el_ocsuro

I like that Pinnacle is made in the USA. Unfortunately, I can't find their smaller workbench anymore, and I don't have enough room for the big one. I guess I'll have to get one of those Swedish imports (or make my own)

I read the "Hand Tool Essentials" and there are some interesting points about jigs:
1. A hand plane is just a jig for a chisel.
2. You can make dove tails with out a jig of any kind, or even any real layout tools. Just use the tail board to mark the depth of the pin board. Mark the pins any way you like and cut them. Then use your pin board to mark the depth and lay out for your tails. So while you don't have a jig, you are effectively using the workpiece as one.

So this whole "cheating" argument is ridiculous. Use whatever works well. While I am mostly a power tool guy, the concept of using a router jig to cut dovetails is utterly baffling to me, while this "no jig" hand tool method seems simple.

Use whatever techniques, tools, and jigs work for you, and have fun. For a lot of us like me, who do their woodwork in a garage, basement, or shed, hand tools have one very big advantage: They take a lot less space, make less noise, and are a lot easier to cleanup.

Sometimes you don't even need a tablesaw or other power tool. I have been woodworking for 30 years and have had exactly one accident - at Home Depot. I was making new kitchen cabinets and went to get some more 3/4" 4x8 birch veneer plywood sheets for the cabinet carcasses. While trying to get one of the sheets, it slipped and all 50 pounds hit my big toe directly, breaking it. I was in a cast for 6 months and 14 years later still have a permanent limp from it.

For all of those worried about speling, they should check out Mad Magazine's "Back to Colege Isue".