First Through Dovetail Attempt

**Sam Conder** · 10-26-2007, 06:59 AM

I think they look perfect. I'm not a fan of "perfectly machined dovetails" myself, I like a little "slop" in them, I think it makes them look a little more hand cut. That's my personal opinion, YMMV.

**jhart** · 10-26-2007, 07:17 AM

Certainly a whole lot better than my first attempt!!! Look pretty good Steve.

**ssmith1627** · 10-26-2007, 07:21 AM

Thanks for the comments guys.

Believe me, they look better than the hand cut attempt I made last week. That one was strong too but I'd give that one a 4 on the appearance scale......haha.

I'm just getting started building a dresser for my little one so now I'm gonna go with dovetailed drawers instead of the lock joint the Wood magazine plans had. After that, want to tackle a toy box and use TD's for the joints on that.

Steve

**radhak** · 10-26-2007, 07:58 AM

No offense - but for the money the Leigh costs, you better start using dovetails for everything, maybe even to attach the wheels of your car - just to get back your money's worth

!

And oh, i personally can't think of any way to improve on the appearance of your dovetails - I'd be happy to have that look on my finest furniture. Obviously the Leigh was built for the likes of you, rather than me

.

**LCHIEN** · 10-26-2007, 08:03 AM

Originally posted by radhak

No offense - but for the money the Leigh costs, you better start using dovetails for everything, maybe even to attach the wheels of your car - just to get back your money's worth

!

And oh, i personally can't think of any way to improve on the appearance of your dovetails - I'd be happy to have that look on my finest furniture. Obviously the Leigh was built for the likes of you, rather than me

.

For us Hobby Woodworkers, we have judge a tool not by the monetary value of the work we produce but by the satisfaction it gives us...

**Sam Conder** · 10-26-2007, 08:05 AM

Originally posted by LCHIEN

For us Hobby Woodworkers, we have judge a tool not by the monetary value of the work we produce but by the satisfaction it gives us...

Exactly. And there are many of us who are actually tool collectors rather than woodworkers.

**ssmith1627** · 10-26-2007, 08:30 AM

I definitely have some tool collector in me. I don't deny that. So far I've really only produced one woodworking project as a result of these tool purchases:

http://ssmith1627.myphotoalbum.com/v...umName=album04

I'm pretty proud of that and it's given me the confidence and motivation to tackle more. Dresser is next, toy box after that. And then we'll see. If I can do 3 projects of this size each year, I'll be happy. With a wife and a 2 year old and a career outside of woodworking, that's about as much as I can handle.

I make decent money in my career, good money for Tennessee. My wife works part time and makes good money doing that. We have a house that's paid for, two cars that are paid for and the only debt we have left is from remodeling the house. I'm putting more into paying down that debt and building up our savings than I am into buying tools so I don't feel TOO bad about my tool collecting / woodworking hobby.

Steve

**radhak** · 10-26-2007, 10:19 AM

Originally posted by ssmith1627

I definitely have some tool collector in me. I don't deny that. So far I've really only produced one woodworking project as a result of these tool purchases:

http://ssmith1627.myphotoalbum.com/v...umName=album04

and that one project is worth a dozen of mine - you have the touch in you.

but I apologize for even a hint of offense in my earlier post - far be it for me to comment, seeing i have bought tools for hundreds of $ and have barely used any of them. and i am in no where as good a situation as you (heavy mortgage, 2 kids, single income). please put it down to plain envy of the Leigh, though looking at your woodworking, i should envy your demonstrated skill more

.

**ssmith1627** · 10-26-2007, 11:59 AM

Nah, no offense taken. I get abused here at work every day a lot worse than that ! haha It's good to have a reality check once in a while -- something to help keep this sickness under control.

And no, no "touch" here I don't think. I'm persistent though. I just keep trying until I get things to come out right, or at least well enough to satisfy me.

I'd love to have a drum sander, a larger jointer and a cyclone dust collector but I don't really NEED any of them to do the projects I want to do. My biggest limitation right now would be not having a lathe. But I wouldn't even go that route without someone to learn from. Somehow I don't think a lathe is something you just pick up and dive into on your own. Now THAT is a machine that requires a special touch !

Steve

**drumpriest** · 10-31-2007, 10:21 PM

Those look great Steve! I have the D4R, and not only are the Leigh jigs expensive, but they are actually better. Often you don't get big gains from one tool to the next, even if the price difference is huge, but the Leigh jig is worth the $$$ to me. Having used the Rockler jig and the PC, the Leigh is a joy to use. The other jigs are fine, and can certainly do the job, don't get me wrong, but the Leigh jig makes it easy.

I also think the $$$ reputation should be tempered by the prices of the new super jigs, at 170$ for the 12" version, it's inline with the PC, but with variable spacing.

As to the lathe, it's not that hard to get started, but I think it's hard to get great at turning. The skew chisel is still a bit of a mystery to me. Gouges make it pretty easy to do a bunch of things though.

**gwyneth** · 10-31-2007, 10:43 PM

Originally posted by ssmith1627

I'm just getting started building a dresser for my little one so now I'm gonna go with dovetailed drawers instead of the lock joint the Wood magazine plans had. After that, want to tackle a toy box and use TD's for the joints on that.

Brings to mind that Delta ad in the woodwork magazines a couple of years ago...most of page is a baby in a cradle. Type says: "You must be very proud....Is this the first time you handcut dovetails?"

**ssmith1627** · 11-01-2007, 07:07 AM

Originally posted by gwyneth

Brings to mind that Delta ad in the woodwork magazines a couple of years ago...most of page is a baby in a cradle. Type says: "You must be very proud....Is this the first time you handcut dovetails?"

That sounds like a good commercial. It's very true too -- there's a lot of satisfaction in the work that goes into this hobby !

Steve

**ssmith1627** · 11-01-2007, 07:24 AM

Originally posted by drumpriest

Those look great Steve! I have the D4R, and not only are the Leigh jigs expensive, but they are actually better. Often you don't get big gains from one tool to the next, even if the price difference is huge, but the Leigh jig is worth the $$$ to me. Having used the Rockler jig and the PC, the Leigh is a joy to use. The other jigs are fine, and can certainly do the job, don't get me wrong, but the Leigh jig makes it easy.

I also think the $$$ reputation should be tempered by the prices of the new super jigs, at 170$ for the 12" version, it's inline with the PC, but with variable spacing.

As to the lathe, it's not that hard to get started, but I think it's hard to get great at turning. The skew chisel is still a bit of a mystery to me. Gouges make it pretty easy to do a bunch of things though.

I don't have ROOM for a lathe so I don't even want to think about it. haha

I had only used the HF dovetail jig before getting the Leigh. It was very straight forward to me. I had no issues putting it together or making those first cuts. It does show me that I need a lot more precision in my woodworking. The box is not totally in plane. The ends of the boards aren't perfectly square and that shows up when assembling the box. Which goes back to my miter gauge not being perfectly square to the blade.

Lots to do and lots to learn !

Steve

**footprintsinconc** · 11-01-2007, 12:11 PM

looks real good to me! i too believe that you have the touch. being persistent is the additional bonus.

i see that you completed the router table as well. looks great. is that fixed to the rails of the TS? also, how do you move the fence on the router table back and forth (towards and away from the bit)?

regards,

First Through Dovetail Attempt

First Through Dovetail Attempt

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