Coat Cabinet: Making Sliding Dovetails…

…demands a precision we might find intimidating. We shouldn’t. Though it’s hard to define what levels of accuracy we actually achieve in our hand work, we are always striving for a precision that’s not dialled in or programmed through a computer, work that defines us as remarkable makers. Additionally, we actually (there’s that word again)...

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Living in Rooms Made For Life

I can’t really explain it, but waking up in a bed you made from rough boards and seeing other pieces complimenting the room that you made with the same ten, possibly fifteen ordinary hand tools gives you a remarkable feeling. I’ve designed and made furniture to furnish whole rooms belonging to others on and off...

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She Never Cut a Dovetail Before – This Is What Happened

If you’d like to see the full demonstration while also helping support the Purple Heart Project, pick up the course in the Guild:

Hand-Cut Dovetails Through the Eyes of a Beginner

In this instructional session, woodworking expert Rob Cosman guides complete beginner Nicole through cutting her very first set of hand-cut dovetails.

Step-by-Step Process:

• Choose a Layout

  • The lesson begins with planning a two-tailed dovetail joint, which features two tails and three pins.

  • The number of tails and pins is based on joint size and desired strength—more tails increase glue surface area but can weaken the surrounding wood if overdone.

• Understand Joint Strength

  • The strength of the dovetail comes from long grain-to-long grain contact.

  • Each pin and tail meeting contributes to the joint’s integrity, but too many can compromise the structure.

• Prepare Your Stock

  • Rob emphasizes the importance of starting with perfectly square and flat boards.

  • A misaligned board will lead to a poorly fitting joint—especially critical when making drawers or boxes where all corners must align.

• Use a Shooting Board

  • Instead of squaring by hand in a vise, Rob introduces the shooting board for accurate 90° ends.

  • This jig holds the board and plane in alignment, making it easier to square edges cleanly and consistently.

  • Check that the plane blade is parallel to the sole before shooting—this ensures consistent material removal across the face.

• Tool Fundamentals

  • Nicole is taught to sight down the tool and make adjustments based on visual cues—an essential skill in hand-tool woodworking.

• Practice and Patience

  • Rob stresses the importance of technique over speed, encouraging Nicole to focus on accuracy and clean results rather than rushing through cuts.

  • Once the technique is sound, woodworkers can shift focus to the aesthetic balance of the joint.

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Bonus Tips for Beginners:

• Don’t start cutting until your boards are square and true.

• Layout decisions should balance strength and appearance.

• Use jigs like a shooting board to simplify precision tasks.

• Evaluate your plane before use—setup matters as much as skill.

The post She Never Cut a Dovetail Before – This Is What Happened appeared first on The Wood Whisperer.

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Thank You, Everyone!

Just a quick scribble to say thank you all for such kind comments here. I am still on a bit of a cloud. I have learned that even negative things in your life can ultimately train you for good that comes later when you least expect it. Being told at age 14 that, “Paul can...

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My Royal Day

It’s a day like any other, but not really. It may have started the same, first my bike ride which lasts a half hour, sometimes more. Still, it’s 5.30 A.M. as I tread the pedals on the cycle path. I always cook my breakfast, half a dozen vegetables, perhaps a feta omelette to go with...

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A Royal Invitation

I bought a suit recently. No, it’s not denim, although had I had time I might have considered one being made to fit. Finding a tailor to make it might be a different matter, not an easy one. Suits are not generally my world. In fact, where I go, I rarely ever see one. The...

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A Great Way to Store Bike Helmets (or Coats!)

Be sure to take the Xtracycle Ride Guide to find out which bike would suit your needs best!

And be sure to check out Priority Bicycles for the most reliable low maintenance bikes you’ll ever own.

Important Links

• Backside Sandpaper
• JessEm Doweling Jig
• Aeon Laser

If your garage is slowly being swallowed by a tangle of bicycle helmets, you’re not alone. With cycling becoming a bigger part of my life (and my family’s), the helmet situation was getting out of control. Between kids and multiple bikes per person, we had helmets piled up like a two-wheeled yard sale.

So, I teamed up with my friends at Priority Bicycles and Xtracycle to build a practical, good-looking piano style helmet rack that finally brings order to the chaos. And like many of my favorite projects, I didn’t start with a solid plan—just a need, some wood, and a vague idea of what I wanted it to look like.

This wall-mounted helmet rack is designed with form and function in mind. It features individual slots for each helmet, a clean aesthetic that complements the garage (or any home), and simple construction using basic tools and materials. It’s perfect for families who ride together and want to keep their gear organized.

Want to make one yourself? Watch the video for the full build process, tips, and plenty of design improvisation along the way. Your garage—and your head—will thank you.

The post A Great Way to Store Bike Helmets (or Coats!) appeared first on The Wood Whisperer.

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What’s In a Picture

It’s just a hammer. Nothing special, just a 20 ounce Stanley claw hammer made in England and bought by me for £1, which was almost two days pay for me back in March 1965 when I bought it new. The hickory shaft is still the original, the hammer face has never chipped, and the claw...

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The Woodworking Morning Show for April 25, 2025

00:00 Introduction and Lighting Setup
00:44 Welcome to the Woodworking Morning Show
00:59 Clock Troubles and Fixes
01:33 Introducing the Hosts
01:42 Merchandise and Social Media https://twwstore.com/
01:58 Questions from the Audience
02:29 CNC Clock Video Discussion
03:35 Guild Group and AI Integration http://facebook.com/groups/twwguild
04:52 Push Stick Design
05:25 Laser Project Showcase
06:30 Ava’s Diorama Project
07:19 Laser Engraving Details
08:12 Trans Tint Dye for Curly Cherry https://amzn.to/4cPc8Os
09:25 Amazon Store Link and Show Notes https://www.amazon.com/shop/thewoodwhisperer
10:15 3D Printing and CNC Workholding
12:09 CNC in the Workshop https://thewoodwhisperer.com/videos/am-i-still-a-woodworker-if-i-use-a-cnc-asking-for-a-friend/
14:12 Laser Cutter Model and Features
17:02 CNC and Woodworking Debate
26:13 Fusion 360 and SketchUp for CNC https://iliketomakestuff.com/fusion-360-for-makers-landing/ and https://thewoodwhispererguild.com/product/intro-to-sketchup/
28:31 Historical Shifts in Woodworking
31:09 Mental Health Benefits of Crafting
31:51 YouTube Shops and Dream Workshops
32:25 J Bauer Engraving https://www.jbowerengraving.com/
32:59 Sharing Innovations in Woodworking
34:30 Napster and Music Sharing
35:24 Supporting Small Artists
35:32 Napster Memories
36:03 3D Printing Models and Patreon
37:50 Drumming Questions
42:13 YouTube Algorithm Frustrations
46:01 Electric Drum Set Features
46:12 MakerBot and Open Source
46:15 3D Printing Documentary https://www.netflix.com/title/80005444
46:43 Selling Tools and Facebook Marketplace
46:47 Guild and Community Support
47:51 Shop Tours and Updates
48:19 Bombproof Finishes for Desktops
52:32 3D Printing Air Quality Concerns
53:16 3D Printing Enclosures and Ventilation
55:28 Viewer Questions and Super Chats
55:33 White Whale Projects https://thewoodwhispererguild.com/product/sculpted-rocker/
01:00:47 Selling Custom Stools https://twwstore.com/collections/made-by-marc
01:01:26 YouTube Viewing Experience
01:01:54 Electric Drum Sets
01:02:36 Borderlands and Video Games
01:03:21 Burnout and Longevity on YouTube
01:06:37 Commissions and Local Projects
01:08:04 Pop Woodworking Articles https://thewoodwhisperer.com/?post_type=&s=popular+woodworking
01:09:44 Final Thoughts and Goodbyes

Looking for a woodworking show that’s equal parts educational, entertaining, and a little silly? Tune in to The Woodworking Morning Show with Marc and Nicole Spagnuolo! Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just getting started with sawdust and glue, this live-streamed show brings you:

* Real woodworking advice – From tool talk to shop tips, get practical info from a 20+ years master craftsman (Marc) that you can actually use in your own projects.

* Laid-back laughs – It’s not all chisels and clamps. Expect plenty of jokes, banter, and behind-the-scenes moments that’ll make you feel like you’re hanging out in the shop with friends.

* Live Q&A – Got a burning woodworking question? Ask it live and get answers right on the show! Or join patreon or YouTube members and preload your question on our post we make every Wednesday.

* Community connection – Join a welcoming crew of fellow woodworkers and hobbyists who tune in every week to chat, learn, and support one another.

* Giveaways & goodies – Stick around for surprise giveaways, product spotlights, and other fun treats.

Whether you’re watching live or catching the replay, The Woodworking Morning Show is the perfect mix of shop talk and shenanigans to kickstart your weekend.

Support us directly and buy some swag, plans or books! All of it comes directly from us! https://twwstore.com

Check out the NEW Guild+ https://thewoodwhispererguild.com/product/subscription/

Would you like your questions pre-loaded into the show? Join our YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKp44bWWZIiOPShPN_ytShw/join or Patreon http://patreon.com/woodwhisperer. and look for the Wednesday question post!

Sign up for our free newsletter to be notified of a new video or other cool stuff happening at The Wood Whisperer! https://thewoodwhisperer.com/newsletter/

The post The Woodworking Morning Show for April 25, 2025 appeared first on The Wood Whisperer.

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Tightening Sliding Dovetails

It’s rarely used, uncomplicated joinery. You don’t need powered equipment for a quick outcome; the joint readily comes dead on when you do it with a handful of bench tools. Ten minutes gets you there––a chisel hammer, two chisels, a knife, square, steel rule and a marking gauge. You can add a hand router plane...

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