45 Comments

    1. Ok, this was sent out to all *blog* subscribers (there were only 16 of you). Because it was an email it sent over the none paying members notification which is the public notice if you visit without being logged in. It does not reflect your true payment status.

      I am trying to remove you all from that list because it will mostly send out confusing and redundant messages now.

      P.S. I will remove these posts shortly so we don’t take up space with this.

  1. Great Job Guy’s, the chest is coming along nicely that will be one beautiful tool chest or whatever Paul decides to use it for. Yes Wax or Soap can be a screw threads best friend which is some thing I learned from my Father – in – Law over 40 years ago as he was an old German Home Builder and built his own cabinets instead of buying them out right. Like Paul he was a Craftsman who also liked Hand Tools. One thing I don’t have is a Bird Cage Awl yet, I see I need to get one.

    Steve

    1. @jeley6001,

      We may be going into more detail than will be necessary for everyone but we set out to do this in 16 episodes and it is working out well. These early projects are intended to go into as much detail as we feel is helpful. This will, inevitably, be too much for some but too little for others. We will continue to try and strike a balance.

      We certainly aren’t intentionally dragging it out. We would have no reason to do that.

      1. Joseph,
        I’m in the “Don’t change a thing!” camp.
        I also appreciate the reiteration of subtle but critical points that Paul goes over again and again during each presentation. This is the hallmark of a great teacher.
        The pace shown realistically shows how long things actually take and I think prevents the development of unrealistic expectations and the subsequent frustrations.
        Thank you,
        Craig

      2. I love the level of detail too! As my old professor used to say on a weekly basis: “What’s the key to learning anatomy boy? Repetition, repetition, repetition!”. He was the UK’s top anatomist so presumably knew a thing or two about education.
        I suppose that those who want less detail can always use the fast-forward button… It will be interesting to see how you handle this in the future as new members will always (hopefully) be joining. Graded projects?

    2. With any big group of students it won’t be possible to set a pace that will suit everyone. Personally, I appreciate the the level of detail and tips on overcoming common problems. At least for now, I think it’s right to focus on the skill-building rather than getting through projects as quickly as possible. We shouldn’t forget, woodworking apprenticeships used to take several years, working five or six days a week. In that context, Paul’s instruction is positively turbo-charged!

    3. I’m sure that Paul would get this done in about 30 minutes instead of 60 if he didn’t have to keep moving the components around for the camera and explaining the process so that he can teach his students his method. If anyone finds the video too redundant or slow paced just fast forward to the next step. I’ve screwed up enough hinge gains to know that slow and steady is the ticket.

    4. F.A.S.T. F.O.R.W.A.R.D. – it’s easy. I think the longer, more in depth lessons/projects are perfectly presented. It’s not often one gets the opportunity to watch & be taught by a master joiner. These aren’t being “dragged out” they’re a gift in my opinion.

  2. I have hung quit a few doors in my time and the gate in-between leaves of hinge is needed to allow door not to bind on frame even if you have shot an angle on the door on hinge side as well as the leading edge of latch/lock side. If you seen some of the frames I have had to hang doors on you need all the help you can get.
    The above is speaking from a carpenters point of view.
    What Paul shows in this video is what is needed to make a piece of furniture look good the precision and control that is needed, thoroughly explaining the reasons for why and what he is doing. Excellent !!!
    Making the plugs brought back memories as well. I was taught nigh on exactly the same way by an old boy. Shame I was only with him for six months. He had a passion for teaching young Lads a skill and a trade.

  3. I make my plugs a little differently. I make a small V-groove in a block of wood and bang a nail into the bottom of the groove towards one end. The plug rests in the groove (the nail stops it from moving forward although the head sits below the top of the plug) whilst I take off the corners with a block plane.

    I think the pace of the videos is excellent. It’s “real-time” woodworking but it’s not as if each step is repeated. I liked the way Paul demonstrates one hinge thoroughly but not all the hinges. If the videos were repetitive it would be less interesting- I like them just the way they are.

  4. I still have trouble hearing all Paul says at times, audio starts loud and clear, but then Paul’s voice seems to drop to a whisper. I have to replay sections with the volume turned way up to catch what he has said.

    Thanks guys. 😉

    1. I’ve noticed the same thing Ken, i think it has to do with the type and position of the microphone being used. Distance and direction of speech with respect to microphone making the difference in audio levels. I’ve been listening using software with audio gain control (AGC) and it has helped enormously, boosts or reduces audio as required to the same approximate output level.

  5. I like the pace that these videos are moving at. You don’t end up with a false impression of how long each task is likely to take you. I can remember a few of the Fine Woodworking video workshops leading to me believe I could finish a project much faster than was the reality. Paul gives much more reasonable expectations regarding time required I think. Mind you, I have often had cause to wish I could build to the speed of the fast forward sequences 😉

  6. Another great video, gents. I’m a few steps behind in my progress, but can’t wait to install the hinges and have it look like a functioning box. A question on the location of the hinges. Paul spaced his 2-1/2″ from the edge of the box. I believe I remember Paul saying during the 9-day course that the standard practice was to space them one hinge-width from the edges, so if we end up using a different size hinge, should we space them accordingly? Or is the 2-1/2″ based on the proportions of this particular box?

    1. I would do what pleases your eye as long as not to close to edge and not to far in either. If you have a 2 1/2″ hinge makes things simple to use that measurement from end.
      I would also contemplate using a third hinge in centre it is quite a big lid.
      Then that is me always been a bit belt and braces man.

  7. Another vote for “The Pace is Perfect”.

    I’ve bought project videos that claim the projects can be made in one or two weekends. Only if the stars align with a Harvest Moon, during the Mid-Summer telling of The Raven, while the storyteller jumps rope and eats peanut butter.

    I bought a square scratch awl a couple of years ago. It is made by Crown and works very well for me, without costing too much.

  8. I think the pace is excellent. Why hurry to the end? The reason we are here is to learn and each detail means something different to each of us. I truly am enjoying this pace. My screen saver kicks in after ten minutes and I find myself thinking “it’s been been minutes already?” This is the first time I have jumped in here, so hello to all.

    1. Hey Charles, welcome aboard!

      I agree with you on the pace. The detail while working on a project is what sets Paul apart from many others. Other videos are more concerned with meeting a certain running length. Paul is concerned with teaching what you need to know to develop your hand skills. Sure there is some information that is repeated from project to project, but I would argue that repeated material is becoming less so with the more advanced projects such as this one.

  9. When I installed my first set of hinges, I used a small router plane (with a clamped board to make it stable) in order to guarantee a consistent mortise depth. I much prefer the hand paring technique Paul shows here; Hand paring seems less fussy and reinforces good paring skills.

    One question: Generally speaking, if we use lubrication on screws – does that same lubrication encourage the screw to loosen itself over time?

    1. Hey Scott

      The wax will soften as your fingers touch it, so it is more or less a solid liguid, and you don’t put loads on. As time goes on the wax will harden and absord into the wood and the screw will not losen. I use a candle when doing this and all the excess candle wax is usually dropped off the screw when screwing in.

      HTH

  10. Hi Paul/Joe

    Great videos, pace is fine by me. learning new things and revisiting old all the time. Great effort and keep up the good work, as it is very sad that most of Pauls skills are no longer being taught in schools anymore, great shame indeed. I think it’s vaulable to kown how to do cabinet making techniques, especially when they is no power 🙂

    Thanks for the vids

    Regards

    Richard

  11. Hello Guys, listening to all the views with interest. For my thoughts the pace of the tutorials are exactly and precisely whats necessary to pickup on all the intricate details Paul speaks about. For me anyway they stick in my memory as important points to remember as they form the correct way of doing things. I love it, its as though we are all being gifted the experiences of someone who has been there and done it, got the t-shirt etc. Thank you.

    One question Paul, did you say ‘Soap’ can be used instead of paste wax for the screws in the hinges? I thought we were to stay away from introducing moisture when fixing joints!

  12. 2 1/2 ” brass hinges are hard to find in the US. White Chapel Ltd has them. They are extruded brass and look nice. They don’t give thickness dimensions or the gap between leaves. Is extruded brass good quality? I could not find this hinge on Screwfix..

  13. Wonderful! I wouldn’t have thought of the variance between two suuposedly identical sized hinges. It’s good to know not only to check for this, but how to correct any discrepancies. Also, due to the fragileness of brass screws, I often initially use steel screws for fitting, then replace with the brass screws to prevent marring of the screw heads.

  14. Perhaps I’m being a philistine but can’t you make the plugs using a plug cutter on a drill press? I fear I may have used bad language there haha. These really are great value for money…you can’t buy this level of detail….well…you can but only from Paul Sellers!

  15. I don’t see the 65mm hinges at Screwfix. The smallest they have is 74mm, but the prices are amazing compared to the US. Does anyone know of a good source in the USA? Buying online is problematic since no one shows a profile of the closed hinge, and the only retail store that carries them is Woodcraft and cost $27/pair.

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