Posted by Paul Sellers on 24 May 2013 in Paul Sellers' Blog | 3 comments

More tales on dovetails Some years back, about 1965, Derik (correct spelling ‘cos his dad couldn’t read or write) and I went to a house to price some work. My older mentor master joiner was talking to the lady who wanted some cabinet work for the dining area and needed some silverware drawers making. As things progressed favourably, Derik came to the point of costs and so asked the lady what kind of joinery she wanted. Being a bit of a shirker, he was avoiding dovetailing the corners. Derik Read More

Posted by Paul Sellers on 21 May 2013 in Paul Sellers' Blog | 1 comment

More tail makers than pin makers Of course there are always more pins than tails, that goes without saying, but does the tail wag the dog? In the overall scheme of things I might reason that in over 97% of cases, woodworkers cut the tails first and make the pins follow. So in this case, the tails predetermine that pins follow the tail in like fashion that form always follows function in the real world of non-fantasy craftwork. I am constantly reading (and being told) that there are two ways to Read More

Posted by Paul Sellers on 20 May 2013 in Paul Sellers' Blog | 4 comments

The question of awls and knives came up several times in referring to the previous post on tails and pins in dovetailing. Awls used for marking out dovetails has become an issue with traditionalists and lines left in across the tails accepted as a relevant witness of tradition seems well accepted. I have seen this throughout my life in looking at old joiner and cabinet maker's tool chests and some marked all the way across with a round semi-pointed awl while others used a knife wall. Still others Read More

Posted by Paul Sellers on 19 May 2013 in Paul Sellers' Blog | 5 comments

This highly provocative issue is a regular question for me and I usually avoid the controversy. I might be guessing here, but I would say that from my personal experience, most woodworkers who actually made their living from furniture making and woodworking in general cut their tails first. of course everyone is entitled to their opinion whether they are right or wrong. It's a strange new world this world that changes with each typed symbol that others occupying the globe read, judge and pass opinions Read More

Posted by Paul Sellers on 16 May 2013 in Paul Sellers' Blog | 0 comments

Today was the fifth day of challenging work but progress brings new confidence, a few jokes, some kickback to absorb the changes and a sense of genuine wellbeing that's hard to match on a computer keyboard. The days past fast now we all have the second project done we are ready to tackle the oak table. We dished out legs for surface planing and most everyone went straight to the diamond plates to sharpen up their number four Stanley planes. Some already have it. They have followed my training on Read More

Posted by Paul Sellers on 15 May 2013 in Paul Sellers' Blog | 0 comments

Sometimes there are classic designs that somehow defy time. This is of course an Arts and Crafts design I make in my classes. I just saw a beautiful chair design on the back of the latest Fine Woodworking magazine and it made me conscious of just how many designs have come about through the decades and centuries. We were talking about the simplicity of Sam Maloof's design today in class and indeed the simplicity of making what is essentially a simple design that's as simple to make as the design Read More