Thread: Dovetail boxes

Then again, it's probably the best way to do a mitred corner that will stay together.

What's a dovetail?

Oh yes, a hairstyle back in the late 50s. No, that was a ducktail. Are they the same?

I usually get Wood Borer to cut all mine for me.

Actually I was making a box yesterday and cocked it up. Dovetails are so easy to fix if you do it right. What happened was that I (hand) cut everything and it was going to be a good fit (I never fit it together until the glue stage), then began to cut the grooves for the bottom with a plough plane. Great, except I cut one side upside down, didn't I!! :mad: After I retrieved it from the bin where I hurled it, I decided I'd cut the sides down the middle with the bandsaw - leaving thin sides (thick enough still for the box) with good dovetails. But, as it turned out, this caused the angles to change, and there were big gaps all around. These were filled with veneers cut from waste and oriented correctly (end grain and face grain), and glued in. Once dry, I planed away the waste and it was impossible to see that there was a repair. If anyone is bored enough (or still awake), I will post pictures at some stage.

The moral of the story is that poorly cut dovetails can be made to look first class with a little creativity. Don't let yourself be put off trying to cut them by hand.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Originally Posted by derekcohen

The moral of the story is that poorly cut dovetails can be made to look first class with a little creativity. Don't let yourself be put off trying to cut them by hand.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Yep, for creativity purposes keep a bucket of Timbermate handy.

Originally Posted by derekcohen

If anyone is bored enough (or still awake), I will post pictures at some stage.

ZZZZZzzzzzzzzzz, Ghhhhrrrrrrrrrrrrrhhhhhhhhhhh. Wha,.. er, wha....

Yeah, I'm awake...just resting my eyes.

Yeah, let's see the pics...

Originally Posted by silentC

Actually, it's like learning to play the piano but only playing it when no-one is around to hear

Errr, yeah... Actually when I perform, I'm generally glad no-one's around to hear.

My best dovetails todate were made cutting the pins on a bandsaw with a jig so angles are consistent. Shoulder lines also greatly improved using Derek Cohens published jig.

I have for years (over 55 years) yearned to cut and make a project with mitre corner dovetails. Intend starting this project soon.

Can anyone suggest which book of plans for making boxes they think is the best from the selection available these days?

Originally Posted by derekcohen

These were filled with veneers cut from waste and oriented correctly (end grain and face grain), and glued in. Once dry, I planed away the waste and it was impossible to see that there was a repair.

Derek

These are called graving pieces. Since they have a name, it's probably safe to assume that you're not the first to need to use them.

And yes, they are impossible to see when done with care - DAMHIK.

Excuse my ignorance, but what does the abbreviation DAMHIK mean?

Don't ask me how I know.

Usually indicating that I've made the same upstuff m'self.

Originally Posted by jow104

Can anyone suggest which book of plans for making boxes they think is the best from the selection available these days?

I don't have an extensive knowledge of the box-making literature, but when I'm after some inspiration, I generally go to a little book called 'Box-Making Basics' by David M. Freedman. A nice variety of designs with clear explanations. There's also 'Making Little Boxes from Wood' by John Bennet, which is quite good.

I don't think either of these books have explanations of secret dovetail mitres. For that, the explanation in Tage Frid's book ("Tage Frid Teaches Woodworking", Vol 1, Book 1, p. 75) is excellent. He calls them full-blind dovetails. I quote:

Most people think it is difficult to make a full-blind dovetail. It looks complicated, but it is not. If you can make the through and half-blind versions, you should have no trouble making the full-blind dovetail. The only difference is that when you lay it out, you have to set the marking gauge to the exact thickness of the wood so that the ends will meet in a clean miter. In laying out through dovetails, we set the marking gauge slightly bigger than the thickness of the wood to make sure the ends of the joint protrude so they could be sanded off. Here, the depth must be set exactly right. Otherwise, the joint will not be tight on the inside or outside.

There follows a 23-step process to produce the joint.

In laying out through dovetails, we set the marking gauge slightly bigger than the thickness of the wood to make sure the ends of the joint protrude so they could be sanded off.

Sanded off? Heresy!

Yep, for creativity purposes keep a bucket of Timbermate handy.

I surprised myself with the current project. No Timbermate, mate The first time I've cut a whole set of dovetails without needing a bit of bog.

Originally Posted by derekcohen

Oh yes, a hairstyle back in the late 50s. No, that was a ducktail. Are they the same?

I usually get Wood Borer to cut all mine for me.

Only because I can't afford to any of mine - not much left now!

Originally Posted by silentC

Sanded off? Heresy!

maybe that's because Tage Frid lived in the BLN* era





*Before Lie-Nielsen

Originally Posted by silentC

The first time I've cut a whole set of dovetails without needing a bit of bog.

Well done. Now show us the pics...