JoshC1501 Posted February 10, 2014 Report Share Posted February 10, 2014 Here is my first try at hand cut dovetails, the recent 2 part article in FWW got me off my butt and started. Definitely some mistakes though. Here was my second attempt. It actually looks a lot better, but is too loose. Back at it later. I had a bunch of maple scraps laying around, so that is what I used. Probably not the most forgiving wood to start with! Josh 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted February 10, 2014 Report Share Posted February 10, 2014 Nice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjeff70 Posted February 10, 2014 Report Share Posted February 10, 2014 Couldn't you cut the pins a little proud and then plane it smooth? Edit: a general question, I'm here to learn too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Keith Posted February 10, 2014 Report Share Posted February 10, 2014 Well done, and keep at it. It takes practice, but the learning improvement curve is pretty steep. I bet you will find your next attempt is leaps and bounds better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshC1501 Posted February 10, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2014 Couldn't you cut the pins a little proud and then plane it smooth? Good question, not really sure. I always get which is which confused anyway. I have some adjustments to make before the next try. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Keith Posted February 10, 2014 Report Share Posted February 10, 2014 Tails are the part that looks like a birds tail when the pieces are separate (usually on the sides of a drawer.) Pins are the little triangular parts that sticks out (cut on the front and rear of a drawer.) These may not be the best descriptions..... If and which one to leave proud depend on the application. Don't worry too much about that for now. Just keep cutting and pairing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Llama Posted February 10, 2014 Report Share Posted February 10, 2014 Those aren't bad at all! Did you use a marking gauge, or just transfer using a pencil? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshC1501 Posted February 10, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2014 Those aren't bad at all! Did you use a marking gauge, or just transfer using a pencil? Marking gauge, just traced over the cut with a pencil so I could see it better when sawing. I cut to deep, past the line on the first try. Thanks everyone for the kind words and encouragement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G S Haydon Posted February 10, 2014 Report Share Posted February 10, 2014 Good on you Josh, not bad. All it takes is practice, practice, practice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted February 11, 2014 Report Share Posted February 11, 2014 Couldn't you cut the pins a little proud and then plane it smooth?Edit: a general question, I'm here to learn too.Yes, you can do that. It is a good way to make a nice flush fit. Just don't go overboard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted February 11, 2014 Report Share Posted February 11, 2014 I always leave both pins and tails proud on through dovetails. You can always plane or sand them down, but there's nothing you can do when they're cut too short. Just add 1/32" to the depth of your scribe line. And be sure to take this into consideration if you're fitting a drawer. Often I'll cut my drawer front so that I can barely squeeze it into the opening...once the pins are planed down and the drawer sides are sanded, there's a nice, small gap. Then I'll work the height of the drawer to match the gaps on the sides. I digress... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boatworks Today Posted February 11, 2014 Report Share Posted February 11, 2014 +1 to you . IMO they look as good or better than many I've seen others do who claim to have been woodworking for years! Keep at it; practice only makes you better! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Altevers Posted February 11, 2014 Report Share Posted February 11, 2014 They look way better than my first attempt yesterday. Mine weren't even worth taking a picture of. Lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Llama Posted February 11, 2014 Report Share Posted February 11, 2014 Eric, I thought you used a router? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted February 11, 2014 Report Share Posted February 11, 2014 I usually do, but I leave them a bit proud regardless of method. I have cut dovetails by hand, you know...just choose not to most of the time because I'm faster with an Incra than a dovetail saw. I'm not proud of it. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dewitteridder Posted February 11, 2014 Report Share Posted February 11, 2014 Nicely done. My first attempt at hand cut dovetails I used cedar which is really soft and I had a ton of chip out when I was trying to pare to the exact fit. I eventually gave up on using cedar. My friend told me that maple and poplar are good to learn on because they're straighter grained and have enough hardness to not chip out. My next attempt will be with some rock maple cause I have a ton of that laying around. Thanks for sharing!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freddie Posted February 11, 2014 Report Share Posted February 11, 2014 Pine sucks. Poplar and maple are good because the fibers will not crush on you while chopping to your knife line. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryMcK Posted February 11, 2014 Report Share Posted February 11, 2014 The FWW article is a good one. Glad to see that it made you get out to do some dovetails and made a good job of them. Practice and more practice. I put on some cool jazz on the shop music system and relax when doing dovetails. I love em. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freddie Posted February 11, 2014 Report Share Posted February 11, 2014 Bluegrass is my tune of choice for handtool work, that and a drum throne parked at the bench. I highly recommend the two. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwacker Posted February 11, 2014 Report Share Posted February 11, 2014 Have you seen the chisels for your HCM? A friend of mine has a set and they are great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted February 11, 2014 Report Share Posted February 11, 2014 Bluegrass is my tune of choice for handtool work, that and a drum throne parked at the bench. I highly recommend the two. Bluegrass and hand tool woodworking do seem to be a perfect fit, don't they? Love me some bluegrass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Keith Posted February 11, 2014 Report Share Posted February 11, 2014 Have you seen the chisels for your HCM? A friend of mine has a set and they are great. Who is the maker? I know several Japanese toolmakers make "dovetail" chisels with steep side bevels that basically intersect with the back so there is not flat on the sides, allowing you to get all the way into the inside corners of your tails. While I wouldn't mind having set, for now I just reground the side bevels of a 1/4 inch chisel to create the same benefit. Easy and a lot cheaper... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwacker Posted February 11, 2014 Report Share Posted February 11, 2014 Who is the maker? I know several Japanese toolmakers make "dovetail" chisels with steep side bevels that basically intersect with the back so there is not flat on the sides, allowing you to get all the way into the inside corners of your tails. While I wouldn't mind having set, for now I just reground the side bevels of a 1/4 inch chisel to create the same benefit. Easy and a lot cheaper... Look up Terry Beitl he is the cabinet maker that patented them. Im sure he has a web site I can't remember what he called them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhl.verona Posted February 11, 2014 Report Share Posted February 11, 2014 (edited) Josh - good on you! I've tried on our Italian forum to get people to show their first (and second) results, but they're too shy! Now keep going - you're doing pretty well, actually better than I did first off. Did you know that Italian woodworkers call them Swallowtails? John Edited February 12, 2014 by john@verona Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom King Posted February 12, 2014 Report Share Posted February 12, 2014 http://www.japanwoodworker.com/category/12780/dovetail-chisels.aspx?gclid=CP2mksukxbwCFRPxOgodjSIAGw not http://dovetailmaster.com/ Unless the pins are really narrow, a small chisel held at an angle works just fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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