Handcut Dovetails

Published on by Mike

Book-ends 1 through 4
Dovetail Progress Book-ends 1 through 4

As I posted a few weeks ago, I attended a dovetail class taught at the local Woodcraft by the owner.  Since then I have been working on a few practice pieces to start getting the feel for cutting them.  The last practice piece I was working on ended with the best dovetail joint so f

ar.  The gaps are minimal, the fit is solid so that there is no play, and best of all, the two pieces are completely square to each other!  It was an incredible feeling knowing that I accomplished that using nothing but hand tools!

Now, if you talked to me a couple of years ago, I would have laughed at the thought of using hand tools, much less attempting cutting dovetails by hand.  First let me say, if I can do it, you can to!  The biggest thing I have learned, is not to rush!  That, and making sure all the tools being used are sharp and ready to go!  I know there are some videos out there that shows someone making a near perfect dovetail joint in

less than 10 minutes.  The last one I did took me over an hour to do.  While I have found myself getting naturally faster at some of the steps, speed is not the focus here.  The focus is trying to make a good clean dovetail, taking one step at a time.

I have decided that the next project I work will incorporate dovetails.  I will be sure to document it on my blog as progress through that.

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