Main

 
Arts & Sciences: Dovetail Joinery

Arts & Sciences: Dovetail Joinery

A Presentation of the Barony of Axemoor

Society for Creative Anachronisms

http://members.aol.com/RoyLeBlanc/dovetail/dovetail.html

The box illustrated here makes use of a woodworking feature called dovetail joinery. This is an old technique which gives added strength to adjoining sides of a joint where additional forces are at work, for example the front of a drawer. Dovetail Box Illustration
  • Introduction
    • Terms
      Dovetail Terms Illustration
      Dovetail
      The projecting part which resembles the tail of a dove.
      Socket
      The part which has been removed to make room for a dovetail or a pin.
      Pin
      The projection which slides between the dovetails.
      Waste
      The wood and chips which are removed.
    • Tools
      The measuring gauge is used to mark lines a set distance from the edge of a piece of wood. The thumbscrew allows the slide to be moved along the rule and locked in place. A scribing point at the 0 mark makes the scratch in the wood. Measuring Gauge Box Illustration
      The try square is used to mark perpendicular lines along the work piece with a pencil or scribing tool. The model shown is a combination square which includes a 90 and 45 degree edge as well as a bubble level and scribe tool. Try Square Illustration
    • Woods
      Balsa
      Basswood - linden
      Poplar - (Liriodendron tulipifera)
      Red Oak
      Yellow Pine
  • History
    From the perspective of the Society for Creative Anachronisms one must consider the question: "Is dovetail joinery period?"
    Medieval Jewelry Box In the book, Chip Carving Techniques and Patterns, Wayne Barton shows a photograph of a Jewelry Box dated 1546, from Switzerland.
  • Construction Techniques
    • Safety Consideration
      1. Eye protection
      2. Cut away from your body
      3. Use clamps
      4. Have first aid kit available
    • Tips & Tricks
      1. The side with the pins is the stronger side.
      2. The edges should begin and end with a half-pin, not a half dovetail.
      3. In general, the width of the pin at it's widest part should be about the same as the thickness of the stock.
      4. Cut the tails first then use the cuts as a guide to cut the pins.
      5. The angle of the cut should be the diagonal of a 1:5 to 1:7 rectangle.
      6. Label the parts, ie. front, back, left, right, top, bottom.
      7. Avoid the 'trapezoid'.
      8. Take advantage of the old geometry trick that a measured line drawn askew to two parallel lines will divide the space between them equally.
    • Hands-On Exercise
      1. The working stock of 3/8"x4"x24" Basswood (linden) was chosen for ease of tooling, clarity of grain and availability at several craft and home repair sources. A 1/8" thick piece is optional for the base or lid.
      2. The box dimensions of 4-1/2"x7" can all be cut from a single 24" length of working stock. The width of 4-1/2" was chosen to accomodate a standard 3-1/2" computer diskette based on the thickness of 3/8". A different width would require adjustments.
      3. Measure, mark and cut out the 4 sides with the square, mitre box and back saw. Label the inside of each piece.
      4. Set the marking gauge for the thickness of the stock, plus a small amount to allow for sanding or paring. Using the side of the marking gauge pin instead of the point will usually be sufficient.
      5. Mark each end of all four pieces with the gauge.
      6. Locate the center of the half-pin ends.
      7. Divide the work area into equal sections.
      8. Set a bevel for a 1:5, 1:6 or 1:7 angle and mark the dovetails.
      9. With a try square, scribe across the edge of the workpiece.
      10. Mark the waste pieces with an X.
      11. Saw along the lines laid out for the dovetails.
      12. Using the cuts as a guide, scribe lines for the pins.
      13. Carry the lines along the side of the pin pieces.
      14. Mark the waste pieces with an X.
      15. Cut the pins out with a saw and remove the waste with a chisel or coping saw.
      16. Remove the waste from the dovetails with a chisel.
      17. Trim the pins and tails and test fit the sides together.
      18. Using the marking gauge and gouge, scribe a groove for the base.
      19. Cut the base from 1/8" stock, and trim to fit the groove.
      20. Test fit the pieces together then glue.
  • Bibliography
    • Allen, Sam; Joinery basics; 694.6 ALL
    • Allen, Sam; Wood joiner's handbook; 684.08 ALL
    • Barton, Wayne; Chip Carving Technques and Patterns; 1984; Sterling Publishing Co. New York.; 736.4 BAR
    • Fine Woodworking Techniques V; 684.08 Fin,
    • LSU Agricultural Center; Trees for Louisiana Landscapes, A Handbook; Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service.
    • Sunset Basic woodworking illustrated; 684.08 SUN
    • Hayward, Charles Haro; Woodwork joints; kinds of joints, how they are made; 684.082 Hay
    • Underhill, Roy; The Woodwright Shop;University of N.Carolina Press.
    • Underhill, Roy; The Woodwright's Eclectic Workshop; University of N.Carolina Press.
    • Underhill, Roy; The Woodwright's Apprentice; University of N.Carolina Press.