How-To
Simple Trick for Cleaner Dovetail Joints
Learn a simple technique for super-tight dovetails
May 30, 2014
Over the years, we’ve seen dozens of ways to cut a dovetail joint—from traditional hand-cut methods and power tool assisted methods, to routers coupled with specialty jigs—but one thing remains constant. For a dovetailed piece of furniture to succeed visually, it needs tight-fitting joinery. In this short video, Connecticut Valley School of Woodworking director Bob Van Dyke demonstrates a simple technique for trimming the waste between dovetail pins using a router and a pattern bit. It yields a tight-fitting dovetail joint with a perfectly square shoulder line that can’t be beat. Power up your router and give it a try.
More from FineWoodworking.com:
- Dovetail Bit Speeds Cleanup Between Pins
- Video: Router Cut Sliding Dovetails
- Video: Cutting Dovetail Keys on a Router Table
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Comments
I can finish a dovetail better and faster with a sharp chisel. No router or bandsaw necessary.
I agree with Pushrods. Learn how to saw and you can do twice as many. Why not use socket screws if you don't want to cut dovetails. This video is a waste of your time!
Great tip Bob. I can produce good dovetails using a chisel, for a single drawer or two. When doing a 10 drawer chest however I'm setting up the router and pattern bit.
Good tip Bob, especially when using dense woods as anyone knows who hand cuts dovetails can be rough on your chisels requiring more frequent sharpening and mallet force.
In James Krenov's book,"The Fine Art of Cabinetmaking" pages 149- 150
he describes using a piece of hardwood squared with a piece of corse sandpaper glued to the under side, use this as a guide to assure your cuts are straight to the line.....
I started using the Ashley Iles dovetail chisels which have about a 20 degree bevel. They can be ordered directly from ilestoolstore.co.uk. These are a copy of the 19th century chisels.They really work well for me.Much faster than sawing out the waste. I do use the bandsaw for the tails.
correction the link for Ashely Iles web site is :
https://www.ashleyilestoolstore.co.uk
Bob,
Thank you for sharing this method of cutting dovetails. Everyone has there favorite methods of cutting dovetails. This method is another gem to keep in our tool box of know how.
I get that the sandpaper will help hold the work in place, but does it really need to extend up into the cutting area? The sparks suggest that it is in the way and is needlessly dulling the bit.
Could we bet a better look at the bird house fixture?
Add a 1/4" spacer board between the drawer piece and the 'birdhouse' and below the scribe line to allow the router bit to get all the way back to the corner, removing any need to come back to clean that out with a chisel?
Also, if you tend to cut beyond the scribe line on your pins as I do, with this method you shouldn't need to cut all the way down. The pattern bit will cut to the pin and the scribe line for you.
Mike Pekovich has demonstrated this technique in his video workshop videos of the hanging wall cabinet. He also gives some more details and info on the birdhouse fixture
Where? I skimmed Mike's video and didn't see it mentioned.
https://www.finewoodworking.com/2020/01/07/ep-5-fitting-the-dovetails
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Nice way to get the end of the pocket straight and square, but what was the pattern bit hitting that threw sparks that way? I usually cut pockets the old-fashioned way (scribe the line, chop out the waste, pare to the line), but I can see how this could be faster if you're doing lots of dovetails at once (a Leigh jig works, too). After watching Rob Cosman perfectly dovetail a 5" wide board in under a minute with a saw and a chisel, it's hard to go back.
I've been using this technique for years when I have a lot of dovetails to make. My jig however has clearance between the dovetails and the jig so the router bit will not contact the jig. The clearance permits complete machining of the base of the dovetails. Router bits and sandpaper don't mix if you want to keep you bits sharp.
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