Just something that will hopefully spark a friendly discussion... I was watching this episode of How It's Made this morning: They open the segment with the words "use ... traditional furniture construction techniques." Let's call them TFCT. We can all agree that mortise and tenon joinery is a TFCT. We can all agree that steam bending is a TFCT. Let's consider "mortise and tenon" techniques. We've moved from chisels to foot operator mortisers to computer controlled mortisers as shown in the video. Is creating mortises and tenons with the assistance of a computer still considered a TFCT? Let's consider "steam bending" techniques. We've moved from home made jigs, manual clamps and multiple days of dry time to devices that use radio frequencies to dry thick pieces of wood to a precise moisture content in 1 hour. The question is: When have we left TFCT behind? Do we simply say "The fact that the chair was constructed with mortise and tenon joinery and steam bent parts means that TFCT were used" or do we say "Improvements, efficiencies and high tech devices have removed the use of TFCT from this chair build"?

3 I read TFCT as the construction style not the construction tools that are used.

What's Your Definition Of "Traditional Techniques"?

Jul 16, 2017 23 Replies

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dpb 9 years ago

On 07/19/2017 12:56 PM, Bob La Londe wrote: ...

And it's getting that _first_ femur that's the real trick... :)

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Markem 9 years ago

Well were are back to traditional wood working you need to make an atlatl to get that first femur.

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Bob La Londe 9 years ago

Well were are back to traditional wood working you need to make an atlatl to get that first femur.

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No sir. No new fangled tools allowed.

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mostyn harvey 9 years ago

haha no machinery involved what so ever!

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