What is your favorite marking device?

You are reading the forum of the Society of American Period Furniture Makers — people who build and study American period furniture.

Membership brings the whole forum, the annual journal and quarterly magazine, the members’ gallery and workbench, and chapters across the country. About membership

J

Jeff L Headley

Well-known member
My marking tool for marking dovetails is a stanley folding knife with a dulled edge. I do not like marking knives beveled on one edge!!!
 
My thoughts on my marking knife are simple. First I don't have a problem with a beveled edge marking knife. I do prefer dull as to not cut the edge (either pin first or tail first) of the dovetail while marking. My knife is sharp but will not cut. This way I get an exact knife line everytime! My problem is with marking knives that are at one angle and are beveled on one side. Period furniture construction is a hard business. Was yesterday will be tomorrow! Why would I want to pick up two different knives to mark one set of tails or pins???
 
Jeff L Headley said:
...Why would I want to pick up two different knives to mark one set of tails or pins???
Click to expand...

If you're making very skinny pins you may need a much thinner marking knife to fit inside, one so thin you may not want to use it for anything else such as marking the tails.

Pam
 
I hope that while discussing marking dovetails I did not touch a nerve also. My dull knife does has a sharp point so I can mark tails or pins.
 
No, no touchy nerves here. And I might note that I'm a freehander in both sharpening and laying out tails, as well as a tails firster. However, I've seen a lot of pins for which the narrowest area will tolerate at most a saw blade or an extremely thin marking knife.

Under no circumstances would I question your dovetails, merely suggesting that a lot of other woodworkers may find themselves needing additional knives.

Pam
 
Hi Jeff,

Thanks for your explanation. We all know that woodworking is not an exact science and most of us end up using whatever feels comfortable and gets consistent results. I for one use a very sharp 2H mechanical pencil for dovetail layout where the lead can be extended to get into tight spaces. (can be hard to see sometimes on dark wood like walnut) I still rely on a marking gauge for shoulder layout. I will sometimes use a beveled edge marking knife for laying out mortise and tenons when a mortise/marking gauge is not practical. I've also used an Xacto knife for very small dovetails. The double bevel on the #11 blade doesn't make a difference which is similar to your knife approach.

Mickey 
 
While I typically use a pencil for dovetails, I do at times use a spear point knife with a bevel only on one side. The knife is only really sharp at the tip. I make them from disposable planer blades which are fairly thin so I can use them on single entry dovetails. I only mark the baseline and do the layout with a saw and my eye, then pencil/knife the mating part. I learned to cut dovetails as a restorer so I cut pins first or tails first depending on which piece is missing or as fancy takes me.
 
A pencil line? Is it a .05 pencil. I could see that but isn't a knife line better. I prefer a hand sharpened pencil #2 or harder pencil.
What are we discussing?
Layout or fitting?
I am talking about a spear point for fitting. After cutting the tails or pins first then transcribing the marks for the tails or pins(which ever you decide first) I like a knife line for fitting but also to start my dovetail saw in the knife line.
Executing dovetails is a personal experience. Once personally established it is hard to change an old dog. Dog on it! I am still trying to learn new tricks.
 
I use 2H pencils for laying out, marking dovetail sockets etc. etc. Depending on the task, I saw, leaving all the line, or part of it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

If this discussion was useful, there are twenty years of them here. Join SAPFM to take part — the forum, the journal, the magazine and the members’ gallery come with membership.

Back
Top