Replies

1. 
   user-148830 | May 01, 2007 05:06am | #1

   HI Dave,
   I'm not sure what you mean by a dovetail splice. Do you mean a dovetail key? These are inlaid into two boards to create a joint of sorts between them. They can also be inlaid into a crack to prevent it from growing. Check out George Nakashima's book Soul of a Tree for that.

   If you mean a lapped dovetail splice joint then that's different as you're splicing together two boards with a dovetail in between. I believe both joints are covered in my Complete Illustrated Guide to Joinery book.
   Have fun.

1. 
   mrdg | May 01, 2007 05:41am | #2

   Gary,
   Thanks for the reply. I'm not talking about a key and I'd foul things up trying to write a description. Here's a link (http://www.woodguy.com/berry20.html) to the previously referenced pic. Any further info you can share about it would be much appreciated.Dave

1. 
   JohnWW | May 01, 2007 04:36pm | #3

   I'll throw in my 2 cents worth here, the joint is made by running  two dovetails diagonally across the square cross section of the two ends of the pieces being joined.  In the photo, the dovetail at the top runs to the back of the rail, and the the dovetail on the front face comes out at the bottom.  Made in this way, the two male and two female parts are parallel to each other so the joint can slide together.

   This is a weak joint but a fun brain teaser.  To make it, you would have to make a jig for the router table that would stand the pieces on end so that you could feed them across a conventional dovetail bit.

   John White

1. 
   user-148830 | May 01, 2007 06:14pm | #4

   Hi Dave,
   This joint is done with angles, not mirrors. The dovetail slots are cut on angles as are the tails that slide into them. The angle is cut from one side face to one top face. It is all for show.

1. 
   mrdg | May 02, 2007 03:50am | #5

   Gary and John,
   Thank you both for the feed back.
   Now I'm off to the shop to see if I can make one.Dave