Does this dovetail have a name?

[Zach England]

I saw these dovetails looking at the Lie Nielsen site. Does it have a name? It looks stunningly difficult to do.

http://www.lie-nielsen.com/images/no2idt.jpg

[gary Zimmel]

It's called a hounds tooth Zach..

Not the easiest to do....

[Pat Zabrocki]

search the forum for houndstooth. Mark Singer had a really nice post about them some time ago.
cheers
pat

[Zach England]

That's what I wanted to know. Thanks.

[lowell holmes]

Rob Cosman shows how to do it in his advanced dovetail video.

[Narayan Nayar]

Not that I could do a set myself without it looking like a hound's mouth minus several teeth, but isn't that a set normal through dovetails with two baselines?

[gary Zimmel]

In essence yes Narayan.

Trick is remembering what to chop out and what to leave.:eek:
Ron C. also teaches how to do them in his course.

[george wilson]

There is no mechanical reason to make that dovetail joint. Just for cuteness,I suppose. A normal one would be stronger,wouldn't it?

[Salem Ganzhorn]

There is no mechanical reason to make that dovetail joint. Just for cuteness,I suppose. A normal one would be stronger,wouldn't it?

Is there a mechanical reason to make a dovetail at all? Box joints with modern glues are just as good right :)

By the way I am currently struggling with hand cutting dove tails :).

[gary Zimmel]

I agree George, there is no mechanical reason to make that joint.
But you have to agree, they sure are purdy....

Most of the furniture I have built for our home have handcut dovetail drawers.
No one notices but it gives me a lot of satisfaction knowing they are there.

[harry strasil]

At least the ones on the end are of a decent size. LOL

[Zach England]

BTW I bought that plane...just want to brag.

[jerry nazard]

BTW I bought that plane...just want to brag.

No. Do not brag. It is in poor taste.
Gloating, however, is always allowed.
I'd say you have a very nice gloat! :D

[george wilson]

I don't mean that there is no reason for dovetails. Just not fancied up ones. Box joints will fail if the glue fails. Dovetails lock together in 1 direction,at least. I use dovetails myself,even in metal planes I make.

[Dennis McGarry]

I don't mean that there is no reason for dovetails. Just not fancied up ones. Box joints will fail if the glue fails. Dovetails lock together in 1 direction,at least. I use dovetails myself,even in metal planes I make.

Reason? Form along with function is a +10

[Keith Christopher]

I agree George, there is no mechanical reason to make that joint.
But you have to agree, they sure are purdy....

I say yes and no to this. This joint allows for additional glue surface area, because the strongest bonds will be along the long grain, but for drawers I would think it is more for looks than glue strength.

[Mark Singer]

You can also make them half blind as attached. They are decorative and not that difficult. The mitered dovetails are quite a bit harder.

http://sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=58299&d=1171898181

[Brian Kincaid]

A little off topic from the OP, but it seems silly to me to use such tiny pins. I know there is perceived to be an 'aesthetic' quality to tiny pins. IMO this is purely because they can only be done by hand.

I guess to me I see tiny pins and I think they are only a marginal improvement over a butt-joint. Big through dovetails have no match for strength. I love using them on projects.

This is all my opinion based on my opinion.

I'm not a 'great' woodworker, and definitely would not call myself artistic. If I drop a board and snap off a pin then I think it was not really mechanically sound to begin with.

-Brian

[Mark Singer]

The execution of joinery in woodworking is about strength , in part, but it is also really about the esthetics of joint design , execution , proportion and also tradition. The dovetail is a delicate looking joint and this is part of its interest and allure. It is light and strong. Pocket screws and todays adhesives can make drawers as strong, but does not express the quality or skill of the joinery. Large fasteners are clumsy yet strong.

Fine furniture is an expression of careful design and expression , all things in balance. Hounds tooth dovetails appear very delicate and because of their scale they are challenging . When mated with the opposing side the marriage creates a unity where the sum is greater and stronger than its individual parts.
They need each other....just as we do as woodworkers to help each other to understand. With this knowledge we are stronger. With this newly found strength we are ready to take on the next project....with finesse and skill.
Mill faced hammer is far away ... skill saw as well.

[Larry Fox]

http://sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=58299&d=1171898181

Mark, that is a beautiful joint and drawer? Your work?

[Philip Rodriquez]

Here is a great link for everyone. http://www.ukworkshop.co.uk/Joints/Houndstooth-Dovetails.html

[Mark Singer]

Mark, that is a beautiful joint and drawer? Your work?

Yes , part of the sapeele bed I made . and Thanks!

http://wkfinetools.com/contrib/mSinger/art/sapeleBed/sapeleBed1.asp