Thread: Veritas dovetail guide

Have you seen this www.anglemag.com ?

It is a little bit more expensive ($150) but works well with a Japanese saw. I have got one but have not had a chance to use it yet.

Scott

Outback

I've been using the Veritas guide to cut dovetails for about 18 months. It's a well-designed, well-made piece of kit. It takes all the inaccuracies out of the actual sawing process and allows you to cut a predictable, reliably repeatable angle for both the tails and pins.

You still have to mark the cuts very accurately to achieve a tight-fitting well made joint.

I only bought the guide itself. I didn't need to buy the accompanying saw because I already had a Japanese Z saw.

Go for it, mate! Everyone needs a touch of insanity!

Col

Outback,

Many of us will take offence if you insist that making a box using dovetails is insane especially hand cut dovetails.

It is a worthwhile and satisfying goal to pursue and I hope you go ahead.

I cut my dovetails without using a guide and I get results that make me happy. I can't criticise using guides too much because I am in the slow process of weaning myself off using sharpening guides.

Good luck and welcome to the assylum!!!!


- Wood Borer

I was in Carbatec the other day and they had the angle mag device on the special table. Its also quite large. I was tempted but it looked a bit fiddly when compared to the veritas

Originally posted by Wood Borer
Many of us will take offence if you insist that making a box using dovetails is insane especially hand cut dovetails

True enough, but many more would agree with Outback, especially as there are so many ways to make a box without hand cut dovetails.


Peter.

Peter,

That all depends upon whether your object is to make a box or whether it is to make a dovetail.

Outback

My .02

Firstly, NOTHING says handcrafted like a dovetail, handcut or mechanically cut. I prefer handcut because I like to (a) pretend I'm a real craftsman, and (b) because I think that the variations you get are much nicer than the uniformness of a mechanised cut.

The Veritas jig is the closest thing to the best of both worlds. I completely concur with Col (and not just because he paid me to say so). I wholeheartedly recommend that you purchase one.

It will teach you to handcut dovetails, guiding you through the process, until you one day graduate to doing them sans jig. That is the goal we all have.

It is very accurate and easy to use. I would not go for the Angle Mag since you really want to reduce the number of variables at this stage.

Later, you can use the Veritas guide to mark off your dovetail lines.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Thanks everyone for the replies.
You have all picked up on my intent.
That is, to, as Derek said, pretend I am a real craftsmen, (me and craftsman are two words I'd never thought possible to put into the same sentance)
The eventual box is not the purpose of teh exercise, hell if it stays together well enough It's gonna hold router bits, long term I have dreams of making something nice with a bit of inlay.

If I was to ever make something with a bit of size which required drawers I'd go for a jig for use with a router, but for now the fun is in the joint itself.

Sounds like my first order to Lee Valley has been decided, and I might just ask them to include a nice low angle block plane to keep the dovetail stuff company on the trip.

So make room in the padded cell fella's, looks like another inmate is moving in

Outback,

One thing I noticed with the dovetail jig, is that you'll want it to be as narrow as possible.

If it's to wide, you won't be able to use it to cut the outside pins/tails.

Ben.

Ben

You have a point but there is a way around the problem. If you position another piece of wood of the same thickness as the workpiece in the jaws of your vice, butting against the workpiece, this will support the guide and allow you to cut a narrow outside tail or pin.

Does that explanation make sense? Unfortunately I don't have any smart drawing software or I'd post a sketch.

I guess I could take a photo over the weekend, if anyone's interested.

regards

Col

Originally posted by derekcohen
Outback



It will teach you to handcut dovetails, guiding you through the process, until you one day graduate to doing them sans jig. That is the goal we all have.

Derek

No it isn't. Why would I walk to work when I can buy a car ?
Why would I want to hand cut dovetails when I have a Gifkins?

When the box is sitting on the shelf, being admired by my family, nobody will ask......"did you hand cut those dovetails ?"

Maybe 'cos in your air conditioned car, with surround sound stereo, and coffee cup holder, you are in a sterile envronment, you have no time, nor the ability to smell the roses, chat to passers by, or see the real world.

When people look at my box, they won't need to ask if the dovetails are handcut.

(I'm starting to sound like a Zen Budhist aren't I)

When the box is sitting on the shelf, being admired by my family, nobody will ask......"did you hand cut those dovetails ?"

Gumby

Ahhh. But I will know. That is what is important. If I only wanted to cut dovetails I could (as I have in the past) turn to my router jig (yes, I have one).

This method is not for everyone - clearly it isn't so for you - but Outback, Col and I (and many others I am sure) share a passion that is based on a desire to cut dovetails by hand. That was the motivation for Outback to write the original post, and that remains the focus of this discussion. Amongst those who seek to cut dovetails by hand, the ultimate goal is to do so freehand. If you really want a thrill, take a look at the video by Frank Klausz. It is awe-inspiring and inspirational. That is what turns me on!!

Regards from Perth

Derek

To each his own as they say, but if I did cut mine by hand, they wouldn't need to ask. They'd simply say "nice finish, shame about the gaps in the dovetails"