How important is visual appeal?

[Roloff]

I wasn't sure where this topic belonged, it's not really just about woodworking - so here it goes.

I got a message today from Wood magazine titled, "New half blind dovetail jig," which was interesting because I'm about to make some kitchen cabinets. I clicked the link right away. It seems Marc Sommerfeld, an outstanding woodworker with plenty of great achievements (I've owned several of his bit designs) has a "new" kit out that does a sort of wavy dovetail joint. It's more or less a Katie jig pattern. Imagine a dovetail with rounded corners. I swear it looks like the side view of big molars!

I saw it a while ago somewhere else and dismissed it - it's UGLY. Okay, that's just a personal opinion. But that's why I didn't really care to read anything about it. I wouldn't want anything that looked like that lurking in my kitchen drawers. There are so many alternatives, I'd take any of them rather than make it look like that.

Is this too shallow? How important is it that what you make LOOKS good in addition to being strong enough to do the job?

[mschrank]

Your Question:

How important is it that what you make LOOKS good in addition to being strong enough to do the job?

And your answer:

I wouldn't want anything that looked like that lurking in my kitchen drawers. There are so many alternatives, I'd take any of them rather than make it look like that.

I'm not trying to be a smarta$$, but if you really don't like the look of something now, I don't think you're suddenly going to start liking it the 300th time you open the silverware drawer,

For me, the appearance of a project is related to its use. If it's in the kitchen or another area where it will be seen, then it has to look good. If it's in the shop and seen only by me, then I might sacrifice some aesthetics if it will save time & money. I suppose my shop cabinets look pretty shabby to others...unfinished A/C BORG plywood, I've never got around to putting the false fronts on the drawers...but they're square, strong, and functional. I saved a lot of money and time by sacrificing looks. But it gave me more time to spend on my long list of "pretty" projects.

[cgallery]

That's funny 'cause I got the same E-Mail and I just started at the picture thinking the same thing. "That is one ugly joint." I don't even know how they consider it a dovetail.

[jackellis]

How important is it that what you make LOOKS good in addition to being strong enough to do the job?

Very. Even in your shop. I built a small cabinet for miscellaneous tools out of crooked plywood and leftover oak flooring. It's functional and it works surprisingly well but it looks so bad I'm ashamed to show people for fear they'll think "Is that the best he can do?" Gaps in the joints, gaps in the reveals, it is just not pretty. It's also going in the trash when I move this summer.

I suppose you could try this funky joint on a shop project and explain to folks that it was an experiment, but I would not put it someplace where looks count. Especially if YOU don't like it.

[LarryG]

Jack said more or less what I was thinking. To me looks do matter, pretty much always. I too consider projects I build for the shop to be a sort of "business card" for my abilities. I regard virtually every project is a chance to practice, to do the very best I can. A lot of this is because I'm a design professional, and ugly stuff grates on my eyeballs something awful. Which is not to say I've not occasionally taken the quick-and-dirty, who-cares-how-it-looks route, because I have.

I too got the WOOD email. This new Sommerfeld joint is somewhat similar to Leigh's Isoloc template series. I suppose these fancy shapes might be appropriate on something like a child's toy chest but, overall, they're not really my cuppa.

[vaking]

Yes but I am trying to make a piece of furniture for my bedroom and my bedroom is Louis XV style. For this style the main characteristic is that it must be "curvecious", avoid straight lines and straight cuts at all cost. For this application standard dovetail might look too straight and inappropriate, mollar-shape is just what the doctor ordered. The second characteristics is that it ought to have plenty of hand-carving and I know I cannot do that. So if this new jig could make mollar-shaped dovetails and carve at the same time - I would definitely be interested.

[dbhost]

Function first, aesthetics second. Having said that, with joinery there are so many functional options that aesthetics are kind of a playground... If you don't like the look of that style dovetail, I doubt it will grow on you... I am not real crazy about it either for drawers, but if I were building a gift box with a lot of compound curves and such that might be a nice touch...

[cwsmith]

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder!"

or so goes the "old saying". So, each of us brings our experience and desires into that visual "behold". With regard to woodworking and furniture, what we see is probably hinged on our experience and education as well as so-called sense of "appeal".

Do we perceive the joint as less worthy because it's NOT traditional or doesn't fit in with our thoughts of strength and good craftsmanship? Certainly it doesn't have those nice sharp angles of traditional dovetails and, for me anyway, it doesn't look like it mechanically locks as well. Does it provide more or less glue area and will it fit in with the general design of my project?

Personally I don't like the look of it. All of the previously stated thoughts run through my head. Maybe it just looks too easy and therefore not as illustrative as I wish my talents would show on a particular piece. (Believe me, my so-called woodworking talents are still pretty elementary, even though my wife loves what I make around the house and my "carpentry" skills even get a respectful smile from my son and daughter-in-law... but I'm no where near showing off anything to real craftsmen.)

So I think, some of us might find some things appealing while others will be much less impressed. Likewise, I've seen a few well crafted projects that are just downright ugly to me, at least in their overall appeal. But I admit that "perceived" ugliness or beauty is pretty much what each of us think they are, based on our own experience (or "in the eye of the beholder").

On the other hand, there's that, "beauty is only skin deep; but ugly goes clear to the bone!"

For me, I'm still saving for one of those Leigh "Super Dovetail Jigs" to replace my rabbet and pegged drawer joints.

CWS

[Black wallnut]

That is about the ugliest joint I've ever seen! I like the isoloc joint but that one just looks junkie.

As others have already said visual appeal is important. Otherwise just use butt joints and paint!

[cabinetman]

I definitely have my likes and dislikes on the projects of my own choice. But, I have to produce what the client wants, and needless to say I'm not always doing what I think looks good.
.

[drillman88]

I build things that interest me and things I find attractive,as my abilities or lack there of, allow me. Part of the reason I enjoy woodworking is that I can take a piece I see and add my on twist to it or make it fit my needs.
The options availible are only limited by the imagination and experience.

I don't think I would personally use these joints, but I wouldn't put someone down that likes them and uses them because of what I've already said.As long as they are structurally sound they could have a place to be useful.