Bed Steps

Bed Steps

The finished product in service in the Plank Room at Lathrop Manor B&B

Bed Steps with Hand Made Dovetail Joints

Hand Made Bed Steps in the Lathrop Room

Bed Steps In Progress

Work in Progress

Hand Tools

Dining Table

Note the natural edge of this dining table

Hand Cut Dovetails

Fifteen years ago when I first started woodworking I was always impressed with the pictures of people who built furniture using dovetails for the joinery. My first foray into the art of dovetail joinery was on a sweater chest I had built for myself. It was also the first piece I had designed and drew plans for. I wanted the drawers and the plinth to have dovetails and used the Craftsman dovetail jig my brother had in the shop that we shared at the time. I was really pleased with the way the joints and the overall piece turned. However, afterwords, one of used the jig and forgot to put the bushing on the router and destroyed it and the router bit.



I didn't buy a new jig and pretty much had moved out of the shop and never really gave dovetail joints much thought as I had nowhere to really work for a couple of years.



When I moved into my current shop four years ago the need for a new jig kept coming to mind, but wasn't at the top of the list of the tools I needed so I ignored them for a while but was always thinking of learning to do them by hand. Since then I have acquired two dovetail jigs, one being a Leigh which has the reputation as being the best. I spent some time learning to use it and was happy with the results. But at the same time, I kept having a desire to learn to cut them by hand. When I told a couple of my fellow woodworkers this they all asked the same question, "Why?".

I had asked myself that same question time and again and never really came up with anything more than desire as the answer. In the last year though I have done more studying in order to become a better craftsman and move away from just building for the sake of creating another table. It is known that all great furniture makers are great craftsman and all great furniture craftsman have an intimate relationship with hand tools.

When I first started making tables and and cabinets I used powered machines exclusively. The machines themselves take a lot of maintenance and can be problematic. Also, hand work can make you better at understanding wood and it's characteristics. To make a long story less longer than I already have I decided in the last few weeks to start learning how to cut the dovetail joints by hand. I sharpened my chisels and my dovetail saw and began watching every video I could find on the Internet on the best way to do it.

I began two weeks ago laying out and cutting two sets of dovetail joints by hand everyday. It is definitely one of the harder things I have tried to teach myself in the shop. They have laid out wrong, the cuts with the saw crooked, the chisel work sloppy and the joints extremely loose. But as each day goes by the sawing becomes easier and the joints tighter. It can be a bit frustrating, but I know in the end it will make me a better woodworker and craftsman, the end product more beautiful and my work more valuable. But most importantly, it will be more gratifying knowing that I did with my own two hands and not a machine.

Boxes

Small detailed boxes hone the machine. They also make beautiful small pieces of furniture. Desktop size.

Sofa Table

Antique wood, truly one-of-a-kind





















Detail of sofa table currently on display at Devon Antiques in Stonington Borough, CT

Sofa Table

Breadboard detailing
















Sofa table, leg detailing

Electronics Cabinet

Beautiful cabinet hand crafted to respect the Colonial home it furnishes.

Marco in his wood shop.

A Colonial solution to a modern need.

This cabinet was custom designed to fit the components allowing additional space for storage.  The left side of the lower cabinet slides out to allow easy access to hook up wires.  The lower shelf is movable as is the right side shelves to allow variable options to change or add equipment.

Crown molding to respect the room that it graces.

A colonial solution to a modern need.  This option is painted Linen White with White trim to match the surroundings.  The wood stained top mirrors the banister located just out of the picture frame.

Table

Marco is not only an award winning chef but he also loves to work with wood.  This handsome Dining Table  is an example of his craftsmanship and attention to detail.

This table was hand made from over 250 year old wide plank boards.  It is rare to find boards of this width from that era as they did not have electric equipment.  

The equipment in this part of Connecticut was powered by water.  The rounded marks are a result of the old water saw.

These Bread Board ends allow for movement of the wood from Summer to Winter as the wood expands and contracts.  Without this, the wood might split from the tension.

This table is currently for sale at Devon House Antiques & Gallery at 72 Water Street in Stonington, Connecticut.  This shop specializes in reproduction furniture made from wood from this era.

Coffee Table

The visible saw marks in this large board is a result of the water driven saw.  

The beauty of this table is that it retains the characteristics of the old wood.

This apron mirrors that of a table that was also built for the same Living Room.

Sofa Table

Sofa table with decorative apron.  

This custom table was built from salvaged wood.  It was originally in a scrap pile.  

Sofa table

Sofa table with saw marks

Panelling

Cherry panelling adorns the walls of the Tavern Room.  While this is a new installation, the clean and simple design could have originally been on the walls in this handsome room from the Colonial Era.

In addition to the wall panels, the mantle was custom made from solid 8/4 Cherry and handmade custom trim.

Custom Cherry Panelling complete with Aussie Bar.

B&B Dining Table

This beautiful dining table is made of 250 year old Chestnut wide plank floorboards.

This long table is suited for communal dining; perfect for Thanksgiving Dinner and B&B Breakfasts.

The beauty of this wood is in it's length; each board is over 12 1/2 feet long.  Breadboard ends complete the Colonial Era feel.

Table is completed by the perfect place to stash your peas and carrots.