Sideplates

[Jim Kibler]

For me it's really quite simple.  If you have the choice in positioning a feature, put it where it looks good.  Often 1/4 doesn't look good, neither does 1/2, but somewhere between the two often is most pleasing.  It's really that simple.

I agree, but the fly in the ointment is what looks good to one, may not to another. My smattering of formal education in art and architecture both taught the GM as a starting place, but in the end it usually worked out to about a 2/3 proportion, which is really just a simplification of the GM. A feature may look good or not and sometimes we don't know exactly why. It usually comes down to sense of proportion.

You can never please everyone.  What more can you do when building than trust your own eye?  Building to some formulae and thinking it will please everyone is a recipe for disaster.

[James Rogers]

For me it's really quite simple.  If you have the choice in positioning a feature, put it where it looks good.  Often 1/4 doesn't look good, neither does 1/2, but somewhere between the two often is most pleasing.  It's really that simple.

I agree, but the fly in the ointment is what looks good to one, may not to another. My smattering of formal education in art and architecture both taught the GM as a starting place, but in the end it usually worked out to about a 2/3 proportion, which is really just a simplification of the GM. A feature may look good or not and sometimes we don't know exactly why. It usually comes down to sense of proportion.

You can never please everyone.  What more can you do when building than trust your own eye?  Building to some formulae and thinking it will please everyone is a recipe for disaster.

Jim,  I think I will make that into a sign and hang in my shop.

[Captchee]

 Myself I find the GM fascinating and use it often
 I think where a lot of folks run into issues is they wrap themselves  into the math of the GM and not the application .

 You don’t need to set around trying to calculate  a 3 to 5 . Just make you a couple sets of dividers set at 3 to 5  and then be done with it ..

 The other thing  I find is that a lot of folks simply  point out that X isn’t in proportion with Y when using the GM . However they never consider that  maybe that’s because X is not supposed to be in proportion to Y but instead should be in proportion with Z.
 As such you have to know where to start and not just pick a point
 Thus you get  what Mr. Getz alluded to . IE it should  work out to some other point . IE the side plate  may fit  correctly when in comparison to a given point in the curve of the stock . Maybe  the point of an inlay or that start of checkering .  That measurement then in turn , will define another measurement

 I also do not subscribe to the idea that everything was measured .
  Myself I lean more to the opinion that probably  it was more of a natural happening of the trained eye . As such  it  probably  wasn’t  really something that was though all that much about .  Instead it just happened .

 I think also all to often  we forget  that the GM is  used for layout from start to finish .
 So if you have not used it  all the way through  your build . IE from the drawing of your plans right through  making your decisions on  hardware, your probably going to be off Or find the need to fug things  ,.
 But regardless  of what some folks view may or may not be  concerning the GM , it still cannot be discounted as a fundamental base.

 So here is my advice to you .
 You either need to simply  use your eye and apply what you feel looks good . OR  if your going to use the GM you have to follow through with its use  . Which may very well mean you have to modify  or make your own side plate .
IE if your  using the GM for your layout and you lock choice works . Then find or build a side plate that is in the same proportion as your lock plate .

[okieboy]

 I just sliced a tomato for my lunch sandwich. I ended up with one slice 1.125" thick and one slice 1.875" thick. They looked pleasing to the eye, but were a bit messy when put to their intended purpose.

[Captchee]

I just sliced a tomato for my lunch sandwich. I ended up with one slice 1.125" thick and one slice 1.875" thick. They looked pleasing to the eye, but were a bit messy when put to their intended purpose.

add in some  mayo and a couple slices of bacon .
 it all will come out in the end

[EricB]

If all these interesting and meaningful replies are any indication, I would have to say that most of us are ready for Spring.....

Eric

[KLMoors]

I KNOW I AM!! It is supposed to be 22 here (Edenton NC) tonight. Now, I know that ain't cold for some of you folks. I grew up in New England and went to college in central Maine, so I've known my share of squeeky snow, but I didn't move to North Carolina to re-experience 22 dang degrees!

By the way, while in college in Maine, I took four semesters of architectural drafting and design and we did study the golden mean a bit.

[Dogshirt]

I think it boils down to..... "If it looks good to you, everyone else can get over it!

Just my $0.02