Serious question: hand-cut dovetails vs router jig - which actually works better for production work?

I built 15 drawers last month for a kitchen in Somerville and tried doing half by hand and half with my Porter-Cable jig. The hand-cut ones look amazing but took me about 45 minutes each, while the router ones took 15 minutes tops and look just as tight. My old boss swears hand-cut is the only way to go, but I'm starting to think the router is better for anything over 5 drawers. Anyone else find the hand-cut pride isn't worth the time?

2 comments

2 Comments

seth_martinez2118d ago

I read in Fine Woodworking that hand-cut dovetails are really about the journey not the drawer.

grace_perry4418d ago

Tbh this is exactly the kind of zen koan they hand out at woodworking retreats to justify spending three hours on a single joint. You know you've gone too far when you're meditating on the spiritual meaning of your sawdust pile while the drawer's sitting there gaping open like a fish. Ngl I've been there though, staring at a half-finished tail board and convincing myself the real treasure is the shavings on the floor. But at some point you gotta ask yourself if the journey includes ever actually owning a functional piece of furniture or if you're just building a very expensive collection of scrap wood.