Am I the only one who botched a mortise and tenon back when we did everything by hand?

I remember learning cabinetmaking from my dad, who swore by hand tools. We'd spend hours chiseling out mortises, and if you weren't careful, the wood could split. Once, I was making a frame for a cabinet and misjudged the grain direction. The tenon snapped right off when I tried to fit it. Had to scrap the piece and cut a new one from scratch. These days, with routers and jigs, it's almost foolproof. But there's something about the hands-on skill that made you respect the material. Do you think we've lost some of that connection with modern tools?

4 comments

4 Comments

the_claire3mo ago

Used to agree until my router made a perfect one.

quinna892mo ago

My buddy swore routers always left messy edges until his DeWalt made a circle cleaner than a traced pencil line. He was setting up a new workshop and needed a hole for a tube, figured it would take sanding after. The thing cut through the plywood like butter and left the round piece so smooth he just dropped it right into place. Totally changed how he plans projects now because he trusts the tool to do its job. Kinda wild when a piece of gear proves you wrong in the best way. Makes you realize some things just need the right setup to work perfectly.

miles_burns2mo ago

Man, I read this article a while back about how router bit quality is the real secret. It argued that a cheap bit in a great router will still tear out, but a premium bit makes even a modest tool sing. Claire's point totally lines up with that. It's less about the router brand and more about that sharp, well-made cutter spinning at the right speed. Once you get that combo dialed in, the results are stupidly clean. Makes all the hand wringing about technique seem overblown.

the_jennifer2mo ago

But does a perfect cut really matter that much? Sometimes the old way gave things more character. Seems like folks get too hung up on precision now.