Hey all. I’m your basic intermediate level woodworker from California. I have an idea for an edge joint i’d like to try on my next project, a white oak and walnut coffee table. I don’t know for a fact that its been done before, although i’m sure someone somewhere has tried it. I got this idea during my last project, a jewelry box featuring decorative hand – cut through dovetails. I’ve always been drawn to dovetails, as I know many other woodworkers are, and while I was cutting them I thought, why not try them for edge joints? My thought was to make a compound cut on the tail member that would cut the appropriate slope of the tail, while at the same time sloping the shoulder of the tail down at the same angle from the face side. I could then cut a matching recess in the pin member. The nice thing I see about this is that I could ostensibly make the pins and tails as long or as wide as i wanted to, and use whatever tail:pin size ratio i wanted as well.
What i don’t know is how the joints would hold up under use. I want to try them for the black walnut border edge of the tabletop around a white oak center. I’m concerned about the joints failing if someone set something heavy on the edge. I would welcome any and all comments or suggestions. Would running the top frame rails directly under the joints add any strength?
Replies
Dovetails are as strong as any joint that I've ever used. They have more surface/glue area. The only problem I can think of that you may run into is the difference in the wood and the movement of cross-grain joints. I really don't think you'll have a problem.
Len (Len's Custom Woodworking)
The reason you don't see dovetails used in flat edge to edge joints is that it's a bad idea for at least 3 reasons.
Short grain is week, you'll be making two lengthwise fracture planes.
Cross grain expansion will loosen the joint through compression or the joint may raise. This is one case where cross-grain actually helps.
It's a whole lot of work that doesn't enhance the function of the top.
Get a copy of Joyce's Encyclopedia of Woodworking, read it and don't stray to far from the basics. For a similar look try bowtie keys across the joint.John O'Connell - JKO Handcrafted Woodworking
Life is tough. It's tougher if you're stupid - John Wayne
Maybe I don't understand what you are doing. However, the classic way to make a carcase on many period pieces is to dovetail the sides to the top over the entire length of the joint. You don't see it because the joints were often concealed. I made the base for a secretary and a desk on frame this way.
Why is this such a no no?
Frank
What I gathered he was talking about was using dovetails for a flat edge to edge joint (like you'd use in building up the width of a table top or a panel) as opposed to the usual 90 degree joint you'd see in a carcase or a drawer. I've also seen them used in end to end situations.John O'Connell - JKO Handcrafted Woodworking
Life is tough. It's tougher if you're stupid - John Wayne
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