Replies

1. 
   AdamCherubini | Feb 15, 2006 08:19pm | #1

   I don't get it.  Sounds too complicated.

   How about an example:

   If you are mortising 4/4 stock, you scratch a line with your marking gauge 1/4" in from the reference face then put the edge of the mortise chisel on that line and create your mortise.  The length of the mortise is irrelevant since you will mark and trim the tenon directly from the mortise.  The width of the mortise is set by the chisel's width.

   To cut the tenon, you use the same gauge setting to get one face, then lay your chisel, flat side down next to that line and scratch or pencil the other side.

   The concept is called "tool slaving" and I wrote an article about it last year (looks like you missed that one).  It was called "Advanced Chisel Technique".  Sounds like you'd get a lot out of it. 

   Neat thing about it is, while I discuss this stuff from my 18th century frame of reference, you can use the same concept with a table saw.  I suspect the fence on a table saw is not unlike the fence on a marking gauge.

   I share your joy in the personal discovery.  Besides seeing furniture that no longer exists, learning new tricks is the fun of woodworking for me.

   Adam

1. 
   dlb | Feb 16, 2006 04:54am | #2

   Thanks for the reply. I did miss your article as I was not a "woodworker" last year. I have only been serious for about 6 months. I'll see if I can hunt it down & if it helps me improve my M&T skills I'll the better for it!

   Thanks,

   dlb

   .

    The undisciplined life is not worth examining.

1. 
   AdamCherubini | Feb 16, 2006 08:47pm | #3

   Hi,

   The series of articles I wrote for Popular Woodworking last year (PW 2005) were unprecedented.  Never before has any woodworking publication put out a series of articles whose subjects were purposely ellusive.

   Summarized in the December issue, these articles were about the concepts behind the work and attempted to draw the distinction between 18th c techniques and approaches and modern techniques and approaches.  At the same time, I attempted to establish the many similarities between our work life, and 18th century work life.

   It was courageous of PW to print these articles.  FWW never would have touched them.  They were very difficult to write and edit, since each article was essentially two articles- what the article appears to be about (the use of a striking knife or chisel) and the actual subject.

   In the end, I think the series was a failure.  The mysteries were a bit too ellusive and obtuse.  Woodworkers are pragmatic people who don't want to fuss about with such things.  I'll never write another series like it. 

   That said, I think it is worth your while to go back and read that entire series.  Not because they are brilliant and I'm a genius, but simply because they are SO different.  And I don't think you will come across these particular concepts anywhere else or anytime soon.  Its a strange and non-commercial point of view. 

   Some libraries carry PW, or ask PW for back issues, or even just copies of that one article (don't know if they will/can do that). 

   Sorry for the long story, I was hoping new or beginning woodworkers like you would read these articles and think about how they work wood and the different approaches they could take.  So long away around the barn there, but I think you'd enjoy them and I bet you'll get the mysteries.

   Adam

   Edited 2/16/2006 2:38 pm ET by AdamCherubini