gph writes :

>I have some technique questions...as I continue my apprenticeship...

Can't see where you could go wrong by practicing.  I've always been
a bit uncomfortable with the project-oriented nature of a lot of us.
As if practicing while not producing is no longer acceptable.

>Do any of the masters out there reading this list have any opinions?  
>How about suggestions of other "exercises"?

I'm certainly no master, but that doesn't stop me from having
opinions :-)  I'm strongly of the opinion that if you want to
end up being able to cut to the line, and not have to pare, you
have to practice by cutting to the line.  I've cut a very few 
practically perfect dovetails by cutting wide and paring for
:hours: until the fit was just right.  All I learned was how
to pare.  I now go ahead as if I've done the operation all my
life and live with the result, which gets better every time.

My current favourite exercise, that I'll often do when I want to 
get away from reality for a bit, is to grab a rail-type piece of
wood and, using either just a pencil and my fingers as a guide,
or a marking gauge, mark off the end as :

    ---------------------------         -----------
                      |        |       |   |   |   |  
                      |--------|       |---|---|---|
      (4 sides)       |        |       |   |   |   |  (end)
                      |--------|       |---|---|---|
                      |        |       |   |   |   |
   ----------------------------         -----------

Then grab my two tenon saws and saw out then tenon.  I then make
similar marks on the end of the tenon and repeat the process.  
And repeat until I run out of wood.  I then saw off the works
with a final crosscut.  I end up with some pretty neat pieces 
that look like the Empire State Building (great for the kids).

Paul P

Montreal (Quebec)