Many period pieces with flat or ogee bracket feet miter the front feet but use half blind dovetails on the back feet. I guess they did that because the miter looks better in front and the DT’s in back are stronger. Seems like it would be quicker and easier to just use miters front and back.
Any thoughts on why it was done this way? Just wondering . . .
pete
Replies
Pete,
The back portion of the rear foot is always secondary wood. While one could miter the rear foot like the front, it is easier to cut a rabbet or a groove across the end of the "side" bracket and lay the rear bracket in that, than to cut and fit a miter. Most rear feet that I've seen are assembled with one or the other of these joints ( or simply butted together), and only a few very well built ones are dovetailed.
And there are the legendary blind or secret dovetailed front feet as well, seldom seen, because if they exist, they never fall apart and reveal themselves.
Ray
Back Foot
Pete,
Usually the back end of the rear foot is cut square so that the cabinet will sit closer to the wall. If you miter the back foot, you would create the same profile as at the front foot, which sits proud of the cabinet. Check out the drawing
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