Many here have used Greene and Greene techniques when building furniture, boxes, etc. I've never done G&G before so today I decided to start experimenting. Keep in mind here that these are being done roughly so I can decide if I'm going to go further. Usually box finger joints employ a G&G flavor but I wanted to see how the technique would look with hand cut dovetails. I bought a 5/16" square hole punch from Lee Valley and started into it after cutting the dovetails.
This was done on pine. The punch is very sharp but I found it tricky to judge how hard to tap with the hammer in order to get crisp cuts. It wasn't too bad but I'm learning. SplinterGroup had a few good suggestions which I tried and it was helpful. Making the plugs wasn't bad at all and I have developed a few ways to make them. On these I made darted reliefs. It just a flavor. Not sure I like them. No finish has been applied yet. Maybe I'll shellac it all.
i like your adaptation on the G&G style. your plugs are set too low though. they should have a pillow look and set proud. but i love the look of light wood with medium plugs.
i knew you were up to something with all the square punch talk !
working with my hands is a joy,it gives me a sense of fulfillment,somthing so many seek and so few find.-SAM MALOOF.
Good tests Rick! The G&G design is "soft" as they didn't seem to like hard joinery. I've used a similar cloud lift profile, but someday want to get the 3-D style used.
This is before I figured a better way to make plugs so I used copper rivets instead. 12 plugs for a small box would have been too painful!
Pottz...there's mixed opinion about how high or low to set them. Darrell Peart says they should only be raised above the surface by .010 to. 015". How crazy is that?! It's like flat. Next one I do I'm going to see about raising them higher. The plugs themselves are pillowed nicely.
I think that is to the bottom of the pillow curve where the flat begins.
How far oversize did you go on the plugs? If you get a tight fit it'll push out the hole to fit tightly with the plug, I think 1/64" is common (and a slight chamfer on the base to ease entry).
Nicely done! I bought Darrel Peart's book, "In the Greene and Greene Style", as I am interested in doing some things in that style. Got a ton of projects ahead of it, though.
Splint- I like the copper plugs, but these aging eyes are having a bit of trouble telling the shape. Having awakened at 3:45 AM isn't helping...
Oh those! Didn't know those were called 3D cloud lifts. Thought I saw them as corner cloud lifts. Ive download all kinds of info. I can see I'm in a heap of trouble venturing into this.
thanks rick. dont be afraid of the water, life guards are on duty. as for the plugs i made them a tiny bit bigger than the square and tapered the ends with a chisel. so when i pounded them in it was a tight fit with no rough edges.
I think that is to the bottom of the pillow curve where the flat begins.
this is what i did.
working with my hands is a joy,it gives me a sense of fulfillment,somthing so many seek and so few find.-SAM MALOOF.
Steven, they are just round head rivets (<1/4" head and 1/8" shank) Thanks, Splint! If one wanted to go further into the Craftsman style, would they patinate them? I realize that this is drifting from G&G, but I'm curious.
Wow, quite a good conversation going on here, plenty of good advise Rick, a lot to ponder. As for my input, I say go with whatever pleases you the most, it'll be your creation.
