Layout and proper marking has to be one of the most important skills in hand tool work. Here is a little tip on how to make sure you carry your knife line all the way around the board in a continuous mark. This is especially helpful when you need to cut a board to an exact length or lay out a through mortise. It is always good practice to layout all the lines of your joint and using a knife will help you keep to those lines and avoid chip out around a joint.
Enjoy!
Hey Shannon, very nice! I hadn’t seen your Hand Tool Tips before – I’ll have to go watch the other ones. The intro gives me a headache but I like the video itself! Well done.
Hey!
This technique really only works well if your stock is 100% square, which is rarely my case. Normally, I will mark using two ‘master’ sides, using the square in this way prevents your line from being off when you finally get the last one made.
Great video! Thanks for the tips!
Hell Yeah!
Dan, good point, if you are ever dealing with angled pieces this doesn’t work too well. If your board is not square and it should be well then that is a different matter. The Hand Tool School lesson being released tomorrow will help you fix that.
Ha! mystery solved! Excellent!
RW,
I am curious as to who forged your hold-fast? I like the design and would love to purchase a set. Thanks and great work.
I had Phil Koontz out in Alaska forge these for me some time ago. I believe he turned that part of the business over to his friend Jake however. Check out http://www.galenavillageblacksmith.com and drop them a line and see if they are still making them. They work like a charm!
The holdfast was made by Phil Koontz out in Alaska. http://www.galenavillageblacksmith.com/
hell yeah!! Good common sense stuff. I love your content and have listened to your whole library now. Wish I could swing your school. Look forward to more.
Thanks Bryan, the School is not going anywhere. We will be here when you are ready. I still have plenty more to say on this channel too so you won’t be without stuff to watch.
Hi Shanon – we spoke earlier on The Wood Haven. Keeping track of what you’re up to….
I usually machine most of my stock square so this tip would totally work when I feel like doing hand tool work from that point. Sometimes late at night when I don’t want to make noise or don’t want to get all dusty I use hand tools also. Hell yeah!