Introduction
I’ve cut lots of dovetails over the years, both by hand and using dovetail jigs and a router. If I’m doing a run of drawers, I’ll use the jig and router 10 times out of 10. But for a small project, I’ll still cut them by hand. Why? First, in the time it takes to get the jig and router set up and dialed in, I could be well into the process of cutting them by hand. Second, hand-cutting dovetails is fun and rewarding. There are many “right ways” to cut them—I’ll just show you the method I learned. The most important thing is to work as accurately as you can, but don’t be concerned with perfection. Enjoy the truly handcrafted look!
Tools Required
Materials Required
- Hardwood lumber
- Wood glue
Tools Required
How it Works
A dovetail joint is made by cutting interlocking parts on two pieces of wood. The tail board has the dovetails. The pin board has pins that slide in between the dovetails. Each outer edge of the pin board has a half pin, meaning only one face of the pin is angled. It’s a strong joinery method because the parts mechanically resist being pulled apart and have a lot of gluing surface.
Dovetail Anatomy
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