What size dovetail should I use?

you; we recommend at least 8mm shanks, but 1⁄2″ would be even better, with of course the appropriate guide- bush. If you have to use 1⁄4″ shanks in hardwood, use a second router to rough out the slot centre with a straight cutter. We recommend 5⁄8″[15,9mm] as the min- imum size guidebush for sliding dovetails.For drawers, boxes or trays 2″ or less I generally like a single dovetail. For 3″ to 3 1/2″ and less two dovetails, for 4″ three dovetails, for 5″ to 6″ four dovetails and for 6″ four or possibly five.

How big should dovetails be?

For drawers, boxes or trays 2″ or less I generally like a single dovetail. For 3″ to 3 1/2″ and less two dovetails, for 4″ three dovetails, for 5″ to 6″ four dovetails and for 6″ four or possibly five.

What size are standard dovetails?

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 dovetail ratio is best?

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 size dovetail chisels do you really need?

Or design the pins around your smallest chisel and get chopping. I use a 1/4″ and 1/2″ more than the rest of the sizes for all types of work (including dovetails) Erich. The next most used would be a 3/4″. I use the 1/4″ for groove, dado and mortise chopping/cleanout as well as dovetail corner work.

How big should dovetails be?

For drawers, boxes or trays 2″ or less I generally like a single dovetail. For 3″ to 3 1/2″ and less two dovetails, for 4″ three dovetails, for 5″ to 6″ four dovetails and for 6″ four or possibly five.

What are the rules for dovetail joints?

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.

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 most popular dovetail joint?

The through dovetail joint is the most popular dovetail joint because it is strong, attractive, and versatile. It is commonly used in furniture-making, cabinetry, and woodworking. The through dovetail joint is a traditional woodworking joint characterized by the interlocking triangular shape it creates.

What is the best tool for dovetail joints?

For making perfect fixed dovetail joints, many woodworkers turn to the Leigh Super 18-inch Dovetail Jig. Dovetails and half-blind dovetail joints can be made fast and effortlessly with this woodworking tool, and look like they’ve been professionally made.

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.

Which is better English or French dovetail?

While both English and French dovetail construction are very sturdy and high quality, English dovetail construction is slightly sturdier with the trade-off of being more expensive and time-consuming to produce.

Are dovetail chisels worth it?

The triangular cross-section of these chisels make them ideal for paring and chopping away the waste on dovetail joinery. Suitable for other joinery tasks, these affordable chisels are a nice complement to standard bench chisels for creating and fine-tuning joinery.

How thick should a dovetail jig be?

Dovetail Jig rave about the user-friendly features. The jig’s patented alignment lines and router bit-depth stop simplify set up and get you up and running in no time. This versatile jig accepts stock from 1/4 to 1-1/8 inch in thickness and up to 12 inches in width.

What chisels are best for cutting dovetails?

The Narex Dovetail Chisels are a set of three chisels that are designed for getting into the close corners of dovetails and are modeled after the traditional Japanese style chisels. Narex Dovetail Chisels have a triangular cross-section that’s excellent for removing waste between tails of a dovetail joint.

How do you space out dovetails?

There should be roughly one dovetail each 25mm or so across the width. There’s no hard and fast rule so it’s up to the woodworker to use his or her judgement to decide how many are needed.

What is the minimum thickness for a dovetail?

you; we recommend at least 8mm shanks, but 1⁄2″ would be even better, with of course the appropriate guide- bush. If you have to use 1⁄4″ shanks in hardwood, use a second router to rough out the slot centre with a straight cutter. We recommend 5⁄8″[15,9mm] as the min- imum size guidebush for sliding 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 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.

How big should dovetails be?

For drawers, boxes or trays 2″ or less I generally like a single dovetail. For 3″ to 3 1/2″ and less two dovetails, for 4″ three dovetails, for 5″ to 6″ four dovetails and for 6″ four or possibly five.

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 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.

Which part of a dovetail do you cut first?

Knowing both ways means that repairs can be made when something goes wrong. Add into the equation that it is extremely difficult to cut half-lap dovetails accurately using the pins-first method, it makes sense to cut tails first as a matter of course.

Mike Walker

Repair and Construction Expert. WoodiesDIY.tv Owner