Jim is a legend in the English wood working world he reminds me of one of my teachers when i was doing my apprenticeship back in the early 1980's i work with the same ethics as he and was taught the same way they don't teach like this any more as the teachers are don't have the knowledge as its a dying trade and every thing has a machine option now R.I.P Jim thank you for leaving this video for all to enjoy 🍺🤠👍🏻
Thanks buddy. You might be pleased to know that I’ve taught all this stuff to a hundred or so bench joinery and cabinetmaking students over the past 5 or so years that I’ve been teaching in further education..
@@DavesRabbitHole I suspect you are correct, as I am one such person. I'm currently enrolled in a furniture school that puts a heavy emphasis on machine work, and have come to recognize that it simply doesn't bring the same joy and engagement that the careful use of hand tools does. In fact I find myself resorting back to their use often during the course. I suspect with some consistent practice, one could become reasonably efficient in comparison to the machining methods--at least in regards to the joinery in one-off pieces (milling and production work notwithstanding). Great comment. 👍
This is RUclips gold dust! There are professionals who are good at what they do and then there are professionals who are good at what they do and whom can teach equally well. So reassuring to know advice you get here is from a genuine master. So cool he made that lock gate! I wonder where that is?! So joyful to watch him teach and demonstrate. It’s as if you’re really in his workshop getting a 1-1! Thanks for putting this up Tim!
Lock gate is on the Basingstoke Canal near Pirbright. I’ve walked past these a million times. The Railway embankment behind gives it away. Some gates have been replaced recently, but no doubt some date back to Jim’s day.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I'll be watching this one numerous times. There are many ways of creating a mortise and tenon joint and there are many videos covering it, but none are so well detailed as to show you which pencil to use and how to sharpen it. It's the little things all the way through the video that make it exceptional. Further, he is teaching exactly the type of wood work I like and do, though not as well as he does it.
I wish I had seen this video before I had to replace the bottom rail in a Victorian sash window at home. Luckily for me it had deteriorated to the point where the original rail was just loose enough to figure out exactly how everything was supposed to be held together. Amazing that everything was held together by mortice and tenon joints, pins and wedges, exactly as shown by Jim, no glue anywhere apart from the putty on the glass!
Appreciate these uploads so much mate, they really dont make them like jim anymore! what a fantastic teacher and craftsman, im only young but youd never get an education this in depth from a college/uni these days, such a shame... keep the craft alive!
I’ve been woodworking for over 45 years now but as a hobby for most of that time. In fact, my first woodworking was about 60 years ago when I was “helping” my grandfather on his shed. In those days, there were absolutely no electric tools for the hobbyist and, indeed, we used dried dogfish skin as sand paper and made our own glue from scavenged hide and bone. I’d never wish those two things on my worst enemy. Some of our chisels were very nice; good hard steel with hardwood handles but some had such soft steel. The reality is that not everything old is better than we have now. I have to be very selective about what hand work I do these days. My body just can’t take a longish period of hand planing or chisel work. So, I use machines to get me within a cats whisker of where I need to be and then I hand finish. However, I regularly use a domino and a router just to appease the old bones. Id suggest there are 2 elements to fine woodworking. One clearly is the skills needed but the first is the design. Everything we used to make was rectangular; tables, cabinets, cupboards were all 90 degree work. When you start introducing angles, simple curves and complex curves, the design world opens up but so does the requirement for skills. Making a mortice and tenon in square stock, as shown here, is not difficult to master but try and replicate that with 2 curved pieces and, suddenly, you have to really think. I am certainly no fan of the dovetail joint these days. I understand why it was developed those centuries ago because we needed a mechanical joint with the chemical joint (glues) being relatively weak. These days, the glues are as strong as the timber and can even glue end grain very well. I did a design once for a lady for a cabinet in the Arts and Crafts style. As befits that style, it was relatively simple in design but with several interesting points. She liked it until I showed her the detail of the drawer which had dovetails. She asked if we really needed “those funny arrow things” as they contrasted with the simplicity of the design. Once I had gone away, it dawned on me that she was correct. There was no need for dovetails and I had put them in out of habit. Worse than that, I realised that I often put in dovetails to show off to other makers that I could cut elegant dovetails. What stupidity. Now, I rarely incorporate dovetails and only when I can use something like hounds tails. The old maxim - just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. You can never forget form and function in your design. Get that balance right and then your learned skills become much more relevant. Apologies for the ramble
I once saw a video of an old school cabinet maker (can't remember who unfortunately, but someone relatively well known I think) say that if they had the glues we had today, in the old days, they never would have invented the dovetail joint.
@@robertharris1748 I’m of the same opinion. Dovetails can be found back to Egyptian times but, for simplicity, I start with Tudor but particularly the Chippendale period. Chips, as he was known to his friends, was the consummate business man and only did things for profit. For instance, the hidden parts of his works such as chests are as rough as old houses - because no user ever saw them. I’m sure he would not have paid workmen to cut dovetails if he could devise a cheaper way given what he had available to him. I’m not anti every dovetail because I have seen some which add to the piece. However, on most occasions, I’m reminded “just because you can, doesn’t mean you should”
40 years ago I was learning all this from books. Seeing it done by those who actually apprenticed and then worked for years in the trade is a true walk through history. Thank you.
A 1000 time Thank you from Asia ! It is just so accurate , such a pleasure to learne with this great man . Can' wait to see ,and learn more . It is magic .
Absolutely AMAZING! Apart from the 'technical side' of things, what a character!!! All these skills are being lost in our modern day and age. Having done courses with David Charlesworth RIP and Paul Sellers, this video and others on your channel like it, featuring this lovely gentleman, reinforces everything (and more) that I was taught and shown. What amongst many things I found interesting was the way in which he has embraced Japanese tools, something I am trying out for myself. Thank you for putting it up; it was a delight to watch. Keep 'em coming I say and the more the merrier! Regards, Chris
Incredible video and so useful. One small detail: 0:31 what plane is he using to make those bevels on that plank? For years I’ve wanted to know how you can do that with hand tools.
Jim is a legend in the English wood working world he reminds me of one of my teachers when i was doing my apprenticeship back in the early 1980's i work with the same ethics as he and was taught the same way they don't teach like this any more as the teachers are don't have the knowledge as its a dying trade and every thing has a machine option now R.I.P Jim thank you for leaving this video for all to enjoy 🍺🤠👍🏻
Thanks buddy. You might be pleased to know that I’ve taught all this stuff to a hundred or so bench joinery and cabinetmaking students over the past 5 or so years that I’ve been teaching in further education..
@@DavesRabbitHole I suspect you are correct, as I am one such person. I'm currently enrolled in a furniture school that puts a heavy emphasis on machine work, and have come to recognize that it simply doesn't bring the same joy and engagement that the careful use of hand tools does. In fact I find myself resorting back to their use often during the course. I suspect with some consistent practice, one could become reasonably efficient in comparison to the machining methods--at least in regards to the joinery in one-off pieces (milling and production work notwithstanding).
Great comment. 👍
The first thing I noticed is that as soon as he is done with a tool, he immediately puts in back in its place.❤
This is RUclips gold dust! There are professionals who are good at what they do and then there are professionals who are good at what they do and whom can teach equally well. So reassuring to know advice you get here is from a genuine master. So cool he made that lock gate! I wonder where that is?! So joyful to watch him teach and demonstrate. It’s as if you’re really in his workshop getting a 1-1! Thanks for putting this up Tim!
Lock gate is on the Basingstoke Canal near Pirbright. I’ve walked past these a million times. The Railway embankment behind gives it away. Some gates have been replaced recently, but no doubt some date back to Jim’s day.
16:30 "That's as near the middle as it matters". Beautiful...
I love this guy!
Thanks Jim every day we learn more and grasp new and brlient woodworking techniques
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I'll be watching this one numerous times. There are many ways of creating a mortise and tenon joint and there are many videos covering it, but none are so well detailed as to show you which pencil to use and how to sharpen it. It's the little things all the way through the video that make it exceptional. Further, he is teaching exactly the type of wood work I like and do, though not as well as he does it.
Thank you so much. I wondered how I'd missed this one and I see you only just put it up. How kind to share. Mr Kingshott is an absolute Gem!!!
Always welcome!
I wish I had seen this video before I had to replace the bottom rail in a Victorian sash window at home. Luckily for me it had deteriorated to the point where the original rail was just loose enough to figure out exactly how everything was supposed to be held together. Amazing that everything was held together by mortice and tenon joints, pins and wedges, exactly as shown by Jim, no glue anywhere apart from the putty on the glass!
Appreciate these uploads so much mate, they really dont make them like jim anymore! what a fantastic teacher and craftsman, im only young but youd never get an education this in depth from a college/uni these days, such a shame... keep the craft alive!
What a great craftsman to watch ,listen and learn from.I truly enjoy watching this man’s work videos 👍👍
Thank you so much Tim.
This is pure gold.
Thank goodness we know have this for posterity.
Cheers, Tim from Australia
Always welcome! From one Tim to another!
These are a real treasure trove, thanks so much. Really top quality craftsmanship, beautifully explained.
I also appreciate his outfit…Vest and Apron…Very British!❤
Really enjoying this channel. The amount of information in these videos is unbelievable.
Thanks buddy
I’ve been woodworking for over 45 years now but as a hobby for most of that time. In fact, my first woodworking was about 60 years ago when I was “helping” my grandfather on his shed. In those days, there were absolutely no electric tools for the hobbyist and, indeed, we used dried dogfish skin as sand paper and made our own glue from scavenged hide and bone. I’d never wish those two things on my worst enemy.
Some of our chisels were very nice; good hard steel with hardwood handles but some had such soft steel. The reality is that not everything old is better than we have now.
I have to be very selective about what hand work I do these days. My body just can’t take a longish period of hand planing or chisel work. So, I use machines to get me within a cats whisker of where I need to be and then I hand finish. However, I regularly use a domino and a router just to appease the old bones.
Id suggest there are 2 elements to fine woodworking. One clearly is the skills needed but the first is the design. Everything we used to make was rectangular; tables, cabinets, cupboards were all 90 degree work. When you start introducing angles, simple curves and complex curves, the design world opens up but so does the requirement for skills. Making a mortice and tenon in square stock, as shown here, is not difficult to master but try and replicate that with 2 curved pieces and, suddenly, you have to really think.
I am certainly no fan of the dovetail joint these days. I understand why it was developed those centuries ago because we needed a mechanical joint with the chemical joint (glues) being relatively weak. These days, the glues are as strong as the timber and can even glue end grain very well. I did a design once for a lady for a cabinet in the Arts and Crafts style. As befits that style, it was relatively simple in design but with several interesting points. She liked it until I showed her the detail of the drawer which had dovetails. She asked if we really needed “those funny arrow things” as they contrasted with the simplicity of the design. Once I had gone away, it dawned on me that she was correct. There was no need for dovetails and I had put them in out of habit. Worse than that, I realised that I often put in dovetails to show off to other makers that I could cut elegant dovetails. What stupidity. Now, I rarely incorporate dovetails and only when I can use something like hounds tails. The old maxim - just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.
You can never forget form and function in your design. Get that balance right and then your learned skills become much more relevant.
Apologies for the ramble
No need to apologise, I’m thankful you spent the time you write this, much appreciated and interesting to read. Thank you.
I once saw a video of an old school cabinet maker (can't remember who unfortunately, but someone relatively well known I think) say that if they had the glues we had today, in the old days, they never would have invented the dovetail joint.
@@robertharris1748 I’m of the same opinion. Dovetails can be found back to Egyptian times but, for simplicity, I start with Tudor but particularly the Chippendale period. Chips, as he was known to his friends, was the consummate business man and only did things for profit. For instance, the hidden parts of his works such as chests are as rough as old houses - because no user ever saw them. I’m sure he would not have paid workmen to cut dovetails if he could devise a cheaper way given what he had available to him.
I’m not anti every dovetail because I have seen some which add to the piece. However, on most occasions, I’m reminded “just because you can, doesn’t mean you should”
What an interesting guy, my old working teacher was only a chip off the block compared to Jim. Working and history lessons all rolled into one 👌
I wish to add my thanks for making this series available to us - thank you!
Jim was a true woodworking Master and Teacher
40 years ago I was learning all this from books. Seeing it done by those who actually apprenticed and then worked for years in the trade is a true walk through history. Thank you.
Thanks a lot for this. Really loving these Kingshott videos.
A 1000 time Thank you from Asia ! It is just so accurate , such a pleasure to learne with this great man . Can' wait to see ,and learn more .
It is magic .
Thank you!
The hand tool Roy Sutton! ❤👏
Great comparison!
Thanks bro loving these vids of Jim kingshot this guy is quality to watch
Always welcome! Thanks for watching
just brilliant, thank you for sharing
❤☦🕊
Thank's for the upload, great tutorial.
Absolutely AMAZING! Apart from the 'technical side' of things, what a character!!! All these skills are being lost in our modern day and age. Having done courses with David Charlesworth RIP and Paul Sellers, this video and others on your channel like it, featuring this lovely gentleman, reinforces everything (and more) that I was taught and shown. What amongst many things I found interesting was the way in which he has embraced Japanese tools, something I am trying out for myself.
Thank you for putting it up; it was a delight to watch.
Keep 'em coming I say and the more the merrier!
Regards,
Chris
Thanks Chris!
Learning Alot from this Master. Would love to see all of his videos. Thanks for sharing them with us.
Mesmerising...when was this filmed?
1995 buddy
@@Dovetailtim Thanks, I left school 95, seems like a long time ago now.
👍👍👍
Incredible video and so useful.
One small detail: 0:31 what plane is he using to make those bevels on that plank? For years I’ve wanted to know how you can do that with hand tools.
It’s an old school moulding plane, i think maybe a lambs tongue profile..? I’ve got a fair few kicking around in my tool chest.
@@Dovetailtim thanks for replying! I’ll look out for one :)
Please tell me there a 100 more of these videos?
I wish, 6 altogether.. the last 2 are coming, having to convert from 30 year old VHS…
Where does one get that pin marking gauge?
I recon the late great Jim made it.
I agree. They are very easy to make and every version that I’ve seen is slightly different.