Thread: Aussie cedar & American cherry jewellery box

Thanks for sharing the build, Alex.

I love the Aussie Cedar and Cherry combination. Wonder what it would look like with sycamore?

Very helpful to follow the various stages and not just see the (excellent) result!

Best regards,

Brian

Thanks Brian, I'm glad you've enjoyed the trip, as I enjoy other peoples' WIPs.

very nice box Alex, lovely. I am sure the recipient will be extremely happy.

Paul

Originally Posted by AlexS

I do the pins first because I like doing thin London pins, and would have trouble marking them If I cut the tails first.
Like most things in woodwork, there's more than one 'right' way. I suspect that whatever the way you were first taught is probably the way you'll stick with.

Why are thin pins called "London" pins?

Originally Posted by ciscokid

Why are thin pins called "London" pins?

No idea - and Wiki doesn't help. I'm guessing that London cabinetmakers were known to use them, compared to elsewhere, where they used larger pins.

Originally Posted by AlexS

No idea - and Wiki doesn't help. I'm guessing that London cabinetmakers were known to use them, compared to elsewhere, where they used larger pins.

This is my understanding too. Cabinet makers in London used thin pins to differentiate their work from the work of others. Since I can't find a written reference supporting my understanding, I must have picked this up from a woodworking DVD or YouTube video.

The way it was explained to us as apprentices was that in London, during the 1700's, there were many cabinet makers, all trying to outdo each other for the available trade. It became a common practice to reduce the size of dovetails as much as possible to demonstrate their skill as a craftsman.

Originally Posted by rustynail

The way it was explained to us as apprentices was that in London, during the 1700's, there were many cabinet makers, all trying to outdo each other for the available trade. It became a common practice to reduce the size of dovetails as much as possible to demonstrate their skill as a craftsman.

That would make sense.

Originally Posted by rustynail

The way it was explained to us as apprentices was that in London, during the 1700's, there were many cabinet makers, all trying to outdo each other for the available trade. It became a common practice to reduce the size of dovetails as much as possible to demonstrate their skill as a craftsman.

That sounds reasonable. I've just always made them that way because that's how I was taught.

I read somewhere it was the contrary... I don't remember why.

Thinking it through, London pins are easier for mass production as there are fewer layout marks, the division maths is easier, fewer places for mistakes (wrong side of line! Cut the wrong bit out !) and the first cut makes the kerf for the second cut.

Thoughts?

London pins may be easy to cut but they are slow to assemble, due to their fragility. They also date back well before mass production. As for mistakes, it is very much a repedative process when cutting large numbers of dove tails. I know, we used to do heaps of them. Very different matter when you are cutting them once in a blue moon.