Plenty of food for thought. Thanks everyone.
I will have to keep playing to find what works best for me.
Have just spent the a day cutting dozens of blind housings freehand and have sore arms from holding the router so tight that it won't wander and eyes full of sawdust from watching that fine pencil line. A quick clean up around the edges with a chisel and everything looks the goods. No disasters so far but there has to be a better way.
I'll have to agree with Mo that listening to a router all day in no way to achieve the zen of timber framing.
So many blind housings because they look so much more finished that the alternatives when you can see the post on all four sides.
But with limited lifting equipment, a one man show and heavy australian hardwoods, full scribe layout starts to lose its appeal. (The last job I did was mostly framed with 20' 10"by10"s weighing at least 800lbs)
I have to import most of my tools from overseas anyway so it's always nice to hear from a few people who have actually laid their hands on them.
Anyway I ramble. Thanks everyone and keep up the good work.
