Hand-Cut Dovetails or a Router Jig? | 9

The listener questions start with Wilbur asking about jointing boards with hand planes versus using a power jointer. Marc and Matt explain why a hand plane can work a long board in sections, while a power jointer requires the entire board to travel across the beds in one pass.

Skee asks about mixing wood species in the same project. Marc and Matt agree there are no strict rules. Grain, color, and the overall look should drive the choice, with contrasting or exotic woods often working best as accents. J.T. also reports great results with his new Leigh FMT mortise-and-tenon jig, praising its speed and repeatable fit.

A listener dealing with moisture in his shop asks how to remove rust from cast-iron tool tops and keep it from returning. Marc discusses cleaning the surface with an abrasive and mineral spirits, then protecting it with products such as Boeshield T-9 and a silicone-free wax. Later in the show, a listener follows up with his own long-term use of WD-40, leading to more discussion about rust prevention.

They also tackle twisted, cupped, and warped lumber. Matt suggests cutting problem boards into shorter pieces when possible, while Marc stresses that sometimes the best answer is to scrap a board rather than force unstable stock into a project. Skee follows with a question about sizing furniture parts for the loads they need to carry, and Matt points listeners toward the furniture and project-design resources at WoodBin.

Daryl asks one of the bigger questions of the episode: should you cut dovetails by hand or use a router jig? Marc and Matt discuss the advantages of both approaches, along with pins-first versus tails-first methods and Japanese versus Western saws. There is no single right answer. A jig provides fast, repeatable results, while hand-cut dovetails require more practice but offer a different woodworking experience. Daryl also asks about tuning older Bailey and Stanley planes, and Matt directs him to his hand-plane videos at Matt’s Basement Workshop.

Another listener asks about wood toxicity. Marc’s main advice is not to treat any wood dust as harmless and to use proper dust protection regardless of species. The original show notes also point to Health Hazards in Woodworking and the Botanical Database for more information.

The questions continue with loose mortise-and-tenon joints, planer recommendations, and Marc’s experience working with David Marks. Marc explains that his time in David’s shop was not a traditional paid apprenticeship and points listeners to djmarks.com for information about David’s work and classes.

Louis asks about finishing a cherry bed for his baby daughter. Marc and Matt discuss shellac as a good option and how its warm tone works with cherry. They also talk about application methods and whether additional oil or wax is needed.

Finally, Kevin asks about combination jointer-planer machines. Marc and Matt both prefer separate machines when shop space allows. For someone who already owns a lunchbox planer, they recommend putting the money toward an 8-inch jointer rather than replacing both tools with a combination machine.

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