An industry standard in some spheres is to have half pins and full pins. so with our current scenario of 3″ we would have 2 x 3/16″ = 3/8″ plus the full pin of 3/8″ so 3/4″ pin accumulation. This then leaves 2 1/4″ for two tails so 1 1/8″ dovetails.
How deep should dovetails be?
But keep in mind that if you machine the dovetail groove across the work piece you will be weakening it because you are removing some of its thickness. Try to keep the depth of the dovetail groove between 1/3 and 1/2 the thickness of the part.
What is the minimum thickness for a dovetail joint?
The minimum recommended pin board thickness is 1⁄2″[13mm]. Remember, the No 128 cutters rout at 3⁄8″[9,5mm] deep. If you wish to rout a pin board less than the minimum thickness ➀, it will be necessary to pack the board up from the jig body. We suggest using a piece of 1⁄4″ to 3⁄8″[6 to 9mm] plywood for this purpose ➁.
What are the rules for dovetail joints?
The ‘pins’ are the bits of wood between the tails so there are two half-pins; one each side. The general rule is that they measure half the thickness of timber plus around a mm, so the two dots on the shoulder line are 7mm in from each edge.
What are the measurements for a dovetail joint?
Dovetail Dado Wood Joints have joint widths of 2/3 and joint depths of 1/2. Wood joints are typically used in wood members with widths between 1.5”-3.5” (3.8-8.9 cm) and depths between of . 75”-3.5” (1.9-8.9 cm).
Should dovetail joints be glued?
Michael Dresdner: The only areas that require glue on dovetails are the diagonal faces. All the diagonal faces are long grain, all the square faces are end grain, and all the flat faces abut end grain. Therefore, you need only apply glue to the diagonal faces on the tails or pins, or both.
What are two negatives of a dovetail joint?
The disadvantages of dovetail joints are that they can be fairly difficult to mark out and cut, and if they are made badly these joints lose the advantages listed above. Depending on the project, function, and design, there are a number of different types of dovetail joints to choose from.
Is dovetail joint permanent?
The strongest and most permanent right-angled joints made in wood are the ‘dove-tail’ joints, as illustrated below. The so-called tails and pins fit together to form a secure joint. Glue may be applied to the mating surfaces.
Are dovetail joints worth it?
Making sure that you pick a drawer joint that can withstand this type of wear and tear is crucial to the longevity of your kitchen cabinets. Dovetail joints are considered one of the strongest joints used in kitchen cabinetry construction and are the best solution for a kitchen cabinet drawer box.
Is a finger joint stronger than a dovetail joint?
For box joint, some people put a lot more fingers than it is possible to do with Dovetail. In this case, the gluing surface is larger, and the joint is likely stronger. Also, some find a way to hide a finish nail in the joint. Dovetail has the advantage of a mechanical lock independent of the glue.
What is the most common dovetail size?
This is possible due to these mounts having something called a “reversible clamp” which can be rotated to hold onto different dovetail angles and widths. 11 mm and 3/8” dovetails are the two most common types of dovetails that you can find on rifles.
Are 3 8 and 11mm dovetail the same?
11mm rings use a 60 degree dovetail and are measured at the top. 3/8″ rings use a 45 degree dovetail and are measured at the bottom.
What is the most common dovetail ratio?
Dovetail angles are usually expressed as ratios — the most common being 1:6 and 1:8 (said “one in eight,” and also written as 6:1 or 8:1). As a general rule of thumb: Use 1:6 for softwoods. Use 1:8 for hardwoods.
Are 3 8 and 11mm dovetail the same?
However, that is not the only difference between the two dovetails. They also have different groove angles as shown below. The 11 mm dovetail has a 60-degree angle, while the 3/8” dovetail has a 45-degree angle.
How long should dovetails be?
Your tails should be around 18mm > 35mm for fine work like drawers and 35mm > 55mm on larger work like a chest. Decide on your tail size remembering “One more tail than pin”. I have a distance between half pins of 330mm and I have chosen a pin size of 10mm. Set dividers to 1 tail +1 pin.
What is the ideal dovetail angle?
Answer from the experts: Clearly, there’s no shortage of advice about the “best” dovetail angle: Some woodworkers recommend using 12° for “coarse work” and 7° to 10° for decorative joints.
What is the best angle for a dovetail?
The ideal, he says, is 8.5° for softwoods and 7.5° when joining hardwoods. One Wednesday morning I laid out and cut a bunch of these dovetails. I ignored the really shallow angles (6.5° to 8.5°) because I wanted to adopt something more angular. The 10° dovetails looked OK.
How difficult is a dovetail joint?
Hand-cutting a dovetail joint is kind of a woodworking high-wire act; one slip of the saw or chisel and the joint either won’t fit together or will look sloppy. It takes a lot of time to master the ability to cut dovetails quickly and well (by hand or machine), without a lot of fussing around.
What makes a dovetail joint so strong?
Methods. The dovetail joint is very strong because of the way the ‘tails’ and ‘pins’ are shaped. This makes it difficult to pull the joint apart and virtually impossible when glue is added.
What is the strongest joint in woodworking?
Mortise and tenon joints have stood the test of time for their remarkable strength. This traditional joint involves a projecting piece of wood, called a tenon, securely fitting into a corresponding cavity, a mortise. It can be reinforced with glue or wedges for stability for a stronger hold.
Are dovetail joints still used?
Far and away the most common use is in cabinetry, especially in drawer construction. Many consumers look for dovetails as a visual shorthand for quality construction. Dovetails are also show up in furniture construction and sometimes in carpentry.
When did they stop using dovetail joints?
By 1730, through dovetail joinery was abandoned in English furniture making in favor of the lapped construction. As furniture became more refined, furniture makers began to take pride in the construction of their drawers as well.
What is an English dovetail joint?
English Dovetail / Through Dovetail The craftsperson usually orients the tails and pins in this joint horizontally, although this isn’t a cardinal rule. It is sometimes called a through dovetail because both the pins and tails go all the way through each-other.
Can you make dovetail joints with plywood?
A wide variety of methods can be used to make dovetail plywood drawer boxes. They are generally considered by the woodworking industry as time-consuming and difficult to make. The dovetails can be cut by hand with a dovetailing saw and chisel or you can use a dovetail jig and router.
What is a hidden dovetail joint?
Hidden dovetails are really no different that standard dovetails aside from the fact that you cut each half of the joint only part way through. The remaining material is used to conceal the pins and tails, while also forming the miter itself.
Do you need to clamp dovetails?
In other words I’m hammering the pin board into the tail board not hammering the tail board onto the pin board. No need for clamps if you dovetails are tight. I will clamp a board that may have bow a little. Don’t sweat the glue bond, a good dovetail doesn’t depend on glue for much of it’s strength.
