Benjamin Smith Posted September 30, 2014 Report Share Posted September 30, 2014 Back when I only had hand tools, I forced myself to do several dovetail joints a day just for practice. Rather than just burn through wood, one day I decided to cut a groove in one and use it to hold my phone to avoid scratches from inevitable woodshop carelessness. Somebody liked it, so I made this one special using maple and walnut. My design requirements were to demonstrably use handtools only, even though I had acquired a router and also sufficient skill to do hand work that looked machined at that point. The two-depth groove allows unknown phone and tablet cases to fit and balance, which has already extended the life of this piece beyond the lifetime of the phone. I cut the groove using regularly spaced drill holes of two different bits, and made it square with the chisel, taking care to preserve evidence of handwork. The primary joint is a hand cut mitered through dovetail, making this a true stand as opposed to having the groove itself support the device. I anticipate that devices would change dimensions frequently, and people buy new ones too. I didn't want the thing to become useless after phone updates. Plus it looks cool. The finish is shellac, french polished with wonderful chatoyance from a few inches of scrap wood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted September 30, 2014 Report Share Posted September 30, 2014 Neat idea w/ good looking dovetails!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post h3nry Posted September 30, 2014 Popular Post Report Share Posted September 30, 2014 taking care to preserve evidence of handwork. I've heard this kind of thing said before - and it's something I just don't get. I don't have to try and make my work look hand-cut, it's a signature that's stamped all over it - I would love it if a woodworker could look at my work and not be able to tell it was all hand-cut. Non-woodworkers really don't care, they just want too see something made "as perfectly as possible (Ruobo)". So I don't get the philosophy of deliberately making sloppy cuts when you have the skill to make a clean one just as easily (which the OP admits he can do). I guess it's up there with "shabby chic" finishes which I don't get either, but are nevertheless popular. To my eye this piece looks like it was made by two people. A craftsman who made a fine dovetailed corner, and a butcher who later added the groove. However, it certainly does draw attention to the quality of the dovetails. oh, and it's a good looking design for a phone-stand too. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Byrdie Posted October 6, 2014 Report Share Posted October 6, 2014 The groove looks like it was cut with an HCM, judging from the points and rings in the bottom. I tend to have to agree with the comment that it looks like two different people crafted this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted October 6, 2014 Report Share Posted October 6, 2014 If you have the skills to cut those dovetails use a sharp chisel to clean up the dado ! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wouldwurker Posted October 7, 2014 Report Share Posted October 7, 2014 I cut the groove using regularly spaced drill holes of two different bits, and made it square with the chisel, taking care to preserve evidence of handwork. Quite a juxtaposition between an elegant dovetail and that groove. Why the intentional decision to leave the holesaw marks if the intent was to highlight handwork? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryMcK Posted October 7, 2014 Report Share Posted October 7, 2014 Good idea. Would look good with clean dado. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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