super shim

I used a 'shawn shim' while making my tool chest- and realized it can be improved. In this video I show how to make a better shim, without needing machine tools to do it. If you ever make dovetails, this is something that will help.

[@anthonygreen1975]

Hi Mike
I enjoyed your video but trying to get my head around it.
So the shim you added to angel brass should that be same thickness of the saw that will cut the wood.

[@Tensquaremetreworkshop]

That's right! It shifts the top workpiece left or right by the thickness (kerf) of the blade, so the final tails and pins with be a close fit. Being L shaped, it also ensures that the top part does not move forward or back during cutting. This way of making dovetails removes a lot of the errors of just using a marking knife- you are cutting the pins to match the actual tails, rather than where they should be... It is a method championed by Rob Cosman- but my shim is both (much) cheaper and more functional than the one he uses.

[@SirBenJamin_]

That still looks fiddly and error prone. If only there was some kind of clamping mechanism 😉😉😉

[@Tensquaremetreworkshop]

Yes, clamping could be arranged- or a jig that guided the saw blade. But at some point it stops being hand woodworking. A matter of judgement, of course. But this jig ‘upgrade' should not cross anyone's threshold… I certainly find it a lot easier to use.

[@SirBenJamin_]

@@Tensquaremetreworkshop I was referring more to jigs like the dove tail alignment boards that have been around since forever :)

[@Tensquaremetreworkshop]

@@SirBenJamin_ Yes, I know. Dovetail cutting ranges from entirely hand and eye to 'press the button' CNC. Many enjoy the making of projects 'by hand'- although they may disagree about how many aids are acceptable. Marking gauges? few would object. A hand held gauge such as this? A small step. Complete dovetail alignment jigs? Suggest it and then step back smartly...
Personally, I like both. I will cut some wood joints on my milling machine, because I like the precision. But I also like making dovetails with hand tools, there is a satisfaction in developing skills. There is no 'right' answer- we do these things for pleasure, and if that is working nothing else matters.

[@SirBenJamin_]

@@Tensquaremetreworkshop You might have a different understanding of what a dovetail alignment jig is. It does not take the skill out of it. It just holds things in place at right angles, avoiding the issue you had

[@Tensquaremetreworkshop]

@@SirBenJamin_ I have seen several dovetail alignment boards, and none of them gave the lateral shift to allow for saw kerf. Of course they could- but then the alignment of the front faces (on all the ones I have seen) is still a manual one. Whilst holding the top board against the fence.
IMHO using a making knife is inferior to using a saw blade to mark the position- the saw gives a slot that the dovetail saw just drops into, very accurate.
A dovetail board, with a shim against the fence ( for half of the cuts), and a top clamp, would give and hold alignment. But if you want to reference off either side (and with a four cornered structure you would want to use one face, meaning two joints referenced from each side) you need a second fence or multiple shims. And it is large. Mine fits into the pocket.
This was never meant to be the 'ultimate' jig- just an improvement on the 'shawn shim' that is widely used. It works for me.