Great thread on dovetail layout

[Matt Woodworth]

Friends,

I tend to read here at Saw Mill Creek and post more often at woodnet. I started a thread asking for help on a quicker way to layout dovetails and I got a few really great replies. The post with the pictures was especially helpful. I thought I'd tell you guys about it just in case you don't commonly go to woodnet.

http://www.forums.woodnet.net/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=handtools&Number=1039574&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=

[Marc Hills]

Thank you Matt.

You're right, that was a really informative discussion on dovetail layout. And I agree that Gabriel's ("Picklepork") photo how-to really demystified what continues to be a very trial and error process for me. So is that Bob Cosman's method?

I just have one quesition about terminology. I've never been able to participate in any of the "pins versus tails first" discussions because frankly, I get confused about which is which. I thought I finally had it nailed down, but Garbriel's post over at Woodnet has me confused again.

Above Gabriel's third picture, he summarizes: "Your pins are now laid out." But when he finishes marking his cut lines in the fourth picture, it looks to me that he has laid out what I've been calling "tails". After he cuts them, then (at least this is what I do) those are then used to lay out what I refer to as the "pins". So am I still confused on dovetail terminology?

[Matt Woodworth]

His picture show tails laid out. If he had laid out the pins the line across the end grain would be slanted. The tails look like a dove's tail. The have straight edges and no matter how hold the board they still look like a dove's tail. Here's a picture of me making some tails on my latest project (http://www.just4fun.org/woodworking/projects/cherry_nightstand/index.htm) (stealth gloat). :) So the thing I'm removing will make room for the pin and the part that's left is a tail. I hope that helps.

http://www.just4fun.org/images/woodworking/cherry_nightstands/DCP_2352.JPG

[Roy Wall]

Matt,

Your projects look great! You should be pleased - the dovetail drawers look very very good!!!

Did you make your own mallet using purpleheart & Ash? If so, how'd you go about it..........

Thanks!
Roy

[Zahid Naqvi]

Matt,
Good article from the woodnet. The trick with the divider is really neat.

Zahid

[Matt Woodworth]

Matt,
Did you make your own mallet using purpleheart & Ash? If so, how'd you go about it..........

Thanks for the kind words. The mallet is purpleheart and maple, it was left over from the workbench. I wrote a page about it and everybody around here went and built something better than mine. :)

It should be complete enough to get you going.
http://www.just4fun.org/woodworking/articles/mallet_1.htm