With our new Dovetail Template almost ready for prime time (I think it’ll be live in the store next week), I have dovetails on the brain. But who am I kidding – almost everything I build, and everything I teach, involves dovetails – so they’re always on my mind.
I always use dividers to lay out my dovetails – mostly so I have to think only once about the setup; then, I can just pick up my dividers and easily replicate the same layout on every corner of the same size. Above is a video on how I do it.
– Fitz
p.s. One thing I didn’t include in the video: For the half-pins on both edges of the board, I typically use a tiny pair of dividers; that way it’s easy to tell the two sets apart.
The full-zip hoodie features the “Never Despair: Nothing Without Labour” artwork on the back. On the front is a friendly bee – a long-time symbol of woodworkers and other trades.
Oil-impregnated “Super Woobies” (we have multiples) get used many times each day in our shop to wipe down tools before we put them away. That not only keeps rust at bay, it helps to keep pitch and dust from accumulating on tools.
The woodworking pencils are robust, leave a good dark mark and sharpen easily.
Yes, it’s weird that I have put so much effort into making a custom rag. Yes, you could take an old gym sock or T-shirt, soak it in oil and get a similar result. But also yes: I would buy this custom rag if I didn’t already own one.
The Crucible Microfiber Super Woobie is our favorite (by far) microfiber towel – one that I have been using since 2011. We’ve embroidered it with “Don’t Despair: Nothing Without Labour,” plus a friendly bee.
I have been using this oil-soaked towel every day for 11 years to wipe down my tools before putting them away. It is a ritual that I look forward to because I know it works. Even though we live in the humid Ohio River Valley, I have zero corrosion on my steel tools. This towel holds a lot of oil, it dispenses it in a nice amount and it resists dirt. I’ve never had to launder my woobie.
To make these woobies special, we had a Covington, Ky., embroidery shop add “Don’t Despair: Nothing Without Labour” to the towel. The expression is one that shows up in literature in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. And is one we agree with.
We also added a bee. Bees have long been the symbol of industrious working people, especially woodworkers. The Super Woobies are $23 and are available for immediate shipment.
Back in Stock
Our machine shop has been working weekends to keep up with tool production. We are still behind on our Lump Hammers, though they should be back in stock later this week. We now have a good stock of Crucible Sliding Bevels. So if you have been waiting for one, act now.
And, finally, we finally have lots of Lost Art Press woodworking pencils in stock. These USA-made pencils have been a strong seller. They are outstanding for woodworking because they are thicker than typical pencils and have a lead that marks well on wood. And they come in a nice box (also made in the USA).
A batch of our holdfasts was exposed to moisture during shipping, and they developed some surface rust. After weighing all the options – from melting them down to media-blasting them – we decided to sell them at a discount instead.
These blemished holdfasts are fully functional. The castings passed inspection. The only thing wrong with them is some surface rust. You can remove the rust if you like, or leave it. Most holdfasts develop patina in time.
These blemished holdfasts are sold as-is. The price is $99, which is a significant discount from our retail price. Quantities are limited. Click here to order.
We’re working slowly but steadily to keep up with demand on the sliding bevels; as Norm Abram says, “we’re gaining on it.” We hope by June to be far enough ahead on production to start offering them through our retailers.
