when dovetailing avoid this video....

UKworkshop.co.uk

Help Support UKworkshop.co.uk:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
Personally I see the first one as someone in the public eye explaining what a dovetail joint is and how he has been learning to make one, at no time does he suggest any proficiency and he freely admits that he has much to learn and the best way is to practise.

The second video I linked to, for me is more concerning, Matt portrays himself as a competent woodworker yet freely admits that the joint doesn't have to be good as it is hidden, is this a message that should be being passed out? He is sponsored by various manufacturers to advertise and promote their goods and one would think that they would require some proof of competence and therefore by association lends credence to his videos. I assume (possibly incorrectly) that his videos are aimed at hobbyist woodworkers rather than experienced professionals who would laugh at some of them.

There is a school of thought than near enough is good enough, but should we, as hobby woodworkers who are not constrained by time try to do the very best work we can and then be able to take pride in what we have created even if we use a different means to achieve it? or, just do the minimum required to get completed regardless of the quality of the work?

I know which one I'd go for.
 
Ed Bray":x7do0jlc said:
Personally I see the first one as someone in the public eye explaining what a dovetail joint is and how he has been learning to make one, at no time does he suggest any proficiency and he freely admits that he has much to learn and the best way is to practise.

Agreed - sometimes having an instructor with both talent and 30 years of practise
tell you how easy something is can be quite annoying.

BugBear
 
Ed Bray":35cpui3y said:
... There is a school of thought than near enough is good enough, but should we, as hobby woodworkers who are not constrained by time try to do the very best work we can and then be able to take pride in what we have created even if we use a different means to achieve it? or, just do the minimum required to get completed regardless of the quality of the work?

I know which one I'd go for.

If I wanted to make something I'd rather have a not quite perfect item with the satisfaction of completing it than an item I never complete, or simply give up on, because I can't get it "perfect".

If you are trying to improve a skill, and it's not quite right, then strive to make the next one better. If at first you don't succeed etc.


Over the last few years I have made a number of benches for my greenhouse.

The joints on the first bench were not perfect but, whilst not pretty, they hold together well enough to do the job. The second was better and by the time I got to the third they were pretty good. I now have three functional benches rather than one, or even worse no, perfect one.

I have also made a number of planters, each set of joints getting better as I "perfected" my method creating the joints using homemade jigs.

I now have a garden full of flower filled planters rather than the negative feeling of simply giving up because I couldn't get it just right straight away.
 
I personally would rather watch an experienced woodworker show how to do dovetails over the videos above where mixed messages may be given rather than a tried and tested technique that an experienced maker does regularly.

I'm liking David Barron furniture on YouTube, simple videos clear instructions.

But as a new woodworker what is not easy to do is to improve on ones poor dovetails... Practice makes perfect but if I'm practicing poor techniques then I'm not likely to succeed and so for that reason I think learning with an actual person would be the best option however i suspect this is not an easy option...

So for beginners what is on YouTube is often looked at to being the right way however wrongvit may be.
 
8squared":iq55ii8q said:
<snip>a tried and tested technique that an experienced maker does regularly.

Adam Savage had some issues with technique, but I'd learn as much watching a talented guy like him look at his first effort and look to where he could improve - that's exactly what I'd do if I hadn't bought an Incra LS positioner...

But that's okay - I'm grateful there's so many people putting so much on Youtube for little to no reward.
 
loved some the comments on these videos though:

bob Last3 months ago
You need a new hobby because your woodworking talent sucks.
Reply · 1

MrSamywammy3 months ago
A can of expanding foam and that joints good to go!! 
Reply · 1

Alfred Mayer4 months ago
a chisel that is not as sharp as sharp can be is called a screw driver :)
 
Ha ha ha. I watched the videos. You should open the video entitled "The Good, the bad and the ugly"!! It's a shoe storage box I wouldn't store boxes of nails in.

Like a previous comment - how the hell is he getting sponsored by Lee Valley!!

I suggest he practices more before putting it to video.

J
 
Loved the way he holding the wood in one hand and is paring with a chisel in towards that hand, I was expecting it to turn int a video on how to get blood out of wood.
 
charlibalv":1bvr2n4p said:
Loved the way he holding the wood in one hand and is paring with a chisel in towards that hand, I was expecting it to turn int a video on how to get blood out of wood.
Yes, I was wondering.

But he must be a genius - still not even an old scar (or a really good make-up artist).

I haven't got sound on this |PC (can't be bothered at the moment). It makes it look even sillier.

Loved the use of a bench vice though Why didn't I think of that?*

E.

*because mine is fitted properly?
 

Latest posts

Back
Top