Hi. I am reading FWW Master Class (FWW Sept/Oct 2014) by Chris Gochnour and trying to do these dovetails. I believe there is an error in his description of using that dovetail template. Can someone correct me because I’ve tried using it EXACTLY as described in the photos and it just doesn’t work at a certain point. Specifically on page 84 in the middle of the page there are two photos on using that template. Under these photos you’ll see it says, “Flip it for the second side (above right).” This can not be correct about flipping it for the second side of the dovetails. I’ve tried it and the dovetails DO NOT end up looking like dovetails with angled sides. If you don’t flip it and just use the other edge of the template for the second side of the dovetail then it looks correct.
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Replies
“[Deleted]”
I guess it depends how you interpret "flip". In particular, around which axis do you rotate the template. I agree that one way looks right and the other doesn't. Just use the way that looks right.
Sorry Pizza, I didn't see this post.
For those who are curious, here is a link to the article in question: https://www.finewoodworking.com/2014/07/30/how-to-cut-compound-angle-dovetails
Flipping the template does work. If it isn't working than something else is wrong. Maybe you're double flipping it?
That said, you can just use the other side of the template, but at some point the reference face is going to run off the edge of the board. If you flip the template, you'll always have the reference against the straight edge.
Thanks Ben and Olympia. It seems you both may be on to something. As maybe I interpreted flipping it wrong. Looks like I need to flip it so that that ref face doesn't run off the edge of the board.
That said, it would be nice to have had Chris do I video on this. I'm having trouble seeing how the edges (not the faces) of the boards get lines drawn on them. In my case my compound angle serving tray I'm attempting has much more severe angles to them, 30 degrees. I've got the compound angle butt joint down. I've mocked it all up with a plywood prototype and boy did I get the dovetails and pins wrong somehow despite reading all the articles and you tube videos (chuck stanton has an excellent one, and so does "half inch shy" channel).
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