Rant: A client told me my drawer dovetails were sloppy and I disagreed at first

Had a client in Portland point out my dovetail gaps on a $2,800 kitchen job. I thought they were fine until I held a straight edge to them and saw the light leak. Anyone else get criticism that stung but actually made you better?

2 comments

2 Comments

graym493d ago

Saw a similar story on a woodworking podcast last week.

craig.tessa4d ago

I read a post from a cabinetmaker in Seattle last week who said the best thing a client ever did was call him out on his dovetail gaps. He said it forced him to buy a better marking knife and actually set up his router jigs properly instead of rushing. That really stuck with me because I used to think I was fine until I started checking with a raking light on every joint. Now I'm way more critical of my own work before it ever leaves the shop. That Portland client did you a solid even if it hurt. Those tiny gaps drive me crazy now too.