Is there anyone out there who has cut dovetails with a Fein Multimaster?
Measure your output in smiles per board foot.
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Replies
I stumbled upon a guy cutting butterflies @ youtube
Knuts,
Excellent info. Thanks for letting me know.
MelMeasure your output in smiles per board foot.
I once tried to use a jigsaw...
I suppose you could, but why would you want to?
I have never considered the Fein to be a precision cutting tool when there are visible mated surfaces, as with dovetails.
********************************************************
"It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."
John Wooden 1910-
Wouldn't that be an example of promoting a tool to a level beyond its competence?
Ralph,
I love your way of thinking.
You hinted that using the Multimaster to do dovetails would be to promote it to a level beyond its competence. It is probably due to having an Italian-American mother, but when I use a tool and things don't come out well, I blame my lack of competence, not the tool's. Your way of thinking is much easier on the mind.Someone else mentioned that he didn't think of a Multimaster as a precision tool. That too is interesting, because I don't think of the chisel as a precision tool. I think of the CNC machine as a precision tool. I think of the chisel as requiring good human control to achieve precision. The darn thing doesn't have a jig to hold it at the required angle, unless you turn it into a plane. But one can get it to work with sufficient precision, given one has achieved a sufficient level of skill. People use tablesaws and bandsaws to cut dovetails, using jigs. Lee Valley makes a jig with rare Earth magnets that lets you set the angle of your dovetail saw and keeps it "right on". I can imagine making a jig for the Multimaster. I can also see using it to cut the sides of the tails, while keeping the plade perpendicular to the sides of the board. I am not so sure of cutting the second part of the dovetail (in this case, the pin) which requires high accuracy to match to the first part. It is very difficult to make a thread on dovetails jazzy and interesting, since there is nothing new under the sun about cutting dovetails. I thought I'd try to see if I could stir some imagination about using different tools. I didn't hold much hope. I believe that as of Sept 21, 1723, everything that could possibly be written about dovetailing, had been written. I cannot imagine why anyone would continue to write about it, but woodworkers do. I believe it is a lot like how to take care of an infant. Not much new in that area, but books continue to be printed.Have fun.
MelMeasure your output in smiles per board foot.
as a precision tool.. A man's brain to get his perfect woman....
"I believe that as of Sept 21, 1723, everything that could possibly be written about dovetailing, had been written. I cannot imagine why anyone would continue to write about it, but woodworkers do."Aren't dovetails (and various other woodworking topics) sort of like sex? Even though they've been around a long time, and done by countless previous generations, we remain interested for some reason. Plus, every generation tends to think they've come up with something new. Until we figure out a way of uploading all existing knowledge at birth, we'll continue to repeat the learning curves, stifling our evolution. ;-)
Ralph,
"Aren't dovetails like sex?"I like the way you think. I was wondering what that feeling was as I cut the tails and pins. Now I know! Thank you. I will forever look at woodwork differently as a result of your post.MelMeasure your output in smiles per board foot.
Ralph
Aren't dovetails (and various other woodworking topics) sort of like sex?
I didn't realize I was working in a X-rated shop, well off to the shop to put up the "NO MINORS ALLOWED" sign, ha ha. You have a great weekend.
Mike
P.S. I will be working on some dovetailed keys today to attach molding to a couple of night tables I'm building, sounds like kinky woodworking to me.
Mel if you haven't read them try to work your way through David Pye's books. I haven't gotten all the way through yet... my kids prefer that I read them 'Green Eggs and Ham' a true masterpiece. I believe he mentions precision in his discussion on the workmanship of risk and certainty.
...when I use a tool and things don't come out well, I blame my lack of competence, not the tool's.
Given the preamble to this I don't know if you were joking or not, but I don't agree with the idea. There are tools that are so bad, and so unsuited for the job that even a skilled user would get poor results. I think part of being skilled is being able to identify these tools.
Buster,
You said:
"There are tools that are so bad, and so unsuited for the job that even a skilled user would get poor results. I think part of being skilled is being able to identify these tools."I fully agree. You are completely right, IMHO. When I wrote hastily, I didn't think of that. I Mis-spoke, by not taking that very obvious case into consideration. On the other hand, there is an interesting aspect to being able to squeeze all that one can out of a tool. Since I am a hobbyist, I can afford to try such games. For example, One can learn to joint a long board with a jack plane, or probably even a smoother. One uses some different tactics, which are nice "tricks" to know. But I fully agree that one should have a good idea of what the limits of a tool are. Are you a guitarist or a banjo player? If so, it is interesting to see what a very good guitar player can do with a cheap guitar. I have seen some intermediate players who were using top-notch guitars, screw up badly when they went to play a cheapie. A skilled person can make up, to a degree, for flaws in the tool. My definition of a great woodworker is one who can make masterpieces in someone else's shop. (within limits, obviously -- but I think you get my drift.) I get this from having become acquainted with Woerner Erhardt's EST (Erhardt Seminar Trainins). The basic tenet is: if you don't take control of your own life, someone else will. Essentially, it gets you to stop making excuses, and to go for excellence. I know this is "philosophy" and philosophy is unAmerican. :-)
Have fun. It's the woodwork that counts, not the words.
MelMeasure your output in smiles per board foot.
Hey Mel, I think it would work pretty good for dovetails. I think I would still prefer to use my table saw, but for just a few, it should work fine. You can't imagine anything new? Have you ever tried to cut them where the two sides being joined were not flat, but rather developed shapes, with a different profile on the insides and outside? May as well kick them out of square as well. I have been thinking about doing a piece like that for some time now. You need a whole bag of tricks up your sleeve to pull that off well, but that is the kind of thing that I like to challenge the craftsman in me with. It is a shame this magazine is not like the old one that inspired me back in my early years. I would be tempted to do a project like that for an article, but this bunch would never publish it. They are afraid that it would cause their readers to suffer cerebral overload. %]
"You can't imagine anything new? Have you ever tried to cut them where the two sides being joined were not flat, but rather developed shapes, with a different profile on the insides and outside? May as well kick them out of square as well."Keith,I have. The boards were about 3" wide and tapered in thickness from 1/4" to 1" across the width. And of course, they also tapered in thickness along the length. All the surfaces were very curvy and there was not one straight edge or point of parallelism. Yes, I failed miserably. I couldn't even figure out how to begin layout!By the way, the easiest way to make such irregular boards is to saw them on the bandsaw using a dull blade. Trust me. I know.Chris @ http://www.flairwoodworks.com and http://www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com)
- Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
Chris,Pictures of nicely bandsawn butternut...Chris @ http://www.flairwoodworks.com and http://www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com)
- Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
Chris,Maybe you should have attached the aforementioned pictures...EDIT: Maybe I should have attached the CORRECT picture...Chris @ http://www.flairwoodworks.com
and http://www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com) - Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
Edited 9/21/2009 1:29 pm by flairwoodworks
Chris,
Your photo is of two bowls. Your comment is of nicely bandsawn butternut. Did I miss something? Did you make those saws on the bandsaw?
Nice Bowls.
MelMeasure your output in smiles per board foot.
Mel,As they say, the third time's the charm. EDIT: (Or not! Where's that darn attachment?!?!)The two bowls you saw, I turned yesterday. Have you ever turned really green wood? This wood was so wet that it was spraying water like a sprinkler when the lathe was on. You can read more here: http://flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com/Chris @ http://www.flairwoodworks.com
and http://www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com) - Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
Edited 9/21/2009 1:42 pm by flairwoodworks
Chris,Here it is. (Cross your fingers!)Chris @ http://www.flairwoodworks.com and http://www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com)
- Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
Keith,
This whole thing on dovetails is interesting to me -- not the dovetails, but the fact that so many woodworkers want to talk about it. The only new stuff in dovetail joiinery is Kintaro Yazawa's, and his stuff is phenomenal.About the magazine. I also have commiserated about how the magazine used to encompass more types of things under the title "FWW". Now it is getting much more narrow in scope, and is much more aimed at the newbie, along with some articles for the advanced woodworker. But I understand. There just aren't enough "mature" woodworkers who could support a magazine just for them, so the Taunton staff looks to stay alive by bringing in the kids and the hacks who cant cut dovetails or M&T joints and has someone show them how to do it. When I saw the photos of he guy chopping dovetails, my response was, "Get this guy out of woodworking and into another hobby where hs is less likely to hurt himself". So I admire FWW for trying to stay alive. And they do have some very beautiful furniture made by readers. I don't find any of the other magazines to come close to FWW, so they will still continue to get my money.As you can tell, I enjoy Knots immensely. I don't learn much about woodworking here, but the interaction is fun. Enjoy. I hope to see you do the houndstooth pattern dovetails on a waney edged board. :-)
MelMeasure your output in smiles per board foot.
The only new stuff in dovetail joiinery is Kintaro Yazawa's, and his stuff is phenomenal.
I agree.. But I would think Hebrew Text would be much more difficult.. Just sturring up the pot of soup!
This fellow, Kintaro Yazawa you refer to. Where can I see his work?
I have only seen some in FineWoodworking Mag.. Not him in person.
Will this do?
http://www.eurus.dti.ne.jp/~k-yazawa/english.html
Jaw drops. I bookmarked that one and will drool as time permits.Thanks Will
I for one think outside of the BOX.. I'd like to see!
I have a older Fein MultiMaster. I love the tool 'when I use it' which is not that often. I have the older one without the 'star' on the oscillating drive shaft.. The cutting blade will slip/rotate if doing 'heavy' work....... I doubt it would slip cutting dovetails... I really like the ability to angle the cutting blade any way I need it.
I have never tried cutting dovetails, but I can say from my experience, it can cut a VERY straight line once you are use to using the tool.
I may try just for fun.. However, I am very busy these days doing nothing...... I guess I'm very depressed.. My grandbabies are in school!
I was thinking of giving the parents some money for a late night dinner and suggest I babysit for them :>)
WG.
I have had both of my grandkids with me for the last week. One two months and one 20 months. Very exciting. I wish I was younger.
Have fun with yours.
MelMeasure your output in smiles per board foot.
I wish I was younger.
My grandbabies ran off often. I would yell.. A car is comming and they came back quickly!
Mel:
"Is there anyone out there who has cut dovetails with a Fein Multimaster? "
Is this humorous and ironic Mel, or serious Mel?
FWIW, I prefer to use a Dremel. Just hold the workpiece in one hand and the tool in the other. Equally effective for lefties; and you can do it in a reclined position watching TV!
Hastings
Hastings,
You win! Best response on cutting dovetails! While lying down and watching TV. You are also right. I was just kidding around. I believe all possible questions about dovetailing have been answered before my grandfather was born. Enjoy,
MelMeasure your output in smiles per board foot.
I believe it is a lot like how to take care of an infant. Not much new in that area..
UNTIL you are a new parent and others give advice!
I think I have stated someplace before. Not sure...
My best fitting 'hand cut' or is that 'clobbered'? dovetails is when using my Xacto saws..
Like in this link (just for the pictures)
http://www.google.com/products?q=Xacto+saws&rlz=1I7GGLL_en&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=9Qe2StnSMILiNZjigdoO&sa=X&oi=product_result_group&ct=title&resnum=4
I can use a new saw blade on every drawer or whatever and still not break the bank. It is amazing how 'close' of a fit you can get.. OK, so it leaves little room for the glue! These are winter time projects that kill time. I have still been known to use a 1/8" chisel and single edged razor blade for 'touch up'.
However, I use the 'gooder' metal handles to hold the blades.
I only use them for the fancy/tiny dovetails for little boxes. AND some large 'boxes' with small depth dovetails. (Depth of cut that the Razor Saw blades allow).
By the way... I got in trouble with my middle daughter and her husband.
I used my half ownership of the CarveWright to make two Pirate Flintlock Pistols for them. (A Free pattern by somebody that posted it) They have this plastic Pirate Ship and all sorts of little Pirate people and they love playing with it. I gave the pistols in raw wood so they could spend 'quality' time painting them...
Mom and dad were not happy with the 'guns' I gave them.. I told them they both they have goen to 'Taekwondo' (loosely translated as "the way of the foot and fist" or "the way of kicking and punching) classes since they were able to walk!
So they were able to keep the wooden pistols...
My youngest can make this VERY funny Popeye face.. OK, I showed Popeye cartoons to them...
Not sure I will be allowed into the house with 'gifts'..... Ever again.. :>)
WG,
Interesting story about the toy guns from the Carvewright. When your kids have kids, things can get challenging. I believe they forget that you raised them, and they are perfection, so you can do no wrong. Right?
MelMeasure your output in smiles per board foot.
so you can do no wrong. Right?
Wrong! I made many mistakes!
As in my youngest daughter... She turned into a 'Vally Girl' and dressed like it.. I was not happy! My wife told me something like when we met she was a 1950's Valley Girl!
A Valley Girl can be described as materialistic, self-centered, hedonistic, physically attractive and sometimes sexually promiscuous. Valspeak is also a form of this trait, based on an exaggerated version of California English.
I understood and she has a wonderful husband and child these days.. Ever time I see her she knows I have to hear her old Valley Girl talk! She dose it un-willing just for me!
dose? Or is it dose? OR whatever...
She looks like my wife exactly but a bit shorter?.. I realize now.. I should have been a bit more patient with her.But I was just a Man.. Whow knows what a woman thinks or especially a female teen!
Edited 9/20/2009 8:56 am by WillGeorge
WG,
Insanity is hereditary.
We get it from our kids.
MelMeasure your output in smiles per board foot.
A razor edge to inane or to so called 'normal'
I thik I AM ONE!
Edited 9/20/2009 9:26 am by WillGeorge
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