What are the measurements for a dovetail?

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 size are standard dovetails?

Dovetails come in several different types and sizes depending on manufacturer, but the most common are the 11 mm and 3⁄8 inch (9.5 mm). Some other less known, but currently commercially available dovetail mounts, are 12, 13, 13.5, 14, 14.5, 16, 16.5, 17 and 19 mm.

What are the proportions of a dovetail?

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.

How are dovetails measured?

Dovetail slides that must be machined accurately to a given width are commonly gaged by using a gage pin of known diameter and measured as indicated by the dimensions x and y.

How wide should dovetails be?

Standing them up like this helps me to see the wood as drawers before I make them. After that the maxim I use for myself is never to have a dovetail wider than 1 1/4″ and not usually narrower than 7/8″. That way I can work out the size according to the number of tails I want and then to the sizing of the pins too.

How are dovetails measured?

Dovetail slides that must be machined accurately to a given width are commonly gaged by using a gage pin of known diameter and measured as indicated by the dimensions x and y.

How wide should dovetails be?

Standing them up like this helps me to see the wood as drawers before I make them. After that the maxim I use for myself is never to have a dovetail wider than 1 1/4″ and not usually narrower than 7/8″. That way I can work out the size according to the number of tails I want and then to the sizing of the pins too.

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.

What is a standard dovetail?

Standard dovetail joints have evenly spaced cut pins and tails, traditional dovetails have wide-cut pins and smaller tails. Standard cut pins and tails offer more strength in the drawer, traditional is not quite so strong but are often specified because of their traditional finish.

What is the depth of a dovetail?

Try to keep the depth of the dovetail groove between 1/3 and 1/2 the thickness of the part. For example, if the gable of a chest of drawers is 3/4″ thick, machine the dovetail groove between 1/4″ and 3/8″ deep. Any deeper and you will weaken the gable too much.

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.

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 11mm dovetail?

The standard 22 tip-off dovetail in the US is 3/8″ at the bottom and up to 1/2″ at the top. The European 11mm dovetail is typically 11mm at the top and perhaps 8mm at the bottom. The 11mm dovetail typically has a 60 degree angle from the bottom inside corner to the top where the 3/8″ is typically 45 degrees.

What is the ideal dovetail angle?

Percy Blandford, who has been writing about woodworking for a long time, writes in “The Woodworker’s Bible” that any angle between 7.5° and 10° is acceptable. The ideal, he says, is 8.5° for softwoods and 7.5° when joining hardwoods.

What are the dimensions of a dovetail slide?

Why are dovetails so hard?

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?

But if you want to pull out against the dovetailed fingers, you will have to break them. Which is stronger, a box joint or a dovetail? A dovetail joint is stronger than a box joint because unlike the box joint, the dovetail mechanically joins the two pieces of wood.

What size dividers for dovetails?

I recommend using two dividers for marking dovetails: one to mark the half pins and one to mark the full tails. I prefer the 4″dividers because I find them more comfortable to use than the larger sizes. In addition to dovetails you will find lots of uses for dividers.

What is the most common dovetail ratio?

With regard to what to use, a common recommendation is 1:8 for hardwoods and 1:6 for softwoods. These recommendations are based on some arguments related to strength. However, people use a lot of different ratios depending on application and aesthetics.

What size dovetail is CZ 452?

Our hd cz 452 mount is available for 3/8″ and 11mm dovetails.

What is the best length for a dovetail saw?

Even if you’ll use your saw mostly for run of the mill drawer dovetails, the longer length will give much straighter cuts, and be much faster. It will also help you to see square. Go for around the 10″ (250mm) mark. Maybe a little longer if you work thicker stuff.

How are dovetails measured?

Dovetail slides that must be machined accurately to a given width are commonly gaged by using a gage pin of known diameter and measured as indicated by the dimensions x and y.

How wide should dovetails be?

Standing them up like this helps me to see the wood as drawers before I make them. After that the maxim I use for myself is never to have a dovetail wider than 1 1/4″ and not usually narrower than 7/8″. That way I can work out the size according to the number of tails I want and then to the sizing of the pins too.

What is the most common dovetail ratio?

With regard to what to use, a common recommendation is 1:8 for hardwoods and 1:6 for softwoods. These recommendations are based on some arguments related to strength. However, people use a lot of different ratios depending on application and aesthetics.

Is dovetail the highest quality?

Dovetail is arguably the strongest joint in millwork. It’s made so that it can’t be twisted or pulled in any direction except for one. This means that it’ll take more force to break or damage the joint. Because of the preciseness of each piece, this joint is held into place without the need for extra reinforcement.

What are the 2 types of dovetail joints?

Creating the correct type for your project will enable you to not only create strength but highlight your skills and abilities as well. The following are the different types of dovetail joints: Through dovetail. Half-blind dovetail.

Mike Walker

Repair and Construction Expert. WoodiesDIY.tv Owner