Yes, the hand cut dovetail joint is still alive and well. Oh sure — in today’s world of power tools and gadgets, many woodworkers and production shops use jigs combined with routers, bandsaws, tablesaws, or purpose-built dovetailing machines to enable quick and repeatable results. But there remain very good reasons to cut dovetails by hand and many advocates who continue to practice this traditional skill.

No matter what your experience level (whether you’ve tried making dovetails by hand in the past or you are interested in learning something new) there are secrets to getting easier and better results. In this complete two part tutorial, I introduce to you Cabinetmaker Craig Vandall Stevens’s systematic approach. In this “Part One” video, Craig masterfully reveals his logical and precise steps to cutting elegant dovetail pins, quickly and efficiently. You’ll learn how to layout the pins using a marking gauge and bevel jig; saw cut to the lines; and cleanly chop out the waste with a chisel — all with minimal risk and trouble. Master the handmade dovetail. (9.5 Minute Woodworking Video – Part 1 of 2)

For part two in this dovetailing series go to: How to Hand Cut Precision Dovetails: The Tails (Part 2 of 2)

During any segmented turning project, clamping a stack of rings together during glue-up is one key step in the process. There are various ways of accomplishing this task. Some craftspeople use a type of press similar to a book binding press (Woodtreks guest artisan, Don Leman, uses a beautiful shop-made press.) Other turners will clamp the glued wood ring-stack assembly directly on their lathe, between the headstock and the tailstock. But toolmaker and woodturner Mark Damron uses another very clever and inexpensive approach.

In this quick video, Marks shows you how to make and use his simple — and cheap — “Rod Clamp”. It might become a real favorite. All you need is a threaded rod, some MDF board, a T-nut, washer, and nut. For less than $10, you can have a first-class clamp that will work for almost any segmented turning or stack ring lamination project. (2 Minute Woodworking Video)