To cut dovetail joints, I start with the pins, cutting everything on my bandsaw. One problem that I ran into was that the table on my bandsaw like that on most bandsaws tilts in only one direction, limiting me to cut only one side of the pins. To overcome this problem, I built a small platform of laminated plywood that is angled at the correct dovetail slope.

I simply place the platform in front of the bandsaw blade, pushing it into the blade slightly to keep the blade from wandering. I cut one side of all of the pins, flip the platform around and cut the other sides. I then remove the waste with a chisel, mark the tails from the pins and saw the tails on the regular bandsaw table. This approach results in quick and accurate dovetails.

If you like to use different dovetail angles in different woods, just build two platforms one for softwood and one for hardwood.

Bruce Petersen, Canby, Ore.

Fine Woodworking Magazine, April 2000 No. 141

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