Saw a big argument on Facebook about hand-cut dovetails vs CNC stuff

Honestly, I was scrolling last night and saw this guy say hand-cut dovetails are the only mark of a real cabinetmaker. Then another guy jumped in and said using a CNC is just working smarter not harder. It got me thinking about my own shop. I do mostly custom built-ins and I use a router jig for dovetails on drawer boxes, but I hand-cut them for visible work like blanket chests. What side do you all land on? Does using a CNC take away from the craft or is it just another tool in the box?

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4 Comments

stellat463mo ago

Did you know hand-cut dovetails were actually the standard long before cabinetmaking was even a trade?

10

jordan_henderson134mo ago

Man I've been going back and forth on this same thing in my head for years.

4

young.michael4mo ago

Years? Man you're stuck in a loop. Sometimes you just gotta pick a lane and go, even if it's wrong. You can always adjust later.

10

sammartinez4mo ago

What's the thing you're most afraid of getting wrong that keeps you circling back?

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