If you can use your fist as a hammer to nudge them together, they’re just right. By the way, when you realize they will fit nice and snug, (hopefully by the time they are less than half way down) take them apart and don’t put them together again until you glue them.
How tight should dovetails be?
Lee Grindinger: The dovetails should be properly snug. Both pieces will move in the same manner, so the pins and tails will not be working against each other. As the tail increases in width the space between the pins does,too, so there is no conflict.
What are the rules for dovetail joints?
The general rule is that they measure half the thickness of timber plus around 1 mm along the shoulder line. So these two awl dots are 7 mm in from each edge. These two dots, which mark the corners of the half pins, are now converted into a 1:8 slope at each side.
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 is the weakness of 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.
How tight should dovetails be?
Lee Grindinger: The dovetails should be properly snug. Both pieces will move in the same manner, so the pins and tails will not be working against each other. As the tail increases in width the space between the pins does,too, so there is no conflict.
Why are my dovetail joints loose?
DTs should go together with a firm tapping. If they are too hard to tap together, they will split or crack; too lose and they will have unsightly gaps. The strength of the joint is largely mechanical. I use yellow glue to assemble mine; I’ve never had one fail from being glue starved.
How tight should wood joints be?
Generally a 1/16th to an 1/8th gap is left at the bottom of the joint for excess glue to squeeze into. I was taught that they should fit so they can easily be pushed together by hand, but gravity should not pull apart when they are turned on end. In other words a very close and accurate, but not a tight fit.
Is dovetail the strongest joint?
A box joint provides more glue surface than a dovetail and should be used if strength is your purpose. Dovetails are still used because they are pretty, though. The strongest joint is lamination. The flat sides of timber length grain to length grain.
Are dovetail joints difficult?
It is a difficult joint to make manually, requiring skilled workmanship. There are different types of dovetail joints. The angle of slope varies according to the wood used, purpose of joint and type of work. Typically the slope is 1:6 for softwoods, and a shallower 1:8 slope for hardwoods.
Are dovetail joints worth it?
Dovetail drawers are known for their durability. The joint’s design provides exceptional resistance to the stresses of heavy items, making them ideal for storing dishes, pots, and pans. The construction of dovetail drawers ensures that they will not come apart easily, even with frequent use.
Do you clamp dovetail joints?
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. I bang them together with a rubber mallet.
Is a finger joint stronger than a dovetail joint?
The interlocking design of the dovetail creates a strong bond that can withstand a lot of stress. On the other hand, a box joint, also known as a finger joint, is strong in terms of sheer surface area and glue surface, making it suitable for joining the corners of a box or a drawer.
How tight should a glue joint be?
The mating surfaces should be smooth, flat and make good contact. As I described, an extra dose of glue won’t make up for sloppy joinery. And on the other hand, a joint that fits too tight may not have space to establish a good glue line. “Hand pressure snug” is a good rule of thumb.
What is the weakest joint in carpentry?
A butt joint uses a simple technique whereby two pieces of material are joined together at their ends, without any special shaping or cutting. Although it is simple, the butt joint is also the weakest of the wood joinery types.
What is the best angle for a dovetail joint?
Lower (7° to 9°) angles are often advised for joining hardwoods, while higher angles (10° to 14°) are recommended for softwoods and even higher angles (14° to 18°) for half-blind dovetails.
How do you secure dovetail joints?
My preference is to glue up dovetails with traditional, hot hide glue. I use it only on the flat grain surfaces, and a bit sparingly. You will need to work quickly. The glue does not stain the wood, and removal with a damp rag works well before it dries.
How hard is it to cut dovetails?
Of the four types of dovetail joints (through dovetail, half blind dovetail, secret mitered dovetail, and the sliding dovetail), the through dovetail is the most basic method, and a perfect one for hand cutting. Contrary to what seems to be popular belief on the internet, they are not really all that hard.
How do you secure dovetail joints?
My preference is to glue up dovetails with traditional, hot hide glue. I use it only on the flat grain surfaces, and a bit sparingly. You will need to work quickly. The glue does not stain the wood, and removal with a damp rag works well before it dries.
Are dovetails the strongest of all joints?
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.
Is dovetail the strongest joint?
A box joint provides more glue surface than a dovetail and should be used if strength is your purpose. Dovetails are still used because they are pretty, though. The strongest joint is lamination. The flat sides of timber length grain to length grain.
How tight should dovetails be?
Lee Grindinger: The dovetails should be properly snug. Both pieces will move in the same manner, so the pins and tails will not be working against each other. As the tail increases in width the space between the pins does,too, so there is no conflict.
What is the most popular dovetail joint?
Single-lap Dovetail The single-lap (known to many folks as a half-blind dovetail) is the best known of the dovetails since it’s used to join the front to the sides of a drawer.
What is the most difficult woodworking joint?
One of the hardest joints to do by hand is the dovetail and needs to fit perfectly because the joint is visible to the eye . A once common joint used in the making of drawers , but with modern man made boards these mostly now are dowelled or have push together fittings .
How tight should mortise and tenon be?
Ideally, a mortise and tenon joint is tight enough that friction will hold the tenon in the mortise when dry fitting. But it should also be loose enough that it can be inserted by hand without a lot of effort.
What are the two strongest wood joints?
Mortise and tenon joints are widely regarded as one of the strongest and most reliable woodworking joints. They involve creating a mortise, or a hole, in one piece of wood and a tenon on the end of the other piece, which fits into the mortise.
