As I noted in a previous post regarding my Handcut Dovetail Hopechest class, we learned about cutting tails first. I came into the class with no opinion on the old battle about cutting pins vs tails first. Even if I had, I would have probably gone with the direction from the class. What’s the point in taking a class unless you are there to learn what they are teaching?
Recently, I came across some reasoning why pins should be cut. The majority of the reasons were not really valid to me. I mean they were fine reasons but usually had a balancing reason for the opposite point of view. One reason though seemed simple and clear. It’s not a major reasons but a minor convenience improvement.
It comes down to marking the opposing item (pins if tails are cut first or tails in pins are cut first). When you cut tails first, you need to go to an extra step to mark the pins out. From my class, it required finding some support for the tails board while you hold it at 90 degrees to the pin board. On the other hand, if you cut pins first, the pin board gets to stand on the tails board with no additional support other than your hand holding it still and at 90 degrees.
I’ve only tried once but it does seem to be a minor improvement over the method. I’ll try it a few more times and see how it works out.
Are there any other thoughts on this eternal debate?
