Jim Kingshott - Dovetails

Jim Kingshott - Dovetails

[@egglyph]

To those who don’t know: this is Jim Kingshott of “Making and modifying Woodworking tools fame”. The man who resurrected infill planemaking single handedly. Also believed to be the last craftsman trained and actuallyworked as a journeyman during Arts&Crafts period.

[@Solid_Jackson]

What was the arts and crafts period?

[@FinnBearOfficial]

This is what google was made for, ​@@Solid_Jackson

[@johncranham125]

He was my apprentice master back in 1980.

[@nickyork8901]

@@johncranham125 Lucky you, he is such a fine teacher and nice man.

[@toonybrain]

Wow, the secret dovetail joint! 😍😍 What a breathtakingly beautiful joint! This was a fascinating, informative, drool-worthy video. The excellent training this man acquired as an apprentice, and its “sheepskin”: his exquisite, handmade, inlaid, dovetailed toolbox. Wow.

[@mariasaha8303]

This 55 minutes felt like 15…so many excellent tips given through stories of his experiences woodworking. The camera work was PERFECT! So many woodworking videos don’t show enough closeups. Thank you for sharing this!

[@Kirrel]

I was realy drawn into the video, almost blew to the screen when he cleared out the sockets close to the end . . .

[@jardine1able]

What a joy to see a true craftsman, and not an electric saw was in sight. Wonderful. Thank you so much. Kind regards Mike

[@Dovetailtim]

Thanks Mike! My pleasure.. more coming.

[@chdnorm]

@@Dovetailtim It is fantastic what you are doing. I really do appreciate your channel. Thank you very much.

[@Dovetailtim]

@@chdnorm My pleasure!

[@debluetailfly]

I got the VHS years ago. I don't think it has been available for many years. Videos like this need to be kept available.

[@trevorz9826]

Gluing without test fitting…..Absolute gangster move, that. Wonderful video, thanks for posting.

[@gbwildlifeuk8269]

Done everytime by rob cosman, he NEVER test fits first.

[@grahamprice3230]

How sad thatJim is no longer with us .A tragic loss to the craftsman of the past.Wonderful that VHS video’s exist of many similar lessons.His workshop at his house should be a shrine for him.Anyone who has a piece of his furniture should be honoured to touch and admire his skill and presence in it.

[@robertharris1748]

Agree, but if he was doing his apprenticeship in the forties as he says, he'd be fast approaching triple figures!

[@ianwoods1384]

​@robertharris1748 This sounds so ridiculous. This gentleman and others around him were producing craftsmanship like this. Before those wonderful people, we had the Victorian's, who built our sewer systems, transforming quality of life for the masses. Thomas Telford, Brunel, built huge bridges across valleys, transforming business/commerce and life quality for so many. These days, everything's been sold, we make hardly anything and don't own a sausage. What a fine generation of people they were, with no greed in sight.

[@robertharris1748]

​@ianwoods1384 not quite sure how your response has anything to do with my reply, but I will bite, and say that you've got a bit of a rosy tint to your glasses. For a start if you think Brunel and Telford weren't trying to turn a bob or two you haven't been paying attention. Sure they had some grand visions but they were also in it for money. A bit like Elon Musk, frankly, however much of a nut he comes across, he's got a vision and is also making money pursuing it. Secondly the reason you have people like Kingshott making fantastic work was because of classism. These days if you're halfway intelligent you go to uni and not into the trades. Back then if you weren't born into the right family you had to know your place. That's something we should be happy is over. On the other hand having more respect for the trades would be better.

[@ianwoods1384]

@@robertharris1748 Hello Sir, Yes, I agree with your points. My point was, we just don't seem to produce anything, anymore like we used to and my intention wasn't to disrespect trades or anyone.

[@robertharris1748]

@@ianwoods1384 No, I wasn't for a moment suggesting you were disrespecting the trades. It's just modern society in general that does, which is why people with the sort of quiet pride needed for quality workmanship don't tend to go into them any more.

[@chrisbailey600]

What an absolutely delightful video. Old school and all the better for it.

[@Dovetailtim]

Couldn’t agree more, thank you..!

[@BeatsMeWhyIBother]

My father trained as a carpenter and joiner in the 1940s as well. He once said he had done so many thousands of dovetails that he did them purely by eye. I wasn't entirely sure he wasn't pulling my leg, but I guess Jim confirms it. My father also had a black tool chest that he made as an apprentice, but not being a cabinet maker and therefore having on occasions to take it onsite, it was far less fancy. Not much in this video that my Dad would have done differently, except using a coping saw to rough out waste. Note also that the coping saw is set with the teeth facing the handle, something that some prominent youtubers have called 'rubbish'. Well, they aint a patch on this guy.

[@Dovetailtim]

Loved reading this, thank you. Totally agree on the coping saw blade direction too.

[@Uswesi1527]

Unfortunately, I can’t find the exact words to describe my ultra admiration.

[@petercastles5978]

So lovely to see shavings rather than super fine pulverised wood dust floating everywhere.

[@fatroberto3012]

This video is invaluable. There are probably not many videos in existence of a real, old school, lifelong career cabinet maker who learned from generations of masters in the same craft. Great respect to woodwork teachers, my uncle was one, but this man was at a whole other level.

[@alanreynolds5985]

Probably the best instructive video I’ve seen. 60 years ago my GCE Woodwork practical was the secret mitre dovetail I’d never cut one and my woodwork master had said it would be very unlikely I would get one. Well I did and realised I would have to cut the pins first. I passed.

[@Dovetailtim]

This is lovely to read, thank you for sharing

[@michelcrom3239]

Je suis toujours aussi admiratif de votre jeu, ça paraît si simple...alors que ... bravo

[@roofermarc1]

All the other blokes on YT I watch about cutting dovetails, they have left off a few tips that we garner from watching this English gentleman. Thanks for posting these.

[@TonyMonaghan-zf6yp]

This is so refreshing. We always had to make jigs and tools. We are spoiled now with the array of tools and jigs. When you watch these old films you can't help waiting for them to say at the end, don't forget to hit that subscribe button. :)

[@Dovetailtim]

Hahah, love this thought!

[@TonyMonaghan-zf6yp]

@@DovetailtimI've loved watching these this morning. Thanks for posting them. So refreshing and calming. We've gained so much in this digital age - being able to get our hands on so much gear - but watching and listening to Mr Kingshott has really highlighted what we have lost. I miss these guys. He reminds me so much of my grandfather! Thanks again.

[@Dovetailtim]

Thank you Tony, this is lovely to read and the kind of thing was what I was hoping for with this… always more than welcome!

[@hughmac13]

Which jigs are you referring to as easily accessible? I've always had to make my own jigs and still do.

[@georgegeyer3431]

Great to see a Master at work.

[@dorsetdumpling5387]

Wonderful - the only video on dovetails that I find relaxing!

[@1951timbo]

Priceless. A lost world. Sad.

[@Sigmatechnica]

Really appreciate your showing how to do it all manually with simple tools. Far too many wood working chanels that just go "oh it's easy" and walk into their massive barn full of new shiny industrial powertools no hobbyest could ever justify.

[@Solid_Jackson]

This! Totally agree, such a good video. How to do things properly No epoxy tables here

[@Sigmatechnica]

@@Solid_JacksonI'm so sick of seeing epoxy everything ahah

[@pauljeffery2166]

Jim taught me how to put an apron on properly when I did a Japanese tool class with him in the 90s very knowledgeable man

[@Dovetailtim]

Wow this is incredible! His books and videos are so wonderful, thank you for sharing this.

[@devinteske]

And what exactly is that proper method? How am I supposed to sleep at night now knowing I could be improperly adorning my apron?! Also, what kind of apron are we talking about?

[@Dovetailtim]

@@devinteske This is a great question! I equally would like to know this information..

[@pauljeffery2166]

He was very much old school, were the apron was a status symbol which you wore proudly as a cabinet maker, me I can't stand them and never wear them. so on his course on Japanese tools first thing we had to do was put on these white aprons which he supplied, of course as I never wear them and hated them I put mine on wrong which was to tied the apron string round the front of the apron this he told me was wrong and that the string is tied under the front of the apron so as not to get tangled up in your work.Also we was not allowed to use tape measures as not accurate enough in his mind. @@devinteske

[@ade99bradley]

Brilliant. All of it! I’ve just watched all three of his videos that you’ve published. Would watch more if you have them. Fantastic. Thank you for sharing.

[@peterdeans4635]

Always a pleasure to watch and learn from a true master, thankyou Jim brought back memories of my granddad showing me how to use and maintain old tools my uncle found at flea markets during the school holidays

[@mihaimilan9598]

I've been learning hand tool woodworking since the pandemic and it has been quite the journey. Thank you so much for sharing this kind of amazing content. So many good tips that come from decades of experience. I'm in awe and deeply grateful.

[@Dovetailtim]

Thank you! This is wonderful to read and my hopes to reach passionate woodworkers with some of these forgotten skills!

[@marvinc9994]

"I've been learning hand tool woodworking since the pandemic..." One of the HEALTHIEST addictions you can acquire - and SUCH a satisfying (as well as challenging) one: don't EVER let anyone try and 'cure' you of it!😀 Enjoy your journey...

[@frankhill9527]

Great example of doi g dovetails. Thanks for sharing.

[@maximuscholencus5939]

A great master craftsman. Your explanations and tips are priceless for us the apprentices. Thank you very much!!

[@lawrencearmstrong8957]

I wish I had just a 16th of his knowledge. He is an absolute Master at his craft

[@matthewlawson884]

Great video and very useful to be reminded of the importance of super sharp tools. Thank you for sharing

[@danielgeng2306]

What I wouldn’t give to be his apprentice ~

[@skdinterceptor2828]

A true craftsman and talented carpenter. Sadly, today's youth generation don't even know what a chisel is, let alone a dove tail.

[@mobilfone2234]

true, but who could afford furniture built like this....

[@archangelcharlie]

Well I’m part of today’s generation and here I am learning new skills thanks to KZbin. How about you stop making it seem there is a generational gap to educational quality, and start sharing information so the people who learn after you can carry the trade forward.

[@GB-yr1tc]

We were failed by the generation before us who didn't pass on the knowledge as had been done throughout the past

[@hughmac13]

That's simply untrue.

[@alieverett5895]

That’s not right -my kids do it’s a lazy assumption

[@vincentcrow8992]

Love this - old school and so excellent

[@adrianellis4497]

I didn't watch it all the way through but I could tell you were old school and highly skilled of the bat. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with others.

[@brianc5691]

Thank you that was fantastic. I have one of his books so it's great to put a voice to the writing.

[@Dovetailtim]

Which book do you have?

[@brianc5691]

@@Dovetailtim Making and modifying wood working tools. Published 1992.

[@TheMrchuck2000]

So happy I stumbled upon this video! Very good information as I go from hand tool research (and tool kit assembly) to some actual projects, and my first will be a hanging tool cabinet to hold many of my hand tools: planes, chisels, saws, scrapers, gauges, etc.. I plan on dovetails to join my carcass. I’m really enjoying your uncle’s way of explaining the process. Thank you. Liked and subscribed!

[@mauriceholder1386]

Love the square and compass on that chest. He must have been a traveling man.

[@paulp1802]

West to east?

[@thomasharlos6872]

Great Video. Thank You so much. A true craftsman !

[@kevinprice7362]

Hi Jim I have just started watching your videos I think it's fantastic thank you so much. Kevin.

[@Dovetailtim]

Thanks Kevin

[@Levelforteeto]

This guy taught me how to sharpen all my tools . Using his book . Also I say Keith Rowley taught me how to turn wood using his book What craftsman these guys were.

[@Dovetailtim]

Love reading this, thank you for sharing

[@augustwest8559]

The sockets had more wood to remove at the end of the tails. He’s absolutely right about the chamfer. My expert tip for the pilgrim woodworker. Buy a dt saw that’s fits your hand well western style. Practice with hardwood like oak and a soft spongy wood like mahogany. Stay away from pine it might be cheap but it’s not all that friendly.

[@SamSchmidt4712zz]

Perfekt 👍🏻👍🏻

[@FrenchFarmhouseDiaries]

True master and a pleasure to watch great teacher thank you and rest sweetly Jim

[@carpenterstacey]

The craftsmanship is amazing. 37:51 Those chisels must be scary sharp, they are going through mahogany like a hot knife through butter! Thankyou for this amazing and informative video 🙂

[@Dovetailtim]

My pleasure!

[@Osgood-e4m]

I wish I could have apprenticed under this man. It would have turned me into dove tailing machine.

[@DamianDArienzo]

I stumbled on this too. Very nicely done :) Love to see mitred dovetails done too!! Wtf.... That last one!????

[@sethwarner2540]

Love this guy! He's the genuine article! Love his northern English accent! Love his tool box! So, now he could say he can fly to the moon, flapping his saw for wings; all I can say is, "would you like me to sharpen your saw for better grip on the air? I'll do it for nothing!! Oh! I really should say how wonderful the camera man did here! Such fine close in views without this, Uncle Jim might a s well stayed home!!

[@maxcowell4260]

Southern

[@Pasoscortos]

brilliant lesson, Master

[@Solid_Jackson]

Privilege to see this tradesman at work

[@nevillewilkinson2444]

Some man very interesting from the Republic of Ireland

[@ForceOfChaos1776]

This one badass

[@jimgeelan5949]

You don’t need all that fancy stuff , dewalt and Milwaukee have nice plastic tool chests with plastic cutouts for your tools 😂 I’m only joking. The only shame is this very high skilled craftsmanship is being lost, I’ve done it all my life but not past it on for years, so sad but thanks for putting all this on video that will last forever, thanks jim Ive subbed

[@bertRaven1]

ridiculously modest

[@ntyhurst]

sooooo how do you cut the joint at the end?

[@study_legal_history]

His chisels are waaay more sharp than mine. After several years of woodworking, I still learn more from this master. Was this shot on film? Or Plumbicon tubes? Looks great. Vignette of lens, too.

[@hughmac13]

What do we think? Is the miter (or "mitre," for Jim, among others) plane a Spiers?

[@stephenshipley1066]

Thanks for that. It took nearly an hour. I suppose you would work faster if you weren't explaining but how long would you expect an ordinary drawer to take i.e. 4 dovetailed joints?

[@davidsinclair6425]

Excellent video, made the time fly however how do we find out how to make that joint at the end?

[@devinteske]

The two pieces rotate together. He makes special note to point out the slope at the end-grain which is a lie. The pin enters from the top but has a face that implies the wood behind it is in the same shape (making you think it cannot enter from the top but has to be slid in, which is of-course impossible due to the dove-tail shape making it impossible to slide in). Secondly, there is a hollow behind the halving joint that allows the two pieces to cleverly rotate together. There is a lot of empty space and the false-front on the pin to make it look impossible to assemble together mean this would be extremely week and the large scale is required to pass off the trickery. I am so sorry for ruining the magic. Please don’t hurt me.

[@joemcmanus5235]

@@devinteske This isn't how that joint is made - it's actually a joint from Japanese carpentry, which Jim Kingshott was a proponent of (hence showing both a Japanese saw and using Japanese chisels). I've seen it called, variously, a double dovetail, double dovetail tenon, rising dovetail or Sumiyoshi (I don't know much about Japanese carpentry, so can't attest to how accurate or appropriate this last term is, only that I've seen it called that). The key to it is that you can't see that the dovetail isn't a consistent thickness: the part that you can see at the front, facing the camera is the thinnest part of the dovetail. The mortise for the dovetail tenon slopes downward like a ramp towards the the cheek of the ordinary halving joint, so that the gap between the two is a wedge with the thickest part at the top/front. The walls of the dovetail mortise are continued at the same angle but go another 2-3 times as deep as the depth of the dovetail that we see at the end. The dovetail tennon then is also much thicker than it looks and a corresponding wedge. It's assembled by putting the dovetail in much further down, which then follows the ramp up, like a sliding dovetail joint, but sliding both horizontally and vertically, which is presumably why it's sometimes called a rising dovetail. This explanation isn't great and probably quite convoluted, but it's quite difficult to put into words properly. Search for any of the terms mentioned (rising dovetail etc.) on here and you'll see examples of people making them.

[@dickiebrewer1232]

I have a new woodworking idol. I’m sure I’m not the first to say that…..

[@dothanalabamawoodworker6766]

This is fabulous. Where did you find this guy?

[@Dovetailtim]

Thanks for your question! I was shown these videos when I was in college studying joinery and cabinetmaking by my teacher during lunchtime, I fell in love with Jim and purchased all his videos and books. Recently I have been showing them to some of my own students now that I teach joinery!

[@theblokevlog352]

This was filmed at Deepcut in Surrey; I used to live around 300m from him

[@thomasmcglynn5353]

Are his books and videos still available and if so where please

[@theblokevlog352]

@@thomasmcglynn5353 I have all of his books but don’t know if they’re still in print; suggest you try a Google search or Amazon

[@dothanalabamawoodworker6766]

Goodness gracious, what a treasure. I wish I could have met him. Thank you.@@Dovetailtim

[@baldikenobi]

I wonder where that chest is now

[@Dovetailtim]

I would pay serious money just to see it..!

[@paulp1802]

Did anyone catch the name of the metal dovetail jig, I thought he said Richard Kale? Anyone help.

[@Dovetailtim]

Richard Kell.. he still makes great stuff 30 years after this video came out, i have his angle finder and brass square..

[@paulp1802]

@@Dovetailtim thank you very much. I’d like to buy the dovetail jig.

[@Dovetailtim]

Ah excellent, his website (richardkell.co.uk) has lots of idiosyncratic tools on it.. a student of mine recently bought his honing guide, i think from workshop heaven, and loves it.

[@paulp1802]

@@Dovetailtim I’m not a carpenter but I have some oak planks from a tree in my cousins garden stacked for about 10+years. A retirement project.

[@paulp1802]

I just realised am I talking to the man himself?

[@alfonsoarbeloa4718]

Very nice relaxing video. Thank you so much!! Reminds me my first dovetail 35 years ago at scool, I needed much longer to get it right.

[@adams4264]

Superb. does anyone know at 14:00 in the video who/which business he is referring to "you can buy a propitiatory one from Richard Cowell..." i cant seem to find anything on it.

[@z4zuse]

He sounds like the dad from @photonicinduction

[@lewbarrett]

I keep coming back to these Klingshott videos. He’s such a great teacher. And what a shop! Delightful and curiously relaxing. Thanks!

[@didndido3638]

Hahaha...18:45 I wouldn't fancy cutting drawers for a while after I did fifty of them either! I have to do eight right now for my apprenticeship but after hearing this I'll stop complaining!

[@ef2b]

For plain, through dovetails, I wonder if Mr. K. would have achieved his dovetails straight from the saw or if he still would have pared after cutting the pins? Regarding bifocals, I just this year started using them, but I found I needed different lengths than he mentioned. It is probably a personal thing that depends upon your arm length, body proportions, and your visual accommodation. I am about to buy a dedicated, single-focus set of glasses at the close distance because when I'm doing extended periods of work that is close up, like carving, it is a strain to keep my head tilted for the bifocals. Thank you for posting this (and other) videos!

[@Dovetailtim]

Always welcome! Thanks for your comment

[@ianwoods1384]

What a fine display. Thank you to this gentleman for his display and commentary.

[@jorgesifuentes4626]

That must be a one of a kind workbench.

[@Dovetailtim]

Indeed! Made of bubinga. There are woodworking plans for it in one of his books

[@MrToast-hj6kp]

When you have watched a lot of American Carpentry stuff from workshops bigger than the floor space of your semi-detached house in the UK and machines, jigs, etc. for everything even dovetailing - it is great to watch a UK craftsman in a workshop you could dream to have and create something by hand.

[@claudiopiteri8621]

Amazing !😮

[@wing_nut]

Absolutely inspiring! Thank you.

[@Dovetailtim]

Thank you my friend

[@mandeepsinghsehmi1951]

That was brilliant. Thank you for sharing.

[@Dovetailtim]

Always welcome 🙏🏻

[@Surreptitious_1]

Ron Swanson brought me here

[@jerribee1]

I don't do woodwork of any kind, but it was an absolute joy to watch a craftsman with Jim's level of skill at work.

[@lloydd.haugeniii2679]

Really enjoyed that! Love the tricks & tips.

[@davidcrossley7145]

What an excellent video of a craftsman to watch ,so interesting and informative.I’ve thoroughly enjoyed watching this 👍👍

[@AnonymousEuropeanDriver]

Cabinet making lessons from Bricktop 😂

[@Dovetailtim]

😂😂

[@miketiller8430]

Acrost. Love it

[@TruSciencePro]

Some people think our culture and society is getting better. It’s actually getting worse.

[@bigears4014]

Did these at school I bet most don't anymore , Huon pine king Billy, mytrle, sassafrass blackwood all the best timbers of Tasmania

[@JohnShields-xx1yk]

Very cool, I've worked with carpentry many times in my life on jobs but I always wanted my own shop, it's enjoyable watching you work. Thank you.

[@Spinozin]

Its all about the dodge. What a post xxx

[@AlexCBrandon]

I’d watched The New Yankee Workshop growing up and rediscovered it recently. Norm Abram covers the making of entire pieces in a single half hour. What Jim has shown is how long it takes to do a single portion of these by hand. It really helps fill out the cuts made in New Yankee Workshop, as well as the fact that Norm uses automatic machinery for dovetails, which I’m sure he could make by hand as well, but the notion was to bring woodworking more to the masses. Absolutely awesome video. The measuring of how many dovetails by angling a ruler I’m sure must have been in use for generations but I’ve never seen it. Incredible!

[@Carl-t3l]

Thank you sir for sharing your knowledge and skill built up over a lifetime. I watched in awe throughout the video.

[@charranjitsingh6742]

OMG I used to read his books when I did my apprenticeship in the 80’s, I end up buying all this books about infill plans a true master craftsman

[@Dovetailtim]

Glad you found these videos!

[@charranjitsingh6742]

So glad you put this videos on KZbin 👍thank you

[@Dovetailtim]

Always welcome!

[@anoshya]

Pure skill and concentration..I bet he never watched an I pad in his life

[@lonewolftech]

Well if that was the case he’d not be on KZbin rn..

[@FistralG]

The most detailed and thorough demonstration of dovetail layout and cutting I’ve ever seen. I wish I could get my chisels that sharp. His are like a hot knife through butter!

[@eddymack8568]

How did he get 3 9/16” when he started the measurement on the 1/8” mark? At 15:43

[@richardbusuttil9252]

I FOUND THIS SO INSPIRING AND HAS GIVEN ME CONFIDENCE TO ADVANCE MY WOODWORKING TO MAKING DOVETAIL JOINTS

[@MrJohnd1951]

Joyful presenter, and excellent teacher, a master of traditional woodworking simply priceless to watch. Thank you very much.

[@tiemanmalcolm]

Absolutely fabulous, what a craftsman, more !!!

[@Dovetailtim]

There’s a few! Enjoy!

[@Олексій-у8ш]

Ось чим потрібно буде займатися в такому віці. Дякую ВАМ. 😊😊😊😊( а не нападати на сусіда)

[@davidcampbell2845]

Absolute cracker - thanks.

[@Clive-z3u]

Benchfocus 🤣 glasses Jim this was one of the very best dovetail demonstrations, I have seen and entertaining clear and concise ❤

[@jacekglagla8797]

Oglądam z zapartym tchem MISTRZA stolarstwa ręcznego

[@roybailey1134]

Thank you for your video it was very, very interesting. 👏👏👏👏👏

[@fathalkhairgalleryantiques7278]

Thanks so much. I indeed enjoyed watching this important lesson. Allah bless you

[@plakor6133]

Wow, you have some classics on your channel. Subscribed.

[@Dovetailtim]

Welcome!

[@AlexDiesTrying]

I don't think I have enjoyed any woodworking video as much as I enjoy watching his.

[@chrisbailey600]

Just rewatched this and still found food for thought ..... Doodle pip. 😀

[@chrisbailey600]

Toodle!!

[@Dovetailtim]

:D

[@davejones1090]

Now i have to find one of those clearenced chisels that will clean the pin floor corners between the tails!😊😊 LOVED THIS!

[@Dovetailtim]

Let me know what you find!