So, I spent some time looking into this Bill McGillis guy lately. Heard the name dropped somewhere, connected to some old ways of putting things together. Not much online, you know? Just whispers and mentions here and there. Made me curious.
I decided, alright, let’s see if I can figure out what the fuss was about. Found a blurry picture, looked like some kind of clever joinery on an old wooden box. No plans, no instructions. Just the name ‘McGillis’ and that one image.
Getting Started
First thing, I went down to the workshop. Dug through my scrap wood pile. Found a few pieces of oak that looked about right. Figured oak was tough enough, maybe that’s what he used. Didn’t know for sure, just guessing really.
Tools were next. I grabbed my usual stuff:
- Hand saw
- Chisels, needed sharpening
- Marking gauge
- Mallet
- Some clamps
Sat there for a bit, just looking at the wood and the picture on my phone. Trying to visualize the cuts. It looked simple, but the angle seemed tricky. How did he get it so clean without modern tools?
The Trying Part
Okay, so I started marking out the lines. Measured twice, maybe three times. Still felt like I was guessing. Made the first cut with the hand saw. Went slow. Then grabbed a chisel to clean it out. Straight away, I messed it up. Took out too much wood. Typical.
Tried again on another piece. Focused more. Got the first part of the joint looking okay. But the connecting piece? That was the real head-scratcher. The angles had to match perfectly, or it wouldn’t slot together. Spent maybe an hour just on that second piece. Cutting, checking, shaving off tiny bits with the chisel. My hands started to ache a bit.
Finally got two pieces that looked like they might fit. Lined them up. Tapped them with the mallet. Nope. Jammed halfway. Frustrating stuff. Pulled them apart. Looked closer. One edge was still a fraction too high.
Took a break. Made some coffee. Stared at that blurry picture again. Was McGillis some kind of wizard? Or maybe he just had way more patience than me. Probably patience.
Went back. Trimmed that high edge down with a sharp chisel. Tried fitting them again. This time, it slid together. Not perfect, mind you. A tiny gap here and there. But it held. It actually looked like the joint in the picture.
What I Reckon
So, after all that sweat? I get it, sort of. It’s a strong joint. Clever, in its own way. But man, it takes time. And precision you only get from practice. Loads of practice.
Makes you appreciate the old ways, I guess. But also makes you glad we have routers and jigs now. McGillis, whoever he was, must have spent years perfecting that. Me? I got a decent replica after half a day of swearing and sawdust. Good enough for a blog post, anyway.
