Fingers done! And they fit together very nicely. After I was completely finished and feeling good about the result, I had another brainstorm – a way to accomplish the same thing using the router table. That would have been substantially easier, with no chiseling required. I think the capabilities of the router table have not yet been integrated into my woodworking “database”! :)
I think the dovetail jig probably has finger joint capability, too. Straight bit, not dovetail.
ReplyDeleteOh, it definitely does. I got a special template for finger joints that makes nice, symmetrical ones - but even with the dovetail template and a straight bit I can make them, too. They just won't be as regular as with the special template. However - even with the special template I still have the 7/8s thickness limitation. Ordinarily that wouldn't be an issue, as who the heck would do any fine work with "lumber"? Only me, most likely! :)
ReplyDeleteCome to the dark side of hand cut dovetails, Tom. :)
ReplyDeleteNot so much the dark side (for me) as the "incompetent" side! When I see the precision with which I can make a dovetail joint on the jig, I know I'll never make hand cut dovetails even remotely like them. Especially not repeatable dovetails. I'm about to put that to the test on the two window frames I'm starting today: eight identical tails and eight identical pins are needed, and I'd like to make them fairly small. I can't even imagine doing them by hand!
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine doing that well, either, but there are folks that can. Perhaps someday I'll get that good.
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile, it is a whole new set of tools to scrounge!