Popular Woodworking 2006-06 № 155, страница 14
circle no. 108 on free information card. Your Source For Essential, Unique, & Hard To Find Tools! I; woopWSfRi^sT 800-345-2396 hartvilletool.com circle no. 125 on free information card. X. - FURNITURE COMPONENTS STOCK ITEMS ■ NO MINIMUM CUSTOM COMPONENTS FREE COLOR CATALOG X, MW1-41-35 Island Leg ti|.^.pw23 Momstown, TN TJ815-0728 Phone 423-587-2942 Fax 423-536-2180 www.adams wood products .com by American Craftsmen CIRCLE NO. 131 ON FREE INFORMATION CARD. Letters Sears Left-tilt Table Saw Hails from 1930s In the December 2005 issue I promised to follow-up on when Sears first introduced a table saw that tilted to the left. Several readers wrote and e-mailed about their saws, some of which have been in service since the early 1950s. The earliest reference I could find was from a 11937 Sears tool catalog that featured a left-tilting saw. In the 1932 Sears catalog, the table saws featured tilting tables. Thanks to Brian Kachadurian at Old Wood-Working Machines (owwm.com) for sharing the old catalogs. — Robert Lang, senior editor Through Dovetails Could Reflect a Shaker 'Design Opportunity' In Kerry Pierce's "Shaker Construction Methods" (December 2005, issue #152), he mentions in the "Puzzling Over Why" section that the chest had half-blind dovetails where there normally would have been through dovetails and vice versa. What a great opportunity to poll your readership as to why they think it is constructed this way. My theory on the odd construction: design opportunity. This is a term I happily stole from one of my mentors, Mike Wallace. A design opportunity is when you make an error that demands that you redesign your work in order to correct your error. Basically, you screwed up and have to figure out a way to fix it so you don't chuck the whole project! What if our Shaker craftsman cut on the wrong side of his knife mark ? He might change the dimensions on the dovetails so the piece could be saved. What if he used an inside measurement instead of an outside measurement on the side panel? He would likely use a half-blind dovetail now that the panel was too short for a through dovetail. What if this chest was made by an apprentice ? The Master would surely insist that the apprentice practice his dovetailing technique. This chest might just be a practice session. I try different woods and joints all the time. The next time Pierce steps out into the morning air to reflect on the Shakers of 150 years ago, he should recall them as mere mortals. They had to practice and experiment, and I'm sure they had plenty of design opportunities - just like us. Bill Hook Weatherford, Texas Organization Breeds Joint Success I have owned a Leigh dovetail jig for several years and had yet to use it to make some drawers that have been on the drawing board for quite some time. I have been intimidated all this time. After reading Bill Hylton's "Half-blind Dovetails by Jig" (February 2006, issue #153), I realize the problem has been one of organization not of mechanics. Thanks for an absolutely great article. My project has now been successfully completed and I am now on to bigger and better joints. Don Burdg Coos Bay, Oregon An Alternative to QuickCAD I read with interest Hank Jacob's question on QuickCAD in the February 2006 Popular Woodworking. Days after reading the article about CAD in June 2003 (issue #134), I purchased QuickCAD. It proved to be the best $50 I spent for our custom furniture and cabinet business. I have used that program six days a week since then. My brother recently wanted to buy QuickCAD and I was trying to help him find it. I ended up contacting AutoDesk and yes, it was discontinued. What I did find out, though, continued on page 14 12 Popular Woodworking June 2006 |
