Making a Dovetailed Adventure Chest with Shaper Origin

[pamelagard]

I entered the giveaway/sweeps for my son. He has been obsessed with woodworking since he gas been in the hospital. That's all he talks about. My farmer father was excellent with woodworking of any type and I think that's where my son gets it. He is coming home in 5 days and this would be the greatest gift ever for him. My dad passed away in 2009 from cancer or I'm sure without a doubt he would have loved to work along side with his first born grandchild who is now 33 years old. Thank you for keeping traditions alive.

[mrkrause]

Great easy to understand video. You’ve enlarged the range of abilities of the Origin for me. Thank you!

[kevingerald]

This is a very good instructional video on this high tech tool, which I have been tempted to consider buying. Thanks a lot for the informative video. Fortunately after seeing the steps involved and likelihood of making mistakes I can save the money and buy material for more projects. I can see it has a place for some types of work, like inlaying, but don't see the value for traditional joinery. Cheers.

[Bawdsey]

First I would compliment you on a good demonstration and explanation.

The first thing that came into my mind as I read the comments here was that it was like listening or reading the comments of many woodturners who use conventional gouges who knocked the introduction of carbide tools back in the late 2000s. That change helped to get more people turning.


Yes, I know that all you hand tool woodworking folks can do this, but the quality of workmanship will vary wildly. Yes, you have a workshop full of tools and have spent a fair time learning how to use them.

You seem to forget that the number of young people doing woodworking has fallen through the floor compared to 25 years ago, and if you are my age, then make that at least 40 years.


So if you want to get into woodworking, you need the technology to entice them plus many of them have the disposable income to buy these tools.



I am currently using a Shaper Origin and Workstation, no I don’t own it but if I can I will because it does what it claims. As someone who has used gantry based CNC systems plus numerous other machines and jigs on the market over the years, I even had a business selling tools, I can say yes it is expensive but over time it will earn its keep and be the tool that solves your problems, and good quality tools with excellent backup are not cheap.

[johnslaughter]

This is all very nice, but isn't it taking away from the enjoyment of actually making the cabinet? I'd much rather do all this in a traditional way.

[MyCraft_]

are those same dovetail files available on the shaper hub?

[johnchapman]

just an idea but if you used a straight 6mm or 8mm bit to hog out wood then used the dovetail bit would this make it better . so if bit retracted it would not damage the workpiece and would be less strain on both bit and cutter

[TaylerMade]

i could have cut these by hand long before he had that set up.

[FireDiplomat]

Eh, if you have a Shaper Origin this is fine. Personally I'd rather save the $2500 and just practice my dovetails instead. At least then I don't have to pay $18 for a roll of tape to do some work.

[willowrisedoug]

Nope, not for me. Your work is beautiful but I really enjoy the old fashioned ways of joinery.

[ScottWalshWoodworking]

Just want to add my two cents here since everyone is ragging on this video in the comments.

We all know you can hand cut dovetails. We all know you can cut dovetails with a router jig and many other contraptions out there.

I don't own a Shaper Origin, nor do I really have plans to buy one, but it's an interesting machine that is very multi faceted. If you want proof, check out what Phillip Morley is doing with it. It's not a dovetail machine, it's not a template machine, it has proven itself to do much more.

Unfortunately, it seems like the commenters are just a bunch of old men who are scared of new technological developments.

Those who used stone axes laughed at iron tools. Those that used a chisel dismissed the hand saw. Those that only used human powered tools didn't understand why tools need engines or electric motors. Now it's the same story repeating itself with CNC machines.

I suppose it'll take another generation to become accepting of CNC technology, as it become more common in the home wood working shop. I just hope I can be as open-minded when I'm retired.

No offense directed at anyone, but I bet the nay-sayers have been in the reversed role at some point in their lives.

Besides, it's in the friggen title... You know what you clicked on, so you clicked on it purely to make a negative comment.

[shedmusic]

They would have been very disappointed had they sent the Origin to me instead. Nice cabinet.

[glennworton]

lost me as soon as the Shaper was introduced -

[warrenlelond]

Rough crowd!!! Lol! Not for me either, but still enjoyed the video. Always interested in whats new. Very cool technology. Just not for me or this crowd I guess! Hahaha!!

[karenadams]

Not impressed.

Besides being financially out of reach for the casual woodworker, it is letting the computer do all the creative work. The human aspect becomes a drone for the machine. Fine for making many copies of the same thing in a commercial operation but the set up time is way too much for a single piece

[isaach]

I thought this was Popular Woodworking… Not “Popular Maker Space” 🤔😞

[MultiWarrior]

Love the chest, but man you don't need all that technology. I have the plans hand tools will do the job for me. Many thanks

[TomDanaher]

Next great tool will be a robot to assemble the cabinet. Where's the fun in that...

[contra]

I like how the 'play next video' for me in YT is Euro dovetailed drawers starring Mr. Klausz, marking out dovetails by hand faster than scanning domino pattern tape. Sorry mate, Im w most everyone else here, really nice interesting project, id love to make the adventure chest, but not w/ that headache causing machine. Would rather drop the 2.5K on old hand tools instead.

[mark]

I guess none of you have heard of Frank Clause who was a master of cutting dovetail joinery by hand. All hand tools no machines, and the fit was first class!