Tom's Workbench

|

part of the Wood Talk Online community

Quick Poll

July 13th, 2008 at 10:03

Hand cut dovetails can be a challenge. But, they are also a great hallmark of a true craftsman.  So….

So, just how good are your hand cut dovetails?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...

5 Responses to “Quick Poll”

  1. James Cottonwood Says:

    Interesting that dovetails are the “mark of craftsmanship.” I think you’re better off looking at the piece as a whole and making *it* look good. Spend some time looking at masterpieces — the dovetails weren’t perfect, but the proportions of the overall work is. I see too much furniture with perfect dovetails that is, sorry to say, ugly from across the room. I wonder at what point the shift of focus moved. Post industrial revolution where the skill was placed in the machine?

  2. Tom Says:

    James -

    An excellent point. Unfortunately, a lot of emphasis is placed on the ‘perfection’ of one part of the piece. If the DT’s look great, but the piece looks like crap, it’s not a success.

    Also, I think it’s kinda sad that the equation of:

    Dovetails = Craftsmanship

    makes people think that without DT’s, the piece is not a good one.

    Alas, like it or not, that’s something the customers want… so, that’s today’s poll…

  3. Roger Sullivan Says:

    I like to use dovetails as a desigh feture but, do not yet have the skill to do hand cut ones. So I rely on the router/jig to get the effect that I want. I feel that it is a mark of craftmanship to use dovetails but, not nessary for strength of joints with todays glues and other methods of jointery.

    Roger

  4. Tom Mulcahy Says:

    Dovetails=craftsman……maybe,but I would consider a craftsman as a conscience effort of design choice,wood selection,proper cutting and milling,assembly, and fit and finish. Yes, I’m one of those with a router and jig….

  5. Vic Says:

    I’m getting ready to try my first dovetails. I don’t think that they are a necessary part of great design or workmanship, but I do want to learn how for my own S & G’s. I think simple is usually the best way to go. But, that is mostly because I’m not a huge fan of the ornate.

Leave a Reply

XHTML: You can use these tags: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>