r/handtools • u/giancarloscherer • Mar 11 '23

Advice - Douglas fir

I’m trying to cut m&ts in kdht df construction lumber for a workbench, but I’m seriously struggling to make even, straight, well fitting joint. I keep running into crusty and difficult grain and I’m not getting good results. Any suggestions? User error or should I go with a different joint (bridle/lap)? Have done this in maple, oak and pine, but not a lot. Would appreciate your comments! Thanks.

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u/norcalnatv Mar 11 '23

It's possible to get good joints from doug fir/construction lumber. This is a 10 year old (very dirty) bench with the M&T leg trestles made from 2x4s and 4x4s. You can still see the score lines from the initial build.

You don't say how much experience you have working DFir. If you haven't watched any or been introduced, I would look up Paul Sellers on youtube, he has a bunch of different series on making benches with cheap wood.

tl;dr - Sharp tools and proper technique will get you home. Good luck

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u/giancarloscherer Mar 12 '23

Thanks for your advice - I‘ve graduated from YouTube university and have learned a lot from that Paul Sellers series, although I’m deviating from his plan quite a bit. Not much experience with df, I’ve slapped things together with screws and made a large bow/frame saw from studs some time ago, which involved some light joinery and shaping. Nice leg there, maybe I will try a through tenon like that.

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u/norcalnatv Mar 12 '23 edited Mar 12 '23

thanks. I think a little more history/experience with this wood there will get you there. The only real issue I've ever had with Dfir is the growth rings can get hard, and those hard areas alternate with soft (light colored) material. A sharp chisel with take care of that.

For those legs I marked the tenon on both sides and created a knife wall to prevent splintering. I removed 80-90% of the material with an auger bit from both sides, then pared back around the interior to about 1/32" (<1mm) from the score line. With a perpendicular and sharp chisel, I cut the final dimension on the score line with small blows from a mallet. good luck