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.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. x = D (1 + cot 1/2 α) + a c = h · cot α

How do you calculate dovetails?

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 do you measure dovetail joints?

Mark out the two ‘half-pins’ at the edges on the first piece of wood. 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 is the ratio for dovetails?

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 do you calculate dovetails?

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 do you measure dovetail joints?

Mark out the two ‘half-pins’ at the edges on the first piece of wood. 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 is the formula for the angle of the internal dovetail?

Explanation: Formula for finding the angle of an internal dovetail is Tan A = (l2-l1/2) / h where l1 and l2 are the distance across the pins and h is the height of slip gauges. Thus by knowing these three parameters, angle A can be calculated.

What are the rules 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.

Is 11mm dovetail the same as 3 8?

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 the difference between 11mm and 3 8 dovetail?

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.

How are dovetail cutters measured?

Overall length of dovetail router cutters The overall length of a cutter is measured from the top of the shank to the bottom of the cutting edges or guide (if there is one). Dovetail cutters range in length from 52mm (2″ approx.) to 80mm (3¼” approx.)

What is the ratio for 14 degree dovetail?

Commonly accepted ratios are 1:8 for hardwoods and 1:6 for softer timber. This 14° marker equates to a ratio of 1:4. When used with thinner stock, the 14° angle results in a better looking joint. This different angle also gives you a slightly stronger dovetail interlock on the thinner material.

What angle is a 1 in 8 dovetail?

It would be extremely difficult to be able to pick these differences up in your dovetails on a piece of furniture by eye. So in closing your 1:4 Saddle-Tail is for all practical purposes 14 degrees, the 1:6 is close to 10 degrees and the 1:8 is about 7 degrees.

How long should dovetails be?

That said, 3/8” gives me room for a drawer bottom groove and enough meat on the drawer sides to compensate for wear and support to the drawer bottom. I then work out how many tails I want. Usually I like tails to be between 1” and 1 ¼” on projects reliant on dovetails more for strength than aesthetics.

What is the ratio for 14 degree dovetail?

Commonly accepted ratios are 1:8 for hardwoods and 1:6 for softer timber. This 14° marker equates to a ratio of 1:4. When used with thinner stock, the 14° angle results in a better looking joint. This different angle also gives you a slightly stronger dovetail interlock on the thinner material.

How are dovetail cutters measured?

Overall length of dovetail router cutters The overall length of a cutter is measured from the top of the shank to the bottom of the cutting edges or guide (if there is one). Dovetail cutters range in length from 52mm (2″ approx.) to 80mm (3¼” approx.)

What size dovetail chisels do you really need?

Chisel Sizes – – 12mm / 1/2″ – This will do the majority of your morticing, and come in when cleaning out the pins on those dovetails. – 19mm / 3/4″ (or above) – A nice wide chisel is very useful, and I’d probably aim at an inch, though somewhere between 3/4″ – 1 1/4″ will fit the bill.

How do you calculate dovetails?

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 do you measure dovetail joints?

Mark out the two ‘half-pins’ at the edges on the first piece of wood. 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 typical dovetail angles?

Although softwoods are more compressible than hardwoods, you needn’t change the dovetail angle to add strength to the joint. Any angle between 7° and 15° will work, regardless of the wood. But stay within that range. If you go below 7°, you’ll start to lose the mechanical strength of the dovetail.

What is the geometry of dovetail?

What is the slope of a dovetail joint?

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. Often a slope of 1:7 is used as a compromise.

What are the common dovetail sizes?

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 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.

Is dovetail the strongest joint?

The advantages of the dovetail joint are that it is the strongest of all joints, has a large gluing area, is interlocking, resists being pulled apart, looks attractive, and would hold together even without glue.

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.

Mike Walker

Repair and Construction Expert. WoodiesDIY.tv Owner