In Ian W excellent Panel plain build,the dovetails he created were Peen/Pein together.
By his careful and consistent tapping with the round end of a engineers hammer(I actually just realised my ignorance of not knowing the prober term for the roundish end thingy)
Pushing ,flowing the metal in to the void that is first created with a file to lock the dovetails together.
I suggested ,that first placing the round bit of said hammer in place on the dovetail ,then tapping it with a another hammer may be useful, and avoid errand blows that would need to be removed later with a lot of work.
To which I was the subject of the most vial abusive venom I've ever in counted here.
Ok ,I made that last bit up.
So I was possibly rightfully corrected.
I still feel if I was doing as Ian was doing ,I may still be tempted to double tap my hammers.
Remembering we're only really doing light taps.
I'm not trying to move 200 kg anvil across the bench[emoji41].
I would be wise enough to ask my wife to do that.
So after all my ramblings on, what would your preferred method be to peen/pein the dovetails together.
Double tap your hammers and live in shame.
I will admit to this being still one method I would attempt.
Hit with one hammer only and protecting the surrounding metal with some other material ie metal sheet or something in case some strikes are not perfectly placed
Or use a metal punch of some description.
Side discussion, are metal punches not hardened metal struck with hardened hammers??
All mine seem to be mostly hardened I think!!
One more digression for Mr Bushmillar.
Surely a poster aimed at young little boys ,
pointing out the fact that two hammers struck will send sparks flying at the speed of a jet plane.
Would have been all the encouragement a young boy would have needed to run home and find two hammers in the back shed to test the theory out conclusively.
Very ,very ,very ,last note point .
I have never ever made a metal dovetail YET
But ,I really want to have a bash at it[emoji1008][emoji1008][emoji1008]
Cheers a delightful young little boy.
Matt