Sellers Home Clock: Episode 1
Posted 19 June 2024
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If this is your first time making half-lap dovetails, then this one will also be uniquely different. It may even be one that you have never seen done this way before. Paul now uses the method he’s developed for making through or common dovetails too simply because it handles the process and precision so well in many ways. Throughout this episode, Paul explains every step and gives the reasons for his choices for the methods and techniques, the tool types, and then the adaption of tools to different tasks. At the end of the first completed dovetailed corner, you should have a perfect dovetail joint end, then three more to practice on.
Great to see you sawing and planing again Paul. Looks like a great project.
Looking great. Can wait to start this one. I’ll probably use white oak. Not sure I can get my hands on any American Elm.
I do have a local collective that farms and mills elm along with a lot of other species native to the area and they say their elms live out a normal long life span with no infection. I can get elm lumber from them most of the time I visit if I want.
I just planted a DED resistant elm in my front yard, resistant, not immune. Many of the new North American varieties (there are several) which are now entering the market in a big way are Asian/North American hybrids as Asian elm are strongly resistant to DED. My home state actually has a DED resistant native variety. In the 70’s when DED die outs were strong, a single elm tree was found in very healthy condition in the middle of a gigantic cluster of all dead ones, and eventually finishing out a very healthy normal elm life span. It’s genome has been preserved.
Nice to see elm worked in furniture again.
Referring to Paul’s comments about how the elm is cutting, when I trim my elm, it’s tough and springy and reminds me of apple tree wood.
Only a Master Craftsman could produce half-blind dovetails that fit like this the first time. I’ve been practicing a lot before touching the Sapele that I’ll use for this project, and my attempts cannot even be fettled into something I would call respectable. That’s why I have a sign hanging in my shop that reads, “The master has failed more times than the beginner has even tried.” [Stephen McCranie]
Where can I get the drawings?
Ira Kornblatt