It's been a while since I last posted. I'd like to have a really cool excuse but I don't, I've just been busy and lacking in motivation as far as writing is concerned. For verification of the lack of motivation to write see my last post.
The Woodcraft class has met twice since I last posted. They had dimensioned the plinth boards and were ready to layout and cut dovetails. Upon parting Steve wrote the process of dovetailing on the whiteboard in the shop. I find it very difficult to recite the process, I just do it. I visualized cutting the joint while Steve wrote it out. It is reproduced here just in case you are interested.
When we parted the homework assignment was to be ready to dovetail plinths, have the carcase supports ready except for length and perhaps a width adjustment and carcase components ready except for length and glue joints.
Meanwhile, the class in my shop started with the discovery that a tool bag is not merely an interesting title for an uninteresting person.
Tails and pins are cleaned up.
Kashley's plinth is assembled. The glue-up went extremely well. I find glue ups with hide glue to be exciting. I sometimes offer suggestions in a manner that is louder than my usual demeanor. Megan and Kashley can verify this for you.
Successful assembly must always be followed by an announcement of same.
A little more clean up and
Megan's plinth is assembled as well. This was the first time I had used corner clamps...probably the last as well, at least on dovetails.
Fast forward two weeks and we are back at Woodcraft. After cutting the tails we need to cut a groove to hold the carcase supports. Since we are using through dovetails great care must be taken to assure that we do not clip off a piece of tail while using the rabbet plane. Therefore, we dive in and out of the rabbet with the plane and finish the ends with a router plane. Not as fast as just using the rabbet plane but much faster than repairing square holes in the tails.
Meanwhile, Steve reshoots one of his long plinth boards to correct for a variation in width from the opposite plinth board. Since he has very little to remove and only from part of the board he shoots with his smoother.
Then he is ready to cut his tails.
Here is sets up for a first class saw cut to remove the hald-pin socket.
After Dave's glue has set (but not yet cured) he cuts the rabbet in the end board. This is just a small ledge to help hold the carcase support. It's cut after assembly because it must not show or weaken the dovetail joint.
Back in my shop, Megan starts to plane the piece of poplar that she will use for the carcase support for thickness. She commented that it seemed a shame to bury the green, blue, purple and white wood in the base of the chest where it will never be seen again.
Then it was time for Megan to start on the carcase of her chest. Below she is sawing the cherry board that she selected for the front of the chest.
I quickly hit it with a smoother plane just to show how good her eye is at spotting interesting lumber.
She also selected a piece of walnut with both heart and sapwood. She will rip that in half and border the cherry with it.
So, there you are all caught up on the action.
Schedule:
11/26 I will be teaching SketchUp II at Woodcraft in Grand Rapids. The class runs from 4:00 to 7:00. You should be competent in the basics of SketchUp to take this class.
11/28 I will teach 'Sharpening for the Woodworker" at Woodcraft in Grand Rapids from 4:00 to 7:00. This class is the basics of sharpening and then practice on a chisel, block plane, bench plane and a striking knife. We will also discuss/demonstrate sharpening other tools. This is a hands-on class so bring dull tools and your sharpening kit.
Comments and questions are always welcomed.
Cheers,
Bill
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