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Remember when we used to cut dovetails by hand for everything?
I was fitting a drawer last week in my shop near Pittsburgh and my old chisel slipped, took a chunk out of the side because I was rushing. Had to stop, rebuild the whole piece, and it reminded me how those old timers never had to deal with that since they took their time.
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emerycarr16d ago
The real trick nobody talks about is edge grain orientation when you're cutting those tails. I've got a stack of old cherry boards that taught me the hard way - if you don't read the grain before you start, a chisel will follow it like a drunk driver on a wet road. Ever tried soaking the area with mineral spirits to see the direction before making that first cut? It helps catch those sneaky grain reversals that'll ruin your day.
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