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So here are some dovetails I have done by hand. I haven't been doing this very long at all for those who didn't see my previous posts and wouldn't know I have only been at it for a week! I am thoroughly loving it and am really enjoying noticing how much better each joint I do gets. Before...

Ah, Brilliant. Thank you all for the replies. I just went out and spent a bit of time putting together what would be a draw I suppose although it is just cuts and joints for practice more than anything and the first couple are perfect! I couldn't be happier with them considering my previous...

Cheers Steve. I have found that, whilst chiseling out my sockets, parts of the face edge have been crumbling off with the piece I'm removing. I'll take a look into where I can find some Meranti.

That's a good idea. I am using pine and have wondered how different it would be to be using hardwood so I might have to try that when I exhaust the pine I'm currently on. I'm glad that is what most people do as it is what I have been doing - leaving the fingers long - so that I could plane them...

Thank a lot, Bob. I'll look into those! I'll have to see how cheaply I can source them as it appears I have quite a bit to purchase and very little to purchase it all with at the moment! Ha!

So I've spent the last couple of days practicing my finger and dovetail joints. They fit snugly, not quite to the point where they require tapping in with a mallet, but well enough to hold in place. Although there is a long way to go before my work becomes even close to being worthy of building...

Wow. I'm really glad you found what you were looking for in woodworking. I'd love to get to making some nice furniture. I'm just doing it for fun at the moment! I'm a recently qualified diagnostic radiographer and love my job...for now...haha. So I'm more of a hobbyist I would say. I've got a...

Ill definitely do that, thank you. I really need to get on top of sharpeningfor my chisels too. This is something I haven't rally considered yet it have been told before so ill make it a priority. I've been making some finger joints, tried a dovetail or two and they fit snug...but because I'm...

Great reply. Thank you so much for the insight into someone who was in my position not too long ago. Thankfully I have a similar startup kit to the one you had only without a couple of bits. The things I planned to buy next happen to all be the things you had at start up which I don't, so I now...

Thanks a lot for the reply guys! Really helpful links and recommendations. I'll have to remember these for when I come to build one.

Brilliant, Thanks again!

Brilliant, Thank you so much for the replies! And for the terminology! I had a search before posting this on whether mortises can only be put along the grain and didn't find anything, but I did find something about putting mortises in the end grain but that required a router or other power...

They didn't, you're right! Haha. I assumed that the only reason they used the side was because it was longer, whereas I was cutting pretty small cuts of maybe 2" from a 4" wide plank so the end grain was the longest side and I assumed that this wouldn't matter...until I split my first 6/7 cuts...

So I've been practicing cutting mortise and tenon joints for a couple of days after deciding I wanted to start getting into woodworking. People who have read my previous posts will know that I am only using basic hand tools which have been borrowed, so I have no router or other power tools and...

Brilliant, thanks. A plane is definitely something I need to purchase then. I finished my bench hook today. It's perfect. Simple and easy but I was proud haha!

Just a quick question, I haven't managed to read all the way through yet; How did you fit the bottom panel?

At the moment I'm working on a workmate. No, I don't have a proper work bench and as much as I'd love to try and build one there is unfortunately no room in the garage in which I'm currently working and I don't think I'd be able to afford the materials yet :(

Thanks a lot for the replies guys. Really appreciate them. I'm going to get out and practice in a bit once the neighbours are all up etc ha. My saw is a pretty old tenon saw and isnt that sharp. It cuts fine though so will do for now and ill always have the encouragement that a sharper saw...

Brilliant, thank you! Great reply. So planing is the proper way to get a straight edge if I'm not cutting properly/using a power tool to cut it clean. I don't have a plane either, though! They are very expensive from what I've seen in stores. I'm trying to start small and basic as I'm pretty...

Thanks for the reply! I'll get some more bits of the wood marked out tomorrow and practice cutting them down! I'll cut them so that I can also try making mortise and tenon joints in them so I will practice those at the same time! I've got a bit of free time until I start my new job in a couple...