What are the standards for dovetail design?

As a rule of thumb the dovetail’s maximum width should occupy approximately 1/ 2 to 3/ 4 of the gasket’s width (leaving a 1/ 4 – 1/ 8 of gasket width on each side). For larger gasket widths, multiple dovetails can be made side-by- side, facing the same direction or inverted.

What is the standard size of a dovetail?

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).

What is the standard angle for a metal dovetail?

Angles used on dovetails On large industrial scale machines the angle is usually 45º. For smaller dovetails the usual angle is 60º. Any less than this, i.e. 60° on a small machine, complicates the design of the adjustment mechanism. The angle produced is set by the dovetail cutter used.

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.

What is the important information about the dovetail joint?

Dovetail joints are known for their inherent strength and resistance to being pulled apart (tensile strength). A dovetail joint has a series of pins and tails in a trapezoidal shape and once glued a dovetail joint has no need for mechanical fasteners.

What is the minimum thickness for a dovetail?

Structurally I have looked for pin strength in dovetails as the dovetailed aspect is always strong because it is always at least as wide and mostly wider than the pins. In my own work I aim for a minimum size of 1/4″ and mostly 3/8″.

What are the rules for dovetail joints?

The pins and tails only fit together from one direction. The single dovetail joint can either be a complete pin or a complete tale (Figure I). The multiple dovetail usually ends with a half pin on the corner; the half tail is usually avoided (Figure II). The tail board is a mirror of itself.

What is the most common 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 is the best dovetail ratio?

As regards the ratio to use on various woods, dont get your knickers in a knot. Anything from 1:6 to 1:9 looks good and works well. Too little rise leaves corners with short grain that easily breaks off, too much rise looks like a poorly made box joint.

Are all dovetail bits 14 degrees?

You’ll need a jig to make most dovetail joints, as well as a guide Bushing for your router. Check the instructions with your Dovetail jig to select a bit with the appropriate angle, which will usually be somewhere between 7 and 14 degrees.

What is the difference between English dovetail and French dovetail?

English dovetails are the most common. They have interlocking joints and allow the most amount of space – usually several more inches of room than you would get with French dovetails. This is because the dovetail groove cannot be put all the way at the edge of a drawer with French dovetails.

What are the two types of dovetails?

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.

What is the formula for measuring dovetails?

To obtain dimension x for measuring male dovetails, add 1 to the cotangent of one-half the dovetail angle α, multiply by diameter D of the rods used, and add the product to dimension α.

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.

Is 11mm and 3 8 dovetail the same?

The 3/8 Inch is measured across the bottom of the dovetail whereas the 11 mm is measured across the top of the dovetail. A 3/8 Inch dovetail is about 12.7 mm across the top. The measurements 3/8 and 11mm are not the same for this reason plus the angles are different.

What is the most common dovetail ratio?

As regards the ratio to use on various woods, dont get your knickers in a knot. Anything from 1:6 to 1:9 looks good and works well. Too little rise leaves corners with short grain that easily breaks off, too much rise looks like a poorly made box joint.

What size dovetail chisels do you really need?

After years of dovetailing, I noticed that two of my chisels were seeing almost all the action: the 1/4″-wide and a 3/4″-wide tools. I use the narrow one for removing waste between the tails and the larger one for removing waste between pins.

What are the dimensions of a dovetail slide?

What ratio is a 14 degree dovetail?

There is no hard and fast rule when it comes to dovetail angles. Commonly accepted ratios are 1:8 for hardwoods and 1:6 for softer timber. This 14° marker equates to a ratio of 1:4.

How tight should dovetail joints be?

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 do you calculate dovetail joints?

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 dovetail seniority?

DOVETAIL SENIORITY – The combination of two or more seniority lists (usually of different employers being merged) into a master seniority list, with each employee keeping the seniority previously acquired even though the employee may thereafter be employed by a new employer.

How many mm is dovetail?

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 is a 6 to 1 dovetail?

A 1:6 ratio – that’s one unit horizontal with six matching units drawn vertical – lays out as a 9.5 degree angle.

What is a common dovetail pitch?

For those of you unfamiliar with them, the angle at which dovetails are cut is usually referred to by ratio, for example, 1:7 or 1:6. To draw the angle, you layout a horizontal line with a vertical line intersecting it at 90 degrees.

Mike Walker

Repair and Construction Expert. WoodiesDIY.tv Owner