Stew_wood

I had my first taste of woodworking helping my Dad build a holiday cottage starting in 1959 at age 16. It took a few years to complete but I experienced stick frame construction, sheet roofing and some finish carpentry.
Then I didn't do much until 1980 when as an owner-builder I built my first home, now with the help of my Dad for a few years. I learnt how to do it at technical college, 3 years, 8 hours per week. It was the course that apprentices take, but I could do it at night. On our home I did everything except excavations, concreting, brick laying, plumbing and electrical.
In 2004 I returned to technical college, again for 3 years, going at night again now doing Cabinetmaking (apprentices' course), because I was to retire in 2008 and I wanted to get ready for it. I have since made quite a few items and I have a small workshop (250 sq.ft.) at the back of my garage.
Last year I went back to college again, now attempting Furniture Finishing including a full training on French Polishing, colour matching and spray lacquering, again for 3 years at night, and the apprentices course.
For me the turning point for obtaining information is the FWW on-line subscription, of which I make full use. Cabinetmaking took me down the hand tool route to start with and I always do quite a bit of hand work in my projects.
For more hands-on I came to USA in November, 2008 and went to a hand tool conference in Kentucky, Then I went to a woodworking school in Indiana and made a Morris Chair. Both of these events have been real eye-openers for me.
Could I do any more courses at College? Yes -- Wood Machining, but I think that I'll have had enough by the time I complete my present Finishing course.

The pinned rebated joint is fine as an alternative, but lesser joint to dovetails for drawers. I intend to try them one of these days. But there's no harm in aspiring to improve your skills to do hand-cut dovetails yourself one day. On the other hand, there's nothing that can replace the hand-cut dovetail for a blanket box, or similar piece. Although dovetails made with a Leigh or similar jig come close.

Nice looking set. Well done. How come the restaurant had the oak timber apparently lying around, or did you dismantle something to get it?
Cheers,
Ian

I have a Bosch 10" tabletop saw. You call it a series 4000 but it has a different identifier here (in Australia). I have made a number of cabinets with it and it has performed above expectations except that the blade angle has to be set with a square to have it at 90 degrees. The pointer does point to 90. I have re-sawn up to 6" wide timber (by reversing the board) good results. I don't use it for cross cuts, I use a Makita 12" sliding compound mitre saw for that and get good results with it also. I have a 12" drill press that does OK, too.

I like Arts and Crafts, particularly Stickley inspired, of which there are always a number each year. I am part-way through making a bow arm Morris chair right now. I also like Shaker design for it's simplicity and first class joinery