Replies

1. 
   AlanTurner | Mar 28, 2003 11:43pm | #1

   Think of it as a pin and a socket. It sounds like the end of our pin is shy of the bottom of the socket. If this is the issue, raise the router bit in the table. On this joint it is good to have some precise offcuts of the stock to do your set up with. Get it right on the scrap, then run your stock. Note that the measurement for the pin piece is from the bottom of the socket to the bottom of the other or opposite socket, and the shoulders of the pin can then be dead on. I cut the sockets first, before determining the length of the intersecting pin piece. I don't know your usage here, but this is the traditioinal joint for joining a drawer divider to a solid carcase, and this is about the only place I have used it. Actually, I did use a couple on my workbench, which is posted here, if you want to take a look. The height adjustment is full bore, but note that the width adjustment is doubled since you are cutting both sides of the piece, so your adjustments need to be very small. This is one you need to creep up on.

   Good luck.

1. 
   66wood | Mar 28, 2003 11:48pm | #2

   Thanks for the info. I'll give it a try and see how I do.

1. 
   AlanTurner | Mar 29, 2003 12:22am | #3

   Bob,

   In the first issue of FWW which presented the Bird secretary, there is a good discussion of the french dovetail.  Might want to give it a look.

1. 
   66wood | Mar 29, 2003 03:50am | #4

   Thanks for the help I'll look at that issue.

2. 
   davidh | Mar 29, 2003 08:01am | #5

   Bob,

   I am not sure if I understood your problem exactly but check for the following. It sounds to me as if one of your boards may be cupped so that the center of the board has a shallower dovetail than the ends. This would cause your pin to have a gap at each end. Another alternative would be that the end of your board may not be straight. This could also cause the pin to lift at both ends. I would check across your board and across the board end with a straight edge. Let me know if my thinking is off base and I am not understanding your problem.

   davidh

1. 
   66wood | Mar 29, 2003 03:22pm | #6

   I"ll check the boards for flatness and square like you said. Thanks!!