Thread: Curved through dovetails!

Sorry Antonio, but I'm going to be a little blunt here.

What you're asking is quite difficult and even if I wanted to, I'm not sure I would be able to perform this task without practising cutting standard dovetails. I also think your asking us (woodwork forums) to do your work and research for you, which kind of defeats the purpose of your assessment.

Maybe if you did some extended research then come back here and ask questions about the process then I think some answers will be forthcoming.

I've just spent nearly 30 minutes researching what you're asking and have come up with some decent material to work on. You can do the same

Well I've obviously come here for HELP, why don't people understand that? I've been told that before, and no, I'm not asking you to do the work for me, I'm asking you to HELP me please. You've spent 30 mins and come up with some decent material? Care to share? I've been going at it for, just checking now, 4 hours straight and not a single thing I can do without having to pay for ideas. I mean, that's just blatantly ridiculous. Paying to share ideas? This is why I have come to seek the help of the trustworthy users of Woodworkforums.com. So, if I may ask, can you please help me? I'm really devastated at the fact that curved through dovetails are so rare, yet so beautiful! I found this forum, but still doesn't explain how to do it! Curved through dovetail - Woodworking Talk - Woodworkers Forum

Much appreciated,

Antonio.

Ummm - you do curved dovetails just like the instructions in that linked article show - it's literally a "Making a curved through dovetail" how-to sequence from the Time-Life series of woodworking books. What's hard to understand about it?

Really, you are not going to get any better explanation than that without actually doing it yourself - it's not all that different to a normal dovetail.

And why did you need to start 3 threads on exactly the same topic?

Hi Antonio,
You have already found a very good picture illustrating how to do these by hand.
The curved tails look quite easy to cut from the picture.
You are probably wondering how to cut the pins.
It looks to me as if you would use the already cut tails to mark out the pins on the end of the board - then cut them to size. The curve makes some of them a little thinner than the others - that's all.
Grab a couple of scrap boards and have a go at doing a practice joint.
I think that you will find it easier than you imagine.
Cheers
SG

Originally Posted by Antonio Saleh

Well I've obviously come here for HELP, ................Curved through dovetail - Woodworking Talk - Woodworkers Forum

Much appreciated,

Antonio.

I just looked at that link, seems to be enough info to give it a go.

I am sure if you are capable of doing handcut dovetails, a couple of practice runs at the curved ones, you should be right.

Hi Antonio,
Its now 45 years sice I set about cutting my first set of dove tails. I had done all the reading and the more I did the more difficult it seemed to become. My suggestion would be that you take on board the info you have now available and give it a go. Just remember , if you are using backsawn material the timber is inclined to cup against the direction of the end grain. This means that stresses are placed on the joints if the curve is constructed against the natural cup of the timber and the outer joints can break the glue bond and start to open. The best way to perfect dovetails is practice.

Originally Posted by Antonio Saleh

Well I've obviously come here for HELP, why don't people understand that?

Antonio, I'm sure many of us do understand that you have come here for help -- you've started enough threads

from the ones I've seen or responded to, for your HSC major work you appear to have embarked on the construction of a piece in the Federal style to which you want to add curved dovetails, a charred finish and I've lost track of what else besides.

I'm not asking you to do the work for me, I'm asking you to HELP me please. You've spent 30 mins and come up with some decent material? Care to share? I've been going at it for, just checking now, 4 hours straight and not a single thing I can do without having to pay for ideas. I mean, that's just blatantly ridiculous. Paying to share ideas?

why is this ridiculous?
ideas used to be published in books and magazines,
now the publishing materrial includes DVDs, web casts, and pay for view YouTube material.
where is the difference?

many of the people who have the ideas you are interested in make their living through using those ideas. Why people like yopurself expect to get taht intellectural property for free is beyond me.

I'm really devastated at the fact that curved through dovetails are so rare, yet so beautiful! I found this forum, but still doesn't explain how to do it! Curved through dovetail - Woodworking Talk - Woodworkers Forum

Antonio
I know how to cut through dovetails by hand, using a template jig (think Gifkins or Leigh) using a bandsaw, or even a table saw (to my mind using a table saw has to be similtaneously the laziest and hardest method by far.)

If you had cut a few through dovetails, and had studied how to cut secret mitred dovetails, watching the clip you have linked to would tell you all you need to know to cut curved dovetails.

But if you expect me, or someone else, to go into the shed and spend a weekend setting up to give you, in pictures, a step by step tutorial, then ...


and yes your spelling is probably more accurate than mine