I used to hand-cut every single dovetail for my drawers, but after a custom kitchen job in Portland required 42 drawers in 3 weeks, I finally broke down and bought a jig.

Now I spend half the time on joinery and can actually focus on the finish work, but part of me still feels like I sold out a little bit, you know?

2 comments

2 Comments

rivera.simon2d ago

Honestly, the jig just moved the skill from your hands to your setup. Getting that perfect still takes a real eye.

troystone2d ago

Yeah, @rivera.simon nailed it about the skill moving to the setup. Getting that jig dialed in so it cuts clean is its own craft. The real win is getting that time back for the parts people actually see and touch, like sanding and finishing. That's where the piece really comes alive.