Dovetail Joinery

Dovetail Joinery

When you look at dovetail joints in a woodworking project you immediately think
quality. The joint is tight, it looks fantastic. Getting the hang of cutting dovetails
used to be the sign of a master craftsman. Now cutting dovetails has become
easier with great new jigs and the help of plunge routers.

Jigs

Using a dovetail jig and a plunge router greatly increases your accuracy of
producing a tight dovetail joint. Each jig has their own set of instructions and all
the details and steps have been thought out. This takes the hassle out of trying to
figure out how it works verses enjoying the process. Usually most jigs allow you to
cut the pins and the tails separately using a pre-spaced template. There are many
dovetail jigs available on the market today. Even if you just “Google” the term
“dovetail joinery jigs” you will come up with a host of products. Price usually varies
greatly, so does simplicity of use. You can find some jigs that literally take hours to
learn how to use. One of the best ways I have found to evaluate woodworking jigs
is to go to a woodworking show and watch the demonstrations. You can see how
the jigs operate and watch how long it takes to set up the jig. When there is a slow
spot in the demonstration, you can ask questions until you figure out if the product
is right for you.

Hand cutting

Hand cutting dovetails is a lost art. Hardcore woodworker's will swear by its ability
to cut dovetails with very low cost. All you usually need is a quality handsaw and a
pencil. This takes some time to master and finding someone who knows how to do
it well would be the very best way to learn.

Types

It is also to point out that there are several different types of dovetails. Cutting
each type involves a different technique. There are
Through dovetails, half-blind dovetails, full blind dovetails and sliding dovetails.
Each has their own specialty.

Through dovetails are common in case construction such as cabinets and boxes.
They are rarely concealed and are designed to be showed off. Ask any quality
furniture salesman about the dovetail joint and they will immediately know what you’
re talking about. There are many jigs that can cut this style.

Half-Blind dovetails are commonly used in drawer construction and are designed
so that you do not see the end grain. They still provide a great amount of strength
as well as quality.

Full Blind dovetails are used where strength is required but without a visible joint.
Fine cabinet or box work sometimes uses this method.

Sliding dovetails are used to join two boards at right angles. These can give a lot
of strength as well as glue area. They can be used for cabinet shelves, cabinet
sides, drawer fronts to sides and partitions. They also can be used for drawer
slides instead of using mechanical drawer slide kits that you purchase at home
improvement stores.

As you can see, learning to make this joint can give you many applications in the
workshop. The time spent learning this technique can pay off by increasing the
quality of your work.

2007 Copyright protected by Router Table Depot. This article may
not be reprinted without specific permission.

Router Tables

Top Selling Tables

Build it Yourself

Extra's

Resources

Home