(08-30-2019, 02:31 PM)Hank Knight Wrote: Why are we arguing about this stuff? I think it's good for beginning dovetailers to know that there are various jigs that can help with this skill. They can try them or not and  they may or may not adopt them. If someone finds a jig helpful, good. If they don't, there's no need to denigrate it; others may find it helpful. In my view, it's personal preference thing. I designed and built a jig to help me cut half blind dovetails accurately. I've cut a lot of dovetails over the years and I still use this jig. I posted it once on one of these forums and got slammed for using a jig for beginners. I felt bad for about ten minutes then went happily back to using my jig. I'm all in favor of sharing ideas and experiences with work aids. If someone finds an idea doesn't work for them, that's fine; but there's no reason to take issue with the poster. If it works for the poster, good and thanks for sharing it. It may work for someone else and make their work more enjoyable. Work styles are very personal and become more so as time passes. There's no reason to get in a knot if someone's style differs from your own.

(08-29-2019, 11:53 PM)RonB1957 Wrote: I made a basic moxon vise a while back that puts the dove tail cuts about 7" above my bench. ( six inch vise jaws ) It still feels foreign and a bit awkward to me, no doubt from lack of use. I find myself reaching for my 32* lower hang dovetail saw,  rather than my 38 or 45*. Keeps my wrist a little straighter. I considered making something like Chris's or Jeff's but always came back to "Where am I gong to store it" :
I do think a persons normal stance has a lot to do with the comfort level. Then again, I doubt I will ever cut as many dovetails as Chris has. A lot to be said for practice.  Thanks for posting.

(08-30-2019, 02:03 PM)Handplanesandmore Wrote: YES to your comment regarding storm in a tea cup (many hand tool discussions are like that - tails first, sharpening, etc.) and complicated bench on bench or moxon bench.

NO about your remark that the Barron alignment board is for beginners. His jig is just like any other aids such as the shooting board or bench hook. Granted it doesn't work for all situations but no jigs do. For marking tasks it is designed for, it does a marvelous job - with super precision. I'm no beginner by any definition, but I enjoy using it every time I hand cut dovetails, through, half blind or others.

Simon

(08-31-2019, 10:34 AM)Philip1231 Wrote: Come one, come all: you are hereby invited to comment on my original post concerning dovetail sawing height:

-have you tried it?
-if so, what did you think of it?
-any recommendations for making this approach work even better?

So, to summarize, the topic is the height above the floor that you prefer to saw your dovetails and your thoughts on
this new to me approach of sawing at a much higher altitude.

(08-31-2019, 11:08 AM)Aram Wrote: Some people can clamp a board anywhere, saw the first board without marking, mark out and saw the second board and chisel perfect dovetails. Faster than I can get my tools off the shelf. I guess there are a lot of reasons the rest of us can't. For me, it's about seeing. My vision is not the best even with glasses on. I have to stand at a specific distance (pretty close) to cut accurately. So I have a Moxon type vise to raise the board up. It probably is marginally more comfortable than sawing lower, but that's secondary.