MikeG.
Established Member
Three days ago, my son in law had never used a handtool on wood. Ever, at all. His only chisel had been used for taking the lid off paint tins. The DIY he had done was all done with power tools, and almost none of it with timber (he's Spanish, and they tend to make everything out of concrete and blocks over there).
We started off 3 days ago, beginning with sharpening, then onto some mortise and tenons and a dovetail. Now take a look at what a complete novice can achieve in 3 days, all with hand tools, and including stock preparation (he'd never picked up a plane in his life):
This is a bathroom cabinet, just dry fitted (lots to do yet). I did the other end as the demonstrations, and he did this end. The through tenons will be wedged, so we'll open out the mortises a little. How many woodworkers have even done a housed out and through-tenoned shelf, let alone by hand? It just goes to show what a little patience and enthusiasm can achieve.
We started off 3 days ago, beginning with sharpening, then onto some mortise and tenons and a dovetail. Now take a look at what a complete novice can achieve in 3 days, all with hand tools, and including stock preparation (he'd never picked up a plane in his life):
This is a bathroom cabinet, just dry fitted (lots to do yet). I did the other end as the demonstrations, and he did this end. The through tenons will be wedged, so we'll open out the mortises a little. How many woodworkers have even done a housed out and through-tenoned shelf, let alone by hand? It just goes to show what a little patience and enthusiasm can achieve.
(hammer) 
