OldTools Archive

Recent Bios FAQ

2365 "Williams, Anthony" <williama@c...> 1996‑07‑17 Introduction and jointing question
Hello,

I've been lurking around this list for quiet some time now.  I've learnt a 
lot just listening but have some very basic questions on woodworking 
technique.  But first a brief bio.

I emigrated/immigrated to Canada three years ago from the UK, just after 
marrying my Canadian wife.  We now live in the small town of Deep River, in 
the Ottawa Valley, Ontario, and  I earn a living as a numerical modeller for 
AECL.  I took up woodworking as a hobby about two years ago, although I had 
no previous experience, not even school woodshop.  Initially I started using 
hand tools because I could not afford and do not have the room for power 
tools.  Reading this group has confirmed a growing feeling that I really 
don't need or want to get involved with those electrical wood eaters.  I 
could ramble on about my hand tool epiphany when my first plane (#5 Record) 
arrived from Lee Valley, but I'll save that story for another day.

My lack of pervious experience in working with wood, or even exposure to 
other people who work with wood leads to ask some very basic questions about 
technique etc.  Last night I was jointing two boards for a simple pair of 
speaker stands I'm making from cherry.  I was using a #8 with the boards 
clamped face to face.  I planed until I achieved what a I thought to be a 
reasonably straight and square edge.  When I place the boards together it 
appeared at first sight that I had made a reasonably good job, however when 
I looked real close I could see a very fine gap (dark line) between the two 
boards at one end.  I inspected a joint I had glued up on the weekend and 
could just see the "glue line" for about a quarter length of the board, the 
line was probably as fine or finer than hair.  BTW the boards are about a 
foot long and an inch thick.

My question is now good does a jointed edge need to be?  Obviously we all 
strive for perfection but would my jointed edge be deemed good enough? 
 Given the way that wood changes shape with humidity etc. what are the 
reasonable tolerances I should aim for and what would a true craftsman hope 
to achieve?   Also any good tips on jointing technique will be eagerly 
received.

I acknowledge that my question is not directly concerned with old tools, but 
I hope that it falls within the oldtools mandate and is deemed suitable for 
discussion on the porch, if not then tell me politely and I'll go back to 
hiding in the corner and learning by listening.

Many thanks

Tony Williams



Recent Bios FAQ