Thread: Dovetail Query

Hi Cyril

Welcome to the forum!

The answer to your question is "do as you please - there is no rule. Do what pleases you".

Dovetails are a structural joint for drawers and carcases. Their orientation matters there - to prevent being pulled apart. They look nice in (some) boxes, but boxes do not have a structural issue, and therefore the orientation of the pins, etc does not matter.

Dovetails can make some boxes look very busy. It depends on the wood and the design. Consider half-blind dovetails as well.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Derek is, as usual, correct, but there are a couple of cases where boxes may have a structural load on the dovetails. These are large boxes, eg blanket boxes, where either they may be carried by handles on the side, or pulled out from a wall by handles on the front. In these cases the pins should be on the sides where the loads are applied.

Thank you Gentlemen. I didn't think there was a convention, but when I looked at all the images Google threw up it seemed that most of them had the pins at the front. Derek, I particularly appreciate your tool reviews; I've found them very informative and helpful.
Cyril

Hi Cyril,

The second question, regarding the knots: I would try to make sure the knots do not form part of the dovetail joint itself. Cutting the knot with a saw or router bit will more than likely crack or shatter it resulting in a gappy joint.

However, in the broader panel or side - go for it. I like knots in timber as they add interest. Loose knots are often made more stable so they wont easily break away from the timber by seeping araldite type adhesives in and around the knot.

Please post a picture to this thread when the box is finished.


Paul

Cyril; welcome to the forum.