Jeff, no discouragement here. Too old to worry about such trivial things as sticking my foot in my mouth or chiming in when one lests expects it, unless however, what I think I say in lightheartedness is perceived otherwise possibly; at which point I do not hesitate to apologize. I do not profess to be an expert at anything. Always learning. Always wanting to make new friends.
I understand about the nails. I live in a house that was built in 1805, and has been modified several times. It is modest, and started out as Slave Quarters for a Low Country SC Planter's Summer Residence in Western NC. It was later modified, adding rooms to accomodate Livestock Drovers on the Buncombe Turnpike in 1824. There are hand wrought nails, cut nails, wire nails and hand planed Mantels, trim, doors, floors, walls and ceiling. All plane marks are visible. Doors and windows are hand jointed and pegged, no glue. Some family hand-me down furniture from the NC Backcountry (Rowan, Forsyth and Iredell Counties) is all pegged. No glue and tight, with no cracks. Some is nailed, usually on table tops and cabinet backs, and a couple of pie safes have the shelves nailed.
Studied all of Eric Sloan's books to date the different areas of the house, and some of the tools I have. Been at restoring the foundation, the interior, roof and grounds for about 15 years. Taking it slow. All the joists, upper and lower are whole logs, azed on one side to accomodate a flat surface for the floor and ceiling. Found a Confederate Soldier's coat button in my garden one day a few years back...it was from the SC 2nd Infantry Division called "the Flat Rock Guards". They were sent to Flat Rock,NC and the surrounding area to protect the SC Lowcountry Planters' summer homes just prior to the bombardment of Ft. Sumter in Charleston. Find lots of stuff in the yard.
Anyway, not a stranger to historical building methods..that's why I started building furniture, and joined SAPFM to learn all I could from some of the best American Period Furniture Makers in the country! I am learning from you, and I appreciate all the help I can get! Thanks for sharing your work!