Appreciation post: A client in Greensboro insisted I use only a hammer and chisel for a mortise

He said power tools 'cheat the craft', but after two days on one joint, I think there's a place for routers. Has anyone else had a client push for a specific, old-school method that just didn't make sense for the job?

2 comments

2 Comments

xena_webb4d ago

Read an article once about a woodworker who had to use hide glue for a whole dining set because the client wanted it "historically correct"... even though the house had radiator heat that would dry it out and fail in a few years. Sometimes the idea in their head matters more than the thing actually working where it'll live.

ivangrant4d ago

Honestly that kind of request feels more about the client's story than the actual piece. They're paying for the romance of a hand-tooled heirloom, not just the joint itself. Seen it with folks wanting only hand-planed surfaces or shellac from flakes, even on stuff that'll live in a modern house with wild humidity swings. The method becomes the main point for them, which is fine, but it sure can make the job a puzzle lol.