Building a Sideboard part 8: Mortising the Front and Side Rails | Hand Tool Woodworking

[@MarkGray1970]

It looks great so far!

[@TheHandToolery]

Thank you!!

[@montewoods4766]

Great channel and skill!

[@TheHandToolery]

Thank you!!

[@rollingstone3017]

Man, that is some pretty tough and wild grain 🤪

[@TheHandToolery]

Yup that lower rail was a bear to plane! I actually messed up one of them and had to remake it. 🤦‍♂️

[@rollingstone3017]

The HandToolery I’ve had some walnut like that. Could only use it in small portions, as accent. Too expensive to throw away.

[@TheHandToolery]

@@rollingstone3017 Fortunately, I got some of this at a really good price, so it didn't hurt too bad. But I did feel bad that the original piece I had chosen didn't work out.

[@peepawhebert6479]

I know I am late to the party but I just found your channel and am binge watching. A couple of observations. 1) I love your enthusiasm with each milestone. When I made my first real project (shaker end tables) anyone that came into my house, I would dry assemble it to show it off. lolol. 2) As a machinist, mold maker, I was used to manufacturing each component finished, then assembling. You can't do that with woodwork. I like how you do your tenons finishing the shoulders and strategically leaving stock on the sides. Using that to create your mortices and fitting at assembly. I must learn to employ that in my workflow. c) It's enough just to DO the project!! You do a great job with camera placement as well as explaining as you go. All in all one of the best channels on youtube.

[@TheHandToolery]

Oh man, this comment made my day! Thanks so much for your kind words, Peepaw Hebert. I appreciate your compliments on my work flow, and I bet we all could learn a thing or two from you and your experience. It’s kind of funny how proud I get about things. It’s part of who I am-I just love celebrating :) i know when people visit my house and compliment a piece (like the sideboard) I have to rein myself in to not abuse their kindness and patience telling them about the details. Ha! Mortising is a perfect example of some of the ways woodworking with hand tools requires a bit of a creative though process. One thing that I learned through reading and podcasts and such is that hand tool work doesn’t need to be absolutely perfect, and even leaving some parts (where they won’t be seen or touched) unfinished was actually the normal for the longest time. So while I like a great fit and finish when possible, I also like to save time and effort all while paying homage to the past by doing things this way. Filming ... where do I begin. I appreciate you mentioning that. Editing is ok... for me filming is the worst. You can never just work. You’ve got to keep the viewer in mind. That said, that extra effort has brought me into a really great community of woodworkers and makers, so it’s been well worth it! Cheers!!

[@peepawhebert6479]

@@TheHandToolery Thanks for the reply. I love what you said about precision. As an injection moldmaker I'm used to machining all the parts to tolerances and very minor fitting. With wood you have to alter your work flow. I'm looking at shoulder planes, plow planes etc. for that reason. Also, a router can mess your hand up pretty quickly. I would like to have more vintage details to projects. Unfinished surfaces in not seen areas, also maybe use cut nails and vintage hardware but on more modern furniture. I'm binge watching your videos but not really commenting if they are too old. Hate being late to the party, lol. Having a great time watching.

[@TheHandToolery]

@@peepawhebert6479 Thanks again! And feel free to comment--not late to the party :)

[@TheHandToolery]

@@peepawhebert6479 I've also been wanting to use other details like cut nails. During my basement renovation, I saved a bunch of masonry nails (I think that's what they are) that look like cut nails, and I might use them on a small desk I'm thinking of making for my son's bedroom. I can't imagine how much work fitting and testing and whatnot making molds requires, but the ultimate payoff is indeed that perfect fit, I'm sure. Cheers, sir!

[@TwistedWorkshop77]

It's starting to come together! Nice work as always. That walnut is going to look amazing with some finish on it

[@TheHandToolery]

I know!! I can not wait to see it take finish. I’ve got the side one side panel resawn, too!

[@RichardConnor1]

Very well done. Your joinery technique is superb.

[@TheHandToolery]

Thank you!

[@cmdrsocks]

Looking good. Just one observation, I always find it easier to cut slots with a plough plane by starting at the end and working backwards with small strokes, it results in less wandering of the cut. Once the slot is established, you can take longer strokes without worrying about the cut line as the blade will track the existing slot. Starting at the end of the cut allows the full length of the side fence to guide the initial cut, and the smaller cuts take less effort.

[@TheHandToolery]

Thanks!

[@maililistaalterego]

@@TheHandToolery I second cmdrsock's recommendation. Starting from the far end when ploughing grooves works great.

[@thatilluminati_3421]

This will help with the 78 too

[@maililistaalterego]

Looks great. Are you going to glue it up in subassemblies or in one go? You should try liquid hide glue when you glue it up. It's going to make that big glue up much less stressful!

[@TheHandToolery]

I will do the front, then the back, then the interior and sides. I’ve been thinking about hide glue for sure, but never used it. Thanks for the suggestion!