Sofa Server

Posted 15 June 2018

Categories: ,

Description
This sofa server can be used as a stool, table, or as a surface for your laptop, notebook or to eat from. It’s a modern design featuring dovetails, a combined stopped housing dado with through tenons as well as shaped elements.

Tool List

  • Knife
  • Square
  • Combination gauge (or marking gauge and mortise gauge)
  • Tape/Ruler (or both)
  • Sliding bevel
  • *Dovetail template
  • Chisel hammer
  • Chisels (at least 1/2″, 3/4″ and 1″)
  • Hand router (see how to make a ‘Poor Man’s Router here)
  • Smoothing plane (No 4)
  • Spokeshave (flat bottomed)
  • *Scrub Plane
  • Handsaw
  • Dovetail saw
  • No 80 Cabinet Scraper
  • Card scraper
  • Rasp
  • File
    * = optional

Joints List

  • Common dovetail
  • Stopped housing dado
  • Through mortise & tenon

87 Comments

  1. Paul…

    Are the projects for Woodworking Masterclasses going to be entry-level from now on? I am sure you have many subscribers like myself that would like something more challenging than this project and the last one.

    Thanks…

    – David

    1. Yes, after the last project, which was a very basic one, I was expecting something a bit more advanced this time. Perhaps with the move to the new building, there hasn’t been time to put together a more advanced project.

    2. I wouldn’t say dovetails & through Mortice could be classified a beginner project to be fare .this would be challenging enough for anyone with a good amount experience. If of course you want to make as accurate as we will be shown

      1. Frankly, I don’t think it will be challenging at all for someone with a good amount of experience. That’s why I wrote my comment.

        I am curious whether Paul and his team have decided to orient the Masterclass series to entry-level woodworkers. If so, many of us will find the expenditure of its monthly costs not worth it.

        1. I suspect they are going for a mix of skill levels. Hopefully someone from the MW team replies back. I find Paul’s take on modern interesting, although it’s not my taste. I’d be interested in more ornate, something that looks good on a Persian carpet. although that might take moulding planes.

    3. I’d like to see someone on Paul’s team perhaps give us a roadmap of the future direction as well. I’ve been a paid member since the beginning and I really anticipated that the designs and skill level for the paid projects would continue to progress over time, not unlike an apprentice program. For a while, that was largely the case, but now there does appear to be more emphasis on the entry- to mid-level projects and techniques.

      Nothing wrong with that, but it would be helpful to have a hint what the team has planned moving forward in the new workspace.

      1. I’m concerned. Paul has been relentless in emphasizing his minimalist approach regarding his tools, keeping his marvelous collection away from the camera. His motivation seems to be that displaying his collection may discourage entry-level woodworkers instead of inspiring them. If we extend this logic to his choice of projects, he may have decided to de-emphasize the “Masterclass” aspect of his projects so that entry-level woodworkers will not be discouraged.

        I do worry about this, but in reality Paul what will do what is in his best interests and what will best further his agenda of spreading as widely as possible his gospel of hand-tool woodworking. Perhaps his team has decided that there are far more entry-level woodworkers out there and too few intermediate and advanced woodworkers who watch his videos. We really don’t know.

        I hope they will tell us what is on their mind.

  2. Another great project and a useful peice of furniture. I’ve been around a while and I still enjoy even the most basic projects. I look forward to making a few of these.

    1. Really like the combination of techniques.

      My grandfather on my mom’s side was a wonderful woodworker. I’ve been looking for an elegant but simple project to do with my mother in his memory.
      I think I will try this project with her and will be using all of his old tools.

  4. Speaking of entry-level vs experienced, is there anyway or have you considered a way to rate each project as to their level of difficulty so that someone just starting out (or whatever) can determine what projects are appropriate for their level of experience (e.g. a recommended order of progression, etc.).

  9. If some of the above are so experienced and skilled at the craft of working wood I would suggest that they share the skills they have rather than criticising someone who is trying to teach and help people to enjoy the wonderful art of woodworking.

    1. I’m not criticizing Paul for evangelizing hand-tool woodworking to entry-level woodworkers. I admire him for it. The only issue here is clarification. If Paul has shifted his emphasis to entry-level woodworkers then some of us at a more advanced stage in our skill levels may decide not to pay the monthly fee for the videos. That’s it. I will still follow Paul’s blog religiously, purchase his books (if more are forthcoming) and speak of him only in the highest terms and with the greatest admiration.

      3. It is a question of strategy and pedagogy. Does Paul feel it is best to avoid repeating things already covered so that he can move on to more advance material and work through whatever his notion of a complete curriculum is, or does he feel that he must repeat things to keep people engaged? Does he leave it to people to show their commitment by building earlier projects until they master them, so he just moves on with new material and assumes newer people will focus on earlier episodes? Or does he assume that “more advanced” also means more advanced with design skills, so that the more advanced people will design their own projects and don’t need as many projects? It’s entirely Paul’s call.

        There is more to all of this than joinery. Sometimes, we see something new even though the joinery is old. It might be an aspect of design or finishing, or it might be related to working with figured wood. Or, it might be what we did before, but in a different way or highlighting a different failure / fix-up mode.

        I must say, I partly share your frustration and sometimes wish Paul would move through the curriculum more directly with a focus on moving to advanced material and an assumption that people will a) help each other and b) work on earlier episodes. He had a vision in Working Wood and it does, at times, feel like we have stalled along what he said he wanted to cover, but he’s the only one that knows what people are asking for and where people are getting stuck, so it has to be his decision. He has trained people, so he can judge what is needed. The recent night stand and blanket chest projects expand the scope of carcase work beyond dovetailed carcases (tool chest episodes) and enable students to design many things. Taken together, and with the large book case, those add up to most furniture carcase work, except for pieces with many drawers and case-on-case work. Oops. I forgot about the dresser, which has multiple drawers. (There must be faster, more efficient ways of doing the drawer supports than M&T, though! : – )

        I’m sorry to say that my concerns are less about curriculum and more with technique. I’m afraid we are often being shown how to machine wood with hand tools, and that is hugely inefficient. 4-square wood prep by hand is slow, yet it often is not needed if you approach the joinery appropriately. I’m completing a table with drawer right now and there are very few pieces that I bothered to make 4-square. I made a reference face and reference edge, and 90% of the time the other face is either hidden (inside of an apron), or is just cosmetic. I did not bother getting 4-square. In fact, I didn’t even bother getting to uniform thickness. This is even true of the dovetailed drawer to some extent. This saved *huge* amounts of time, yet all of my joinery is gap free and the visual appearance is identical to 4-square wood. If I used techniques / jigs that required 4-square, the work would have gone up a lot.

        I often look at furniture and challenge myself to think of how I would build it. Frequently, I can figure it out with what we’ve been shown. When I can’t, it is usually because of shaping, whether for a moulding, or like on the Brazos rocking chair where curves flow through the joinery, or it is because I don’t understand how multiple pieces go together, like case-on-case, case-on-base, or how a cornice / crown would attach. Paul could do a lot with “micro classes” that aren’t whole projects. He could build a couple joints from the Brazos chair (he can even assume we know how), and instead just do a two or three lesson “micro class” on how to shape them as in the Brazos chair. Or, show how the wooden seat was attached to the rocker. No need to make the whole chair, perhaps. Or, he could take apart a piece of furniture from a boot sale and explain how the base and case relate or show other aspects of construction, perhaps illustrating how to do key elements. More advanced students will know how to bring that into their work. Again, a whole project might not be needed, which would allow him to cover more topics more quickly.

        Enough typing. I need to go flatten a tiger maple table top. I’m still tired from doing the bottom!

    2. No-one is criticising anyone, it’s just feedback. This is a fairly basic project in comparison to something like the laptop table.

      Personally, I’d really REALLY love a series on making traditional sash windows – something of real value that could save people lots of money, and help prevent the spread of uPVC… I think a good series on window making would be a great legacy.

      2. I’ve found one of the most challenging projects to be the keepsake box with those angled dovetails done on a box with curved corners. I don’t think there is a 90 degree angle on the piece.

        After many attempts I finally was able to do those dovetails. Paul, of course, made it look easy. That, to me, is a suitable Masterclass project.

      3. Some of it certainly came across as criticism. To me it’s pretty simple, if you don’t like the current project or feel you’ve already mastered those skills, don’t build it. Some of the projects have to be for entry level woodworkers just by the very nature of the membership. The blanket chest took nine episodes I think. I would call that one fairly advanced so I have no problem with a couple of two or three episode entry or intermediate level projects following? What I would hate to see is this turned into a DIY home improvement channel and building windows heads quickly in that direction.

          1. I disagree, it’s really not challenging at all. The only challenge is getting the sash cutter on a Stanley 45 or some old wooden sash planes to cooperate (much easier with a router, believe me). That’s a problem by itself. Lots of guys won’t have those tools. Other than that, window construction is pretty basic. I’ve built a few replacement sashes over the years for restoration projects and repaired existing casings and done things like refurbish the balance weight system on old windows but that was a matter of necessity. I wouldn’t waste my time building commercially available modern replacement windows when I can use my time to make a unique piece of furniture. That’s just my opinion.

          2. I don’t know why you dismiss window making as a waste of time. Surely it’s historically one of the most important tasks a joiner had.

            I suppose different people approach woodworking in different ways. Personally I came into it through necissity: I needed a new kitchen and couldn’t afford the cost of a bespoke one, so made it myself. Same with some other pieces in my house.

            Now I need to replace several sash windows in my house, and at a cost of £1200-£2500 per window, I certainly don’t consider it a waste of time to build them myself.

            On the other hand, I have little or desire to build need to build small boxes and side tables – however I don’t think it’s a waste of time for those that do.

          3. Tom, I don’t dismiss it as unimportant at all. From a historical perspective, a joiner would have built the windows, doors, cabinets, trim, balustrades, stairs, etc., on site. There are many types of structural scarf joints required for long load bearing beams, a whole series of joints needed for timber framing, even the gate to the garden requires some degree of joinery – the list is endless. Those just aren’t the areas I thought masterclasses was focused on. But the skills Paul teaches translate pretty well when the need arises. If you can build a twist-free frame and cut a grove or a rebate in it, you can build a window sash or a six panel entry door. It’s then only a question of how detailed you want to make it and what tools you have.

            You’re right when you say people approach woodworking in different ways. If windows are what you need, windows are what you should build. If I needed one myself and I had made the decision to build it rather than buy it, I would go immediately to the router, the table saw, the compound miter saw, and the trim nailer and get on with it. I wouldn’t want to spend a lot of time fiddling around with hand tools for that task – that’s just me. I’m sure there are others who would.

            My current project is combination flat screen TV stand/bookcase for my daughter. That is the type project I want to do using hand methods. Next week, I need to do some repairs to my deck stairs. That’s a skill saw/screw gun project for me. I could do it with one of my Diston saws and a wood handled screwdriver if I wanted to but I don’t – it’s too hot out there! Just a matter of perspective I suppose. Good luck with your windows.

          4. Yes Harry I agree to a degree – without a set of sash moulding planes, or a power router or table, I will almost certainly be buying the mouldings from a timber supplier, thus skipping the stock preparation phase and starting with the joinery. But I would absolutely want to do the joinery by hand.

            The thing I’m not confident about is that all the mortise and tenon joints require tenon shoulders shaped to match the moulding of the mating piece. I’ve not seen this in any woodworking masterclass videos – maybe I’ve not looked hard enough though.

          5. If you can find that profile, that would be great. A normal sash profile, at least here in the US had a rebate on one side that formed the pocket, if you will, to contain the glass. The other side of it was a quarter round that made it look better, but more importantly it didn’t give a flat spot for water to accumulate. On a modern day factory window, those intersections you’re talking about at the shoulder line are usually machine coped at the end of the rails so they fit the continuous profile on the stiles.

            I’ve was never good enough with a coping saw to think I could pull that off so when I’ve made them, I removed the profile from the stile where the rail joins it so that part became a normal M/T joint. I mitered just the profile on both the rails and the stiles to fit. If the window is painted, any slight gaps are easily filled. If it isn’t – work very carefully! They’re interesting to build – they just don’t make very good Christmas gifts:)

          6. I must say, Harry, that you’re all over the map. At first, you claim using hand tools to create sash windows “is not challenging at all.” Then later you say they are “interesting to build.”

            Which is it?

            Paul has never used profile planes in any of his online projects, as far as I recall, and using them to create sash windows would seem to me a very challenging and interesting exercise in hand-tool woodworking. He could also use the opportunity to instruct us on how to cope the mortise-and-tenon joints as well as the mullions, and perhaps add decorative elements to the windows.

            I think it’s a terrific idea for a project.

          8. There is no inconsistency in my responses. Building replacement windows is a DIY home improvement project. Sorry, not interested! Let’s move on.

          9. I have spent days and days painting Victorian sash windows from ground level to four floor up off a ladder and replaced many broken sash cords, infact I still have my lead “mouse” on a string.
            All frames were made from pitch pine a superb straight grain knot free timber …easy to work and stable…..not the case with pine I could buy now. As for buying ready made sash glazing bead, its ovalo moulding would not match the original odd leg moulding and would warp like a donkey’s hind leg.
            As for using vintage wooden moulders I have a superb collection of all required….lucky me

        2. Here here, next people will be asking Paul how to make a greenhouse or a conservatory this is not what woodworking masterclass is about. If you wish to be shown this sort carpentry I suggest to research you tube.

          1. I don’t think there are any good videos on youtube about making window sashes. Believe me, I’ve looked. Hence my suggestion that Paul the master does a really good, definitive project on them.

  12. So many things from wood made by so many people enjoying the touch and feel, embracing the design the look of whatever you have made, designed. Worked from a basic knowledge to more advanced know how, became expert.
    From experiment of mortise and tenon joint thru dovetails of many types, mixing and matching to produce what you will as a wood worker with hand tools, seeing how others might approach the same artifact be it a square box or square window it is with you how you expand your gift of working wood showing how you can help others look with open eyes and mind.
    Enjoy the time with the wood nature put before you.

  13. hello to me also I would love that Pablo taught us to make guillotine windows with frames included and then put the window in its place, he is a great teacher and I think it would suit us very well.

  15. Hello All,
    There has been some lively discussion about the level and types of projects covered and planned as well as the focus for Woodworking Masterclasses in the future, so I thought I would take a little time to share our thoughts.

    Our aim with Woodworking Masterclasses has always been to help enable as many as possible to make beautiful, functional furniture for their own and friend’s homes without having to have a full machine shop and thousand pounds worth of tools.

    We have many new members joining each day, from around the world, as well as a great community of long term members. For many people, time has a massive effect on the kind of projects they take on.

    All this has an affect on the kind of paid projects we produce and plan to keep producing. We will continue to produce projects which give opportunity to learn new techniques or to practice techniques in order to advance to the more demanding projects. These tend to be our most popular projects engaging more of the community.

    These will be interspersed with larger projects, some employing the skills learnt in larger project with an increased number of joints, others requiring more advanced levels of accuracy or that feature more complex construction methods and joinery. This will leave some specialised and advanced techniques and skills uncovered, which may disappoint some, but results in projects that have the greatest value to those making practical furniture for their own home.

    Thanks from all of the Woodworking Masterclasses Team

    1. So I guess the answer is yes, i.e., Paul is going to provide more material appealing to entry-level woodworkers than he is to those at a more advanced level. He is doing this, according to Philip, because “these tend to be our most popular projects engaging more of the community.”

      That makes perfect sense, but it also may result in the loss of some of your subscribers. But from what Philip writes, these will be more than made up by the daily influx of entry-level woodworkers from around the world.

      1. You could take it as a compliment. The teacher who taught me to play guitar will probably always be a better musician than me and know things that I havent learned yet, but there came a time when it made sense to end our lessons rather than to force his typical curriculum to meet my ever growing skill level. Especially with no increase in price for lessons that would take a lot more time and work on his end to create.

      2. Don’t worry about it. Those of us who aren’t as gifted as you really appreciate learning the basics, and in such a way as to still produce something really nice and very useful.

        The challenges will be back, I’m sure. And I’ll be thankful for those, too.

      3. I agree with all you’ve said @JDKATZ.

        First we saw our paid-for content just given away for free on YouTube.
        The 4-Credits idea didn’t work. We were still paying ongoing Subscriptions.

        The Chessboard project was drawn-out (one week planing up & down, next week planing side-to-side). We kept paying. Paul was “Waking up in Tel-Aviv”. Charitably helping the under-privileged for free.

        It’s now dumbed-down to the lowest level. Paul’s in a mock ‘Garage’ so he doesn’t ‘frighten beginners’. We tuned-in, subscribed, and enjoyed watching, Paul being Paul. Not Paul acting. Pretending to be one of his viewers, with limited space to work, and no tools. He can’t realistically be expected to ever use his Auriou Rasps on camera again, because we don’t have them!

        When WWMC realised what a huge, untapped marketing opportunity they’d found, they concentrated on publicity, publicity, and publicity. Forgetting the fee-paying subscribers who are funding it all. We’ve collectively paid for the move to the new building, waited months and months for the Workbench to finish, then we’re fobbed-off with a Coat Rack! The first project in 8 months.

        The Studio (stage), lights, camera, action! and ‘On-Air’ sign, are for the Media Studies graduates. Sadly, I think the Woodworking Masterclass has gone.
        We never did see Wood-carving, Inlays, Furniture Restoration …

        2. Hello Michael,
          I am sorry that you feel so negatively towards the way that Woodworking Masterclasses is being run. I felt I had to address some of the issues you mention as they are important to us.

          We have 2 of our very early series for YouTube, namely the Wallclock and Dovetail Box series, but apart from that, it’s the free content that sometimes makes its way onto YouTube. We create this content in addition to our premium content as we feel it is of great benefit to the community at large.

          The moving process did interrupt the production of some of this content, but I am happy with the quality of the instruction in the Leaning Wall Shelf and Bedside Cabinet premium projects which were produced during this more transient period and the latest Workbench was our most popular content to date. We realise some people already have a bench, but to many it is still the single largest obstacle to getting woodworking. We are trying to keep the complexity of projects balanced between foundation level projects such as the Coat Rack and more advanced projects such as the Bedside Cabinet.

          We have a significant number of members who have bought additional credits or used credits accrued to, for example, have more flexibility with project access when having a time off from premium membership.

          The garage set is in-fact the largest space Paul has had to woodwork in for a long time. The set will gradually fill out with the tools and materials Paul finds essential as we settle into the space, but starting from nothing again has been a healthy process for us and shows what is possible with a minimal setup.

          The set, lights, camera have always been present, we have just been able to redesign a space from scratch for the first time, which should help us to focus more on the woodworking and less on the inconvenience of working in an inefficient space.

          We take a lot of time to find out the kind of areas the majority of our customers want to see covered as well as fitting the brief for Woodworking Masterclasses. I am sorry if that has not yet included some areas that you are interested in.
          We certainly appreciate your feedback and hope this helps answers a few questions.
          Phil and the Woodworking Masterclasses Team

          1. In my opinion Paul made a great mistake putting away all his tools and affecting a minimalist approach to woodworking. He has disappointed me and many of his loyal followers. It makes no sense to pretend Paul is a beginner woodworker in a garage with a couple of shelves and a few tools. It’s silly, really.

            The “jump the shark” moment for me was when Paul got on the floor on his hands and knees to plane a board. He’s got a workbench, for God’s sake! Just because some of his viewers don’t have one doesn’t mean Paul has to pretend he doesn’t have one. And those saw-horses! Two-by-fours, screws, and plywood? Is that why we pay $15 a month?

            If Paul decides to concentrate on beginning woodworkers and decides to ignore the wishes of his more advanced viewers, I’m sure he’ll lose many of us.

            That’s truly unfortunate.

        3. I have to agree here.The sad part is that the original concept has been completely forgotten.We are moving closer to CNN type broadcasts-where
          is the “old” Paul that explained everything so well?

    3. I’ll respond as an educator rather than a woodworker. At whatever level one teaches, the goal has to be that students graduate and learn to design and build independently. Or read and write, discover, research independently. In other words, it is a good thing to “outgrow” your teacher.

      Even if it makes you nervous to realize you’re on your own now.

      2. It is interesting to note that since I have been a member here that Paul has seen several apprentices come and leave after some time.
        At some point the responsibility falls to the student to learn to fly independently. Creating and designing and challenging themselves to continue growing and learning on their own.

        Personally I believe that in craft, like sport you can never have too many fundamental drills trained into you. Not always the most fun or seemingly interesting, but in the end it makes you better at your craft / sport.

    4. Phillip
      Will Paul be diacussing the design decisions for the elements int his project, such as the dovetail orientation or spacing/need for a shelf rather than something else? Looking at it I can see how ir sopves allthe design issues I have ahd with something like this, but I am curious as to he logic path behind how Paul got here, becuase Iwpuld never have though about this design.

  16. What I am having trouble understanding is, if someone joined today, wouldn’t they have access to all of the early videos that we have progressed through? Won’t the new person very quickly end up at this point as well, asking what is next, what new skill am I going to learn.
    For me the projects are secondary to learning new skills and techniques.

    1. I have been here a few years, and still have not done all the projects or am even confident enough to tackle some like the chair yet. There are a lot of advanced and middle projects here, even beginner.

  17. Wow! All the experts out there who think they can’t learn anything from simple projects. I’ve learned something from every project no matter how basic it appears to be and I’ve been working with wood for forty years now. From design , construction and project ideas like a fly swatter and a cane. Yes I don’t follow every project either because maybe I don’t need a ladder or a chest. I don’t think the asking price is very high to view the episodes, so build on your skills and design and build something on your own during the “simple projects”.

    1. Maybe I’m wrong but I doubt there will be anything to learn in this project which isn’t already covered in other projects.

      On the other hand, Mortise and tenon joints between two moulded edges (the key skill in making a sash) – that’s something missing from WM, and a technique that would expand our repertoire.

  19. a great video for teaching, I heard opinions that it was an easy project. Not at all easy, it seems but in depth and as a whole it is not so much, after doing so many projects and being one of the oldest members I must say that I have not stopped growing with the projects of Pablo, I know that it is still a lot and Pablo sure that agrees but is that this wonderful art is the closest thing to playing chess, no game is the same even if it seems. a greeting.

  20. Interesting to me that the first video was a tremendous learning experience for me to see Paul handle a misbehaving dovetail. I only wish we had heard his thought process in that last minute or so. So much insight hurried through. I doubt it can be done, but I would love it if the final minute or so was expanded by a few just to hear the progression of his thoughts as he coaxed that dovetail to come together without splitting. Generally his dovetails fit like hands in gloves and mine, well, not so much. Seeing the minor adjustments and progressing through the different areas to whittle away I think will help me adjust mine without creating gaps until someday I cut cleaner, straighter lines. Speaking towards the previous conversations, a glass fronted cabinet might be a great way to teach some aspects of sash building while still focusing on furniture.

    2. Something like a classic china cabinet would typically have glass doors and sides for the top section. Older kitchen cabinets had glass doors too – I grew up in a house that had those. I’ve got a grandfather clock with a glass door and glass side panels, so glass fronts certainly do come up in furniture making. But for furniture, they don’t need to be weather tight and you don’t have to worry about wind load breaking the muntins or blowing the glass out. There are some similarities, but I’m not sure how much it helps to build the glass door for a curio cabinet if what you want to make is a window. Maybe an appropriate project will come up sometime.

      I wonder if those experts who thought this project was too simple and they couldn’t learn anything still think that? Cutting dovetails in thicker hardwood is a totally different thing and the level of precision required is much greater than what’s needed for say a soft wood storage box. One thing I like about this project is the idea that a beginner can tackle it with pine with some reasonable expectation of success, and the experts out there can pull out their purple heart or bubinga if they want a bigger challenge. I don’t know how many times I’ve had the same thing happen to me with hardwood (most of the time I think) and I would also like to hear Paul talk about his thought process to isolate and resolve the problem. Maybe he can do that in his blog or something.

  21. I want to know how to make that chair he’s sitting in! It looks comfortable and has a small footprint.
    I’m sure I’ll be content with the project/table/stool/laptop stand for now.

  22. One of the wonderful things about Paul is that he hasn’t stopped growing as a woodworker himself. Looking back over his earlier videos it is apparent that he keeps exploring different ways to approach the same basic three joints used in all of the projects, and there is always something to learn from a newer or fresh approach.

    I have never made any of these projects exactly the way Paul has designed them, but have always used the techniques he teaches go my own way on them, or to do something entirely different. If you want something harder go for it.

    Watching the various ways he approached the fitting of these dovetails was well worth it to me. It is especially helpful to see how he responds when things go wrong, which they often do on any project.

    Right now I can’t wait to see his new approach to half blinds using the hand router. Since I have a workbench passed down to me from my great grandfather I know I won’t be putting a drawer in it, but I will used what he teaches to do something for myself.

    1. “I have never made any of these projects exactly the way Paul has designed them, but have always used the techniques he teaches go my own way on them, or to do something entirely different. If you want something harder go for it.”

      Well said.
      I see these projects as examples for applications of techniques and sound construction methodologies. I always thought that to be the core of any good instruction.. to give you the tools and judgement to use them as the need arises.

  23. While watching and listening i saw and heard the third dovetail resist So i was real interested to see where it went. Seeing him fettle his cuts made it a lot simpler for me. I’m always takeing too much off and this makes me slow down and do better.

  24. Interesting comments. Wonder if the first thoughts weren’t “too simple for me to consider”. Look again and Paul not only shows how to dovetail with accuracy, but how that can be achieved. Most interesting and I suspect very helpful. Am yet to have a go, but I shall.
    i found the occaisional table project, where Paul de-constructs a table explaining how it was built in the past and he goes on to build a copy. Many informative comments on related thoughts as it was presented. Very informative as well as, simply how to construct.
    Thank you for the video on sharpening and setting and using the scraper. I followed the instructions with great success. The scraper has become almost my favourite tool from being something to foreign to use.

  28. On the topic of more advanced projects. If the current projects feel easy, then you have acquired the necessary tool skills. You have learned nearly all the joints and finishing techniques. Therefore the only thing holding you back is applying your creativity. You have essentially graduated and it is time to let your imagination and passion guide you to your own advanced, or master, projects. Look at design books, study the classics. Go to museums and study the finest furniture. Then go make it. Seek out a mentor. Once you have the basic skills and tools, the advanced stuff can’t really be taught, at least not at a large scale like Paul’s platform. It takes 10000 reputations to master something. So go do 10000 dovetails, 10000 tenons, either on these “easy projects”, or on your own designs.

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