Be a Copycat
Acceptable joinery is the easy part.
It’s a very good idea to be a copycat woodworker. Why? Because true originality and design flair is rarefied air. In my opinion, 99% of us aren’t capable of reaching that level. Let’s not forget the mechanical side of things. Think about these two aspects, method and design.
Woodworking methods have not improved over the past 300 years. The methods of joining wood successfully have been refined over time with clear evidence of evolution. The overused but accurate reference of dovetails being at least 4000 years old underlines this. Yes, there are variations on methods depending on your preference of power, hand methods or a combination of both. After all, a Domino is just a big dowel/loose tenon machine, a biscuit jointer is a lose tongue machine, a router is a rotating moulding plane. These useful contraptions didn’t really change the underlying principles. Those that employ these new devices as a shortcut will suffer the consequences. Understanding the method and why we adopt it in each setting is the most important thing.
I put forward that there are four joints that are the foundation for everything that most home woodworkers need. Edge joining, dovetails, housings (dados to some) and the mortice and tenon. Master these four and you’ll be rock solid. The variations of these fundamental joints, as they are presented will come easily. This is the first chance where you get to copy! Nobody owns these methods of joining wood. If your chosen source material or Guru tries to attach their name to a process, proceed with caution. You’re likely being sold to or being drawn in by someone’s unchecked ego.
Pick up and half decent book, blog article or YouTube video and practice. You will master these four joints with a few good tools and some practice. For the most part, avoid the gimmicks. Look for simple methods that rely on cutting to a line. It will be hard going to start with, but once you can cut to a line a whole world opens up. If you end up preferring shims, jigs and tricks then that’s absolutely fine. Everyone’s situation is different.
Then to design. Making some passable joinery is pretty easy. Making something that looks attractive is pretty hard. Being able to design really good furniture is easier if you keep it simple. Lot’s of contrasting colours and species just for the sake of it looks awful. It looks like a scrap bin threw up on the job. Again, look to copy. There is an endless supply of magazine step-by-step, books both old and new and plans you can buy. What you make doesn’t have to be a carbon copy, just something that feels right. I like scrap booking ideas from my Instagram. Antique dealers are a mainstay for me and well worth a follow. You will often find sizing on the listing. Plus, if you’ve mastered the method, it’s not normally too hard to figure out a way to join all the bits together.
The most important thing to do is give some credit. If you have a source of inspiration, let people know where it came from. Overtime you may develop your own style and the source of inspiration may be well into the rear view mirror. But it’s still there. I still check in on the Lost Art Press blog. It’s updated regularly and I like the simple and functional look to many of the items. I like Mike Pekovich’s work . The work is calm a very neatly done. I don’t set out to copy those sources but I can’t help but soak some of it up. A case of monkey see monkey do.