
Gerry
Don't feel too bad, handcut dovetails are not my thing either. I did it
because I thought it was some right of passage but have discovered that you
should do it the way you feel most comfortable and able. Even the Shakers
went for power and time saving methods. They used lathes powered by steam
and it was a Shaker sister that invented the circular saw blade. Cut them
with the router if you want and hold your head high :)
Don
"G.E.R.R.Y." <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:041120041832492227%[email protected]...
> Because of a last-minute cancellation, I was able to get into the
> course. The instructor and the course were both excellent, but my
> hand-made dovetails were bloody awful. My eyes were too weak and my
> eye-hand coordination too useless to make even ONE adequate dovetail.
> The instructor was even kind enough (diplomatic?) to encourage me to
> try using the Japanese saw/magnetic dovetail guide setup. It was a
> little better, *almost* rising above pathetic.
>
> At least I spent only $40 (which goes to charity) to discover that some
> kind of jig and router is the ONLY way I will ever attempt another
> dovetail.
>
> Gerry
On Fri, 05 Nov 2004 12:17:31 -0500, "James T. Kirby" <[email protected]>
wrote:
>[email protected] wrote:
>>>>Gerry
>>>
>>>I resonate with the "eyes too weak" - is that really a comment on failing close
>>>up vision
>>>or some other sort :^) I suffer badly from the real loss of reading vision. I
>>>recently
>>>got a pair of prescription computer glasses to use at work, and have taken to
>>>using them in the shop.
>>>I find that they help a lot in the shop in situations
>>>where I can keep the work at about arms length - I don't have to get on top of
>>>things and squint or look
>>>through the lower ranges of my bifocals.
>>>
>>>Only problem is, I'm so nearsighted that when I look up I can't see the tools
>>>hanging on the wall anymore.
>>>Good eyesight is wasted on the young.
>>>
>>>JK
>>
>>
>> I have one word for you: "Optovisor".
>> At last count I had three of them in different magnifications for
>> different jobs.
>>
>> There are other good brands, but don't waste your money on the cheap
>> ones. You don't need the headaches.
>
>I'm only aware of the ones for relatively close up work, like soldering and such.
>Where's a good place to look for a wider range of focal lengths and stuff?
>
>I have what I think is a good one for soldering, and couldn't live (or at least
>solder) without
>it.
>
>Thanks,
I get mine from jewelry supply stores. Online try someplace like Rio
Grande. www.riogrande.com.
Optovisors come with a wide range of magnifications from just over 1
power to 10 power or so. I often keep mine raised slightly so I can
see out from under. Kind of super-bifocals.
>
>
>
>Jim Kirby
>
>
>>
>> --RC
>>
>> --RC
>>
>> That which does not kill us makes us stronger.
>> --Friedrich Nietzsche
>> Never get your philosophy from some guy who ended up in the looney bin.
>> -- Wiz Zumwalt
>Optovisor
That which does not kill us makes us stronger.
--Friedrich Nietzsche
Never get your philosophy from some guy who ended up in the looney bin.
-- Wiz Zumwalt
One of my woodworking teachers made me practice the saw cuts over and
over on scrap wood. First do the left-hand cut over and over about
1/4 inch apart all the way down the edge of the board. Then cut off
the sawed-up end of the board and do a row of the right-hand cuts.
Spend ten minutes or so doing this before each woodworking session.
After a while, you will notice the cuts becoming more accurate.
"G.E.R.R.Y." <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<041120041832492227%[email protected]>...
> Because of a last-minute cancellation, I was able to get into the
> course. The instructor and the course were both excellent, but my
> hand-made dovetails were bloody awful. My eyes were too weak and my
> eye-hand coordination too useless to make even ONE adequate dovetail.
> The instructor was even kind enough (diplomatic?) to encourage me to
> try using the Japanese saw/magnetic dovetail guide setup. It was a
> little better, *almost* rising above pathetic.
>
> At least I spent only $40 (which goes to charity) to discover that some
> kind of jig and router is the ONLY way I will ever attempt another
> dovetail.
>
> Gerry
"G.E.R.R.Y." <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<041120041832492227%[email protected]>...
> At least I spent only $40 (which goes to charity) to discover that some
> kind of jig and router is the ONLY way I will ever attempt another
> dovetail.
I don't have the time/patience for hand-cut dovetails either. I have
the leigh D4 which is a spectacular tool. I've made many perfect
joints with the d4 and the pc router. My only complaint is the lack
of narrowness in the pins. For that I want to try this next:
http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/pages/w00120.asp
I think this method is a good compromise between hand and machine cut
joints.
brian
"G.E.R.R.Y." <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<041120041832492227%[email protected]>...
> Because of a last-minute cancellation, I was able to get into the
> course. The instructor and the course were both excellent, but my
> hand-made dovetails were bloody awful. My eyes were too weak and my
> eye-hand coordination too useless to make even ONE adequate dovetail.
> The instructor was even kind enough (diplomatic?) to encourage me to
> try using the Japanese saw/magnetic dovetail guide setup. It was a
> little better, *almost* rising above pathetic.
>
> At least I spent only $40 (which goes to charity) to discover that some
> kind of jig and router is the ONLY way I will ever attempt another
> dovetail.
Was that your first try? I don't think anyone makes a decent one on
the first try. If you are interested in doing them by hand, then you
might want to try making at least a dozen of them before throwing in
the towel.
Of course if you didn't enjoy it and you'd just rather use a router
... well, that works too.
Cheers,
Nate
"G.E.R.R.Y." <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:041120041832492227%[email protected]...
> Because of a last-minute cancellation, I was able to get into the
> course. The instructor and the course were both excellent, but my
> hand-made dovetails were bloody awful. My eyes were too weak and my
> eye-hand coordination too useless to make even ONE adequate dovetail.
> The instructor was even kind enough (diplomatic?) to encourage me to
> try using the Japanese saw/magnetic dovetail guide setup. It was a
> little better, *almost* rising above pathetic.
>
> At least I spent only $40 (which goes to charity) to discover that some
> kind of jig and router is the ONLY way I will ever attempt another
> dovetail.
>
> Gerry
Cheer up Gerry -
I started skating lessons 3 years ago - and still am not a good hockey
player...but I have a lot of fun doing it, and am getting much better.
As with anything - it's the practice and development of muscle memory/
hand-eye coordination that will come with time. Lessons are great for
familiarization with the correct techniques - and will serve you well as
your skills develop.
Cheers -
Rob
On Fri, 05 Nov 2004 08:34:00 -0500, "James T. Kirby" <[email protected]>
wrote:
>G.E.R.R.Y. wrote:
>> Because of a last-minute cancellation, I was able to get into the
>> course. The instructor and the course were both excellent, but my
>> hand-made dovetails were bloody awful. My eyes were too weak and my
>> eye-hand coordination too useless to make even ONE adequate dovetail.
>> The instructor was even kind enough (diplomatic?) to encourage me to
>> try using the Japanese saw/magnetic dovetail guide setup. It was a
>> little better, *almost* rising above pathetic.
>>
>> At least I spent only $40 (which goes to charity) to discover that some
>> kind of jig and router is the ONLY way I will ever attempt another
>> dovetail.
>>
>> Gerry
>
>I resonate with the "eyes too weak" - is that really a comment on failing close
>up vision
>or some other sort :^) I suffer badly from the real loss of reading vision. I
>recently
>got a pair of prescription computer glasses to use at work, and have taken to
>using them in the shop.
>I find that they help a lot in the shop in situations
>where I can keep the work at about arms length - I don't have to get on top of
>things and squint or look
>through the lower ranges of my bifocals.
>
>Only problem is, I'm so nearsighted that when I look up I can't see the tools
>hanging on the wall anymore.
>Good eyesight is wasted on the young.
>
>JK
I have one word for you: "Optovisor".
At last count I had three of them in different magnifications for
different jobs.
There are other good brands, but don't waste your money on the cheap
ones. You don't need the headaches.
--RC
--RC
That which does not kill us makes us stronger.
--Friedrich Nietzsche
Never get your philosophy from some guy who ended up in the looney bin.
-- Wiz Zumwalt
G.E.R.R.Y. wrote:
> Because of a last-minute cancellation, I was able to get into the
> course. The instructor and the course were both excellent, but my
> hand-made dovetails were bloody awful. My eyes were too weak and my
> eye-hand coordination too useless to make even ONE adequate dovetail.
> The instructor was even kind enough (diplomatic?) to encourage me to
> try using the Japanese saw/magnetic dovetail guide setup. It was a
> little better, *almost* rising above pathetic.
>
> At least I spent only $40 (which goes to charity) to discover that some
> kind of jig and router is the ONLY way I will ever attempt another
> dovetail.
>
> Gerry
I resonate with the "eyes too weak" - is that really a comment on failing close
up vision
or some other sort :^) I suffer badly from the real loss of reading vision. I
recently
got a pair of prescription computer glasses to use at work, and have taken to
using them in the shop.
I find that they help a lot in the shop in situations
where I can keep the work at about arms length - I don't have to get on top of
things and squint or look
through the lower ranges of my bifocals.
Only problem is, I'm so nearsighted that when I look up I can't see the tools
hanging on the wall anymore.
Good eyesight is wasted on the young.
JK
--
James T. Kirby
Center for Applied Coastal Research
University of Delaware
Newark, DE 19716
phone: 302-831-2438
fax: 302-831-1228
email: [email protected]
http://chinacat.coastal.udel.edu/~kirby
[email protected] wrote:
>>>Gerry
>>
>>I resonate with the "eyes too weak" - is that really a comment on failing close
>>up vision
>>or some other sort :^) I suffer badly from the real loss of reading vision. I
>>recently
>>got a pair of prescription computer glasses to use at work, and have taken to
>>using them in the shop.
>>I find that they help a lot in the shop in situations
>>where I can keep the work at about arms length - I don't have to get on top of
>>things and squint or look
>>through the lower ranges of my bifocals.
>>
>>Only problem is, I'm so nearsighted that when I look up I can't see the tools
>>hanging on the wall anymore.
>>Good eyesight is wasted on the young.
>>
>>JK
>
>
> I have one word for you: "Optovisor".
> At last count I had three of them in different magnifications for
> different jobs.
>
> There are other good brands, but don't waste your money on the cheap
> ones. You don't need the headaches.
I'm only aware of the ones for relatively close up work, like soldering and such.
Where's a good place to look for a wider range of focal lengths and stuff?
I have what I think is a good one for soldering, and couldn't live (or at least
solder) without
it.
Thanks,
Jim Kirby
>
> --RC
>
> --RC
>
> That which does not kill us makes us stronger.
> --Friedrich Nietzsche
> Never get your philosophy from some guy who ended up in the looney bin.
> -- Wiz Zumwalt
Optovisor
--
James T. Kirby
Center for Applied Coastal Research
University of Delaware
Newark, DE 19716
phone: 302-831-2438
fax: 302-831-1228
email: [email protected]
http://chinacat.coastal.udel.edu/~kirby
In article <[email protected]>, "Robin Lee"
<[email protected]> wrote:
> "G.E.R.R.Y." <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:041120041832492227%[email protected]...
> > Because of a last-minute cancellation, I was able to get into the
> > course. The instructor and the course were both excellent, but my
> > hand-made dovetails were bloody awful. My eyes were too weak and my
> > eye-hand coordination too useless to make even ONE adequate dovetail.
> > The instructor was even kind enough (diplomatic?) to encourage me to
> > try using the Japanese saw/magnetic dovetail guide setup. It was a
> > little better, *almost* rising above pathetic.
> >
> > At least I spent only $40 (which goes to charity) to discover that some
> > kind of jig and router is the ONLY way I will ever attempt another
> > dovetail.
> >
> > Gerry
>
> Cheer up Gerry -
>
> I started skating lessons 3 years ago - and still am not a good hockey
> player...but I have a lot of fun doing it, and am getting much better.
>
> As with anything - it's the practice and development of muscle memory/
> hand-eye coordination that will come with time. Lessons are great for
> familiarization with the correct techniques - and will serve you well as
> your skills develop.
>
> Cheers -
>
> Rob
I agree with Rob on this. I try to start off each session in the shop by
cutting a few dovetails regardless of what I'm going to be doing that day.
Takes just a few minutes and helps to keep my muscle memory tuned up.
david
On Thu, 04 Nov 2004 18:32:49 -0500, "G.E.R.R.Y."
<[email protected]> wrote:
>my hand-made dovetails were bloody awful.
What were you expecting ? If you could do them already, you wouldn't
need the course.
Persevere ! They get better.
In article <041120041832492227%[email protected]>,
"G.E.R.R.Y." <[email protected]> wrote:
> Because of a last-minute cancellation, I was able to get into the
> course. The instructor and the course were both excellent, but my
> hand-made dovetails were bloody awful. My eyes were too weak and my
> eye-hand coordination too useless to make even ONE adequate dovetail.
> The instructor was even kind enough (diplomatic?) to encourage me to
> try using the Japanese saw/magnetic dovetail guide setup. It was a
> little better, *almost* rising above pathetic.
>
> At least I spent only $40 (which goes to charity) to discover that some
> kind of jig and router is the ONLY way I will ever attempt another
> dovetail.
I did that course. I sucked big time and felt the majority of students
seemed to do much better. None-the-less, I have kept doing them on
various shop projects and they have gotten much better as well as
faster; incidentally, I ultimately found it easier and better to not use
the jig, but YMMV. It turned out that mostly the problem was that I suck
at sawing; I spent quite a lot of time practicing sawing tenons to help
learn it and then suddenly dovetails were a lot easier...
PK
On 5 Nov 2004 08:59:38 -0800, [email protected] (brian lanning)
wrote:
>"G.E.R.R.Y." <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<041120041832492227%[email protected]>...
>> At least I spent only $40 (which goes to charity) to discover that some
>> kind of jig and router is the ONLY way I will ever attempt another
>> dovetail.
>
>I don't have the time/patience for hand-cut dovetails either. I have
>the leigh D4 which is a spectacular tool. I've made many perfect
>joints with the d4 and the pc router. My only complaint is the lack
>of narrowness in the pins. For that I want to try this next:
>
>http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/pages/w00120.asp
>
>I think this method is a good compromise between hand and machine cut
>joints.
The new Woodsmith book (Bookcases, Shelves and Cabinets) has plans for
a jig to use when cutting them on the bandsaw, as well. For my buck,
that seems a little bit safer than cutting endgrain on the table saw.
I'm surprised no one has mentioned this method. It's only good for
through dovetails, but you can still get that thin pin look. I'm
looking forward to trying it out once I get rid of the autumn crud
that's going around.
>brian