Why are dovetail drawers better?

Hear this out loudPauseThe dovetail joint that hold the sides of the drawer together consists of interlocking “tails” on one side and “pins” on the other, cut at precise angles that fit tightly together. This creates high tensile strength, which means the joint is extremely resistant to being pulled apart.

Are dovetail drawers worth it?

Hear this out loudPauseThe undermount guides usually will hold more weight and are underneath the drawer giving you a wider drawer box to maximize your storage. Dovetail drawer boxes will definitely improve the longevity of your cabinetry and I highly recommend doing this upgrade.

Why are dovetails used in drawers?

Hear this out loudPauseWhy Is a Dovetail Joint Good For Drawers? Dovetail joints are a great option for drawers because they’re strong, don’t require mechanical fastenings, and look attractive in your living spaces.

What are the advantages of sliding dovetails?

Hear this out loudPauseThe sliding dovetail joint has a number of advantages: it’s mechanically strong, provides a decent amount of glue surface, is reasonably easy to machine and is attractive when assembled. You don’t need a whole lot of fancy tools to create it, just a router, router table and a dovetail bit.

Are dovetail drawers worth it?

Hear this out loudPauseThe undermount guides usually will hold more weight and are underneath the drawer giving you a wider drawer box to maximize your storage. Dovetail drawer boxes will definitely improve the longevity of your cabinetry and I highly recommend doing this upgrade.

Why are dovetails used in drawers?

Hear this out loudPauseWhy Is a Dovetail Joint Good For Drawers? Dovetail joints are a great option for drawers because they’re strong, don’t require mechanical fastenings, and look attractive in your living spaces.

What are the weaknesses of dovetail?

Hear this out loudPauseThe 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.

When did furniture makers stop using dovetail?

Hear this out loudPauseBy 1730, through dovetail joinery was abandoned in English furniture making in favor of the lapped construction. As furniture became more refined, furniture makers began to take pride in the construction of their drawers as well.

Is dovetail the highest quality?

Hear this out loudPauseDovetail 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 strengths and weaknesses of a dovetail joint?

Hear this out loudPauseThe interlocking dovetail joint has a large gluing area, further adding to its strength. Hand cut dovetail joints require precise handsaw and chisel skills, and can be fiddly to mark out and cut. If dovetail joints are poorly made they will lose the advantage of strength and durability.

What is the best material for dovetail drawers?

Hear this out loudPauseSoft White Maple is widely used for making dovetailed drawers. The color can vary and have grey mineral streaks and worm tracks. The material is softer than typical Hard Maple making it easier to sink screws in, and the cost can be significantly less than Hard Maple..

Should dovetail drawers be glued?

Hear this out loudPauseMichael 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 can I use instead of dovetails for drawers?

Hear this out loudPauseOne of the very best ways to build a drawer without dovetails is a dowel joint. The dowel joint offers much of the strength and durability of the dovetail and still has an attractive look.

Which joint is used on high quality drawers?

Hear this out loudPauseDovetail joints are most commonly used to create drawer boxes and are typically reserved for higher end projects.

Is a sliding dovetail strong?

Hear this out loudPauseAlso known as a through housed dovetail joint, a sliding dovetail joint is a strong, mechanically locking way of joining boards cross-grain. We can find many examples of it in furniture construction, such as drawer dividers, bookcase shelves, legs on a tripod or a pedestal table and even breadboard ends on a table top.

Why do we use dovetail?

Hear this out loudPauseDovetail 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 are two reasons why lap dovetail joints are used for drawer fronts?

Hear this out loudPauseDovetail joints are shaped so that the two pieces of timber that makes up the joint cannot pull apart. This makes this type of joint ideal for drawer fronts where they are subject to repeat pulling. The dovetailed joint prevents the front from coming away from the drawer side.

What are the strengths and weaknesses of a dovetail joint?

Hear this out loudPauseThe interlocking dovetail joint has a large gluing area, further adding to its strength. Hand cut dovetail joints require precise handsaw and chisel skills, and can be fiddly to mark out and cut. If dovetail joints are poorly made they will lose the advantage of strength and durability.

Why do we use dovetail?

Hear this out loudPauseDovetail 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.

Is dovetail the highest quality?

Hear this out loudPauseDovetail 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 is the best material for dovetail drawers?

Hear this out loudPauseSoft White Maple is widely used for making dovetailed drawers. The color can vary and have grey mineral streaks and worm tracks. The material is softer than typical Hard Maple making it easier to sink screws in, and the cost can be significantly less than Hard Maple..

Are dovetail drawers worth it?

Hear this out loudPauseThe undermount guides usually will hold more weight and are underneath the drawer giving you a wider drawer box to maximize your storage. Dovetail drawer boxes will definitely improve the longevity of your cabinetry and I highly recommend doing this upgrade.

Why are dovetails used in drawers?

Hear this out loudPauseWhy Is a Dovetail Joint Good For Drawers? Dovetail joints are a great option for drawers because they’re strong, don’t require mechanical fastenings, and look attractive in your living spaces.

What is the best angle for sliding dovetails?

Hear this out loudPausePercy 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 weakest joint in carpentry?

Hear this out loudPauseA 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.

Why are dovetails so hard?

Hear this out loudPauseThe 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.

Mike Walker

Repair and Construction Expert. WoodiesDIY.tv Owner