I am attempting to build an outdoor table similar to the one published in the April 2006 issues of FWW. The author used splines to join the individual pieces of the outer ring but I don’t like the way the show though the end on the finished product. So I thought using a sliding dovetail with a small angle (7 degrees) would either hide the joint significantly better or, at least, make it more attractive.
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But, I am still new to woodworking and I am not sure using a sliding dovetail this way is the smart way to go. The dovetail will not cut as deep (I will be cutting them with an incra jig) nor will it slide in easily (I considered using wax as a lubricant but I am concerned that enough of it will remain that the glue will be less effective). Am I just heading for disaster or is this a good idea that simply needs to be thought through?
Replies
Hi Geeky Novice,
First off, I wanted to alert you that this article was corrected after it was published because the grain is going in the wrong direction in the drawing of the spline. So if you do go that route, make sure the grain on the spline is running perpendicular to the joint, not parallel to it.
Now to your question. I don't see any harm in replacing the splines with a sliding dovetail, other than the fact that your making some more work for yourself. And, you will have to alter the dimensions of each of the segments that make up the round outer ring to account for width of the dovetail that you're adding to one end. The only other issue I can think of is that when you're assembling all the segments, how do you go about installing the last piece?
Alternatively, have you considered making dovetailed splines? That won't change the process much, only require you to cut a dovetailed groove in the ends...
Matt Berger
Fine Woodworking
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