Well, I just completed my first handcut dovetailed drawer and wanted to share my observations and ask for comment.
I am building a baby dresser changing table under the guidance of a Master Woodworker who takes in students and helps them along 1 on 1. It has been a great learning experience.
Under his guidance, I am to create four drawers using handcut dovetails....with the reasoning being that hand cut dovetails will not take longer than machine cut (once you fiddle with setup and switching boards, etc), and you have the satisfaction of hand cutting them.
So, I have practiced on no fewer than seven test boxes, and my technique has gotten better. Today, I cut into the real stuff, and completed a 5 high by 18 x 33 wide drawer box. The thing fit up pretty good and does not need much aesthetic fixes.
It took me three hours to do the four sides (a total of 12 pins and corresponding tails). While I know I will be able to go faster with more practice, I can not imagine going MUCH faster.
So, now I am around to the "efficiency" of the operation. I have to believe that machine cut DT, especially if you can cut two sides at once or two ends at once, just has to be quicker.
What do you say---are machine cut DTs completed faster, even with setup vs hand cut? I also note that my other two drawers are 8" and 11" high, and I will be doing asymetrical DTs, something not that easy to do with a jig.
Anyway, I would appreciate some points of view on the tradeoffs here.
Thanks,
Ken
I am building a baby dresser changing table under the guidance of a Master Woodworker who takes in students and helps them along 1 on 1. It has been a great learning experience.
Under his guidance, I am to create four drawers using handcut dovetails....with the reasoning being that hand cut dovetails will not take longer than machine cut (once you fiddle with setup and switching boards, etc), and you have the satisfaction of hand cutting them.
So, I have practiced on no fewer than seven test boxes, and my technique has gotten better. Today, I cut into the real stuff, and completed a 5 high by 18 x 33 wide drawer box. The thing fit up pretty good and does not need much aesthetic fixes.
It took me three hours to do the four sides (a total of 12 pins and corresponding tails). While I know I will be able to go faster with more practice, I can not imagine going MUCH faster.
So, now I am around to the "efficiency" of the operation. I have to believe that machine cut DT, especially if you can cut two sides at once or two ends at once, just has to be quicker.
What do you say---are machine cut DTs completed faster, even with setup vs hand cut? I also note that my other two drawers are 8" and 11" high, and I will be doing asymetrical DTs, something not that easy to do with a jig.
Anyway, I would appreciate some points of view on the tradeoffs here.
Thanks,
Ken