Thread: Red Mahogany bookcase thingy

Originally Posted by Claw Hama

Hi Ray, every cloud has a silver lining, or is that silver lightning sometimes though it's hidden in the cloud and can take a while to find. Wow and I thought that Fletty was a nice guy fancy doing that low act to you, what did he get for 7 bucks (I know at McJings it could be a whole set of something)

I will find a gallery flyer and post it so anyone interested can pop by, The opening will be on the Friday the 22nd Oct at 6.00pm the usuall wine & knibblies etc

Its ok I'll be heading to McJings myself this week I'll get him back as well as sms Pat to let him know that I am there. I have 3 knobs to replace I used for the underside of the drill table Its fitted see the blog.

$7 hum maybe a new dovetail knife

I'll duck when you send the flyer.

Last couple of days I have been puting in shelves, partisions, making the drawer and puting drawer runners in etc. I had a mate call in while I was doing the dovetails and had not seen them done the way I was doing them. This then made me think that I have often seen people (books & videos etc) cut the waste out of dovetails with a fret or coping saw but they always just take out a large chunk of usualy pine. So I thought I would show the way I do them and maybe fill in a couple of blank spots. The drawer is out of Tassie Oak.
Shot 1 markout your tails and cut down the edges (mark withan X your waste so no silly mistakes) but then run another two or three cuts down as well.
Shot2 run down and start your curve with your fret or coping saw. Aim to hit just above the base line at the intersection of the next cut.
Shot 3 level off just above the base line and work your way across each section. I angle the saw to just cut the front line and cut to the next virtical cut. I then look over the back and agle the saw to cut along the rear base line to the same virtical cut, then square up the saw and cut the centre out. With the cut at the front and the back running along the line once you square up the saw will follow these cuts and stop you running off (god that sounds like double duch, hope you can follow it). Continue till all pieces are cut out. Shot 5 turn the saw over and cut out the remaining corner. Cutting out small pieces makes it easier to control and I think a little easier to cut.
Shot 7 take a run along and remove half of your waste (cutting to about half the depth of your timber) or so you only have a thin cut on your last run with the chisel.
shot 8 take the final cut (needles to say you chisels should be sharpened to the max) I angle very slightly inwards so you are not left with a shoulder in the middle All this needs to be done on a nice solid bench and clamped down so its not bouncing around all over the shop.
Shot 9, stand it back up and carefuly trim out any waste making sure to get into all the corners and leaving the gully either flat or with a slight concave.
Shot 10, then go onto marking out the pins and do it all again for them.

Oh no, you've all gone to sleeeeeeep, sorrrrrryyy

PS just realised I have prattled all that out and yes those shots are obviously cutting the pins not the tails. THe operation is the same for both though.

Ok here's a couple of shots putting the draw runners in and some partitions in. Oh and one of the finished doves. Just make sure to cut exactly on the scrape side of the pins taking none of the line (makes a nice snug fit), glue up and hammer together. Don't do a test fit, the first fit is always the best. Once you have knocked it apart and then hammered it back together again it will be sloppy.
With the drawer runners I always use spacers to get them parralel with the top. Robertson/Sachi square drive screws.

Originally Posted by Claw Hama

Oh no, you've all gone to sleeeeeeep, sorrrrrryyy

I'm awake. Just reading through your last two posts.

But now I'm going to bed. I only get 6 and a bit hours sleep on Wednesday nights.

Nearly nodded off but that kept me awake a little while longer, thanks for the clear explanation Craw I feel like going up the shed and giving it a bash now, cept I may get snap frozen before I get there, it's bloody cold down here!

I like the "natural" edges on the shelves, enjoying the watch, thanks again, sure it'll be valuable to others too

Just a little tip on type setting: paragraph spacing, so the eyes don't swim around in all the words, good night Zzz

Very nice DTs Claw
How are the partition shelves held in place?

Fell asleep waiting for the update

Nice DT CH Nice quiet way to work no noisy routers screaming.

Hi Guys, no pics today, had a quiet one in the orifice doing some tax paperwork, oh fun oh joy.
Tony the shelves are screwed through the sides and the screw holes will be plugged, the partitions are doweled into the shelves. I still have to screw in the last row of three and the bottom shelf. The drawer is done just the drawer front to screw on, install the drawer, bit of a sand and drench it in Danish.
Ray a router, surely getting to make hand cut dovetails is the greatest joy in the history of woodwork!! and people want to use one of those screaming machines to make them. It has to be a sin. I have mechinised my M & Ts but thats where it stops. I'm not even sure where my router is
(just keep in mind those dovetails were not the supa carfully made ones for a fancy box etc but pretty quickly chopped out no frills ones. Utilitarian if you like, with more care they could be a lot better)

Good DTs Mr. Hama.

Maybe I missed something, but what is tha timber used for the shelves?

Its ok artme I have forgotten to so thanks for asking will save me going back and reading it again

CH if they are quickie DT's I'd love to see your fancy box DT's

Hi Boys, shelves are Kauri with Red Hog square and natural edges. Ray, I don't know that I could even do realy neat fancy box DTs my bigest problem is that I am a bit of a tear arce. around here its the quick or the dead (or the broke).

Originally Posted by Claw Hama

Hi Boys, shelves are Kauri with Red Hog square and natural edges. Ray, I don't know that I could even do realy neat fancy box DTs my bigest problem is that I am a bit of a tear arce. around here its the quick or the dead (or the broke).

Around here its just Broke

Ohoo new icon thingy whats this one.

Originally Posted by Claw Hama

Ohoo new icon thingy whats this one.

facepalm
Urban Dictionary: facepalm