View Full Version : A very small dovetailing aid
Derek Cohen
02-07-2016, 8:32 AM
I am nearing halfway of eight drawers for my chest. It occurred that one of the little aids I use when dovetailing may be helpful for others.
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Joints/Dovetailing%20aids/dovetailing-rest1a_zpsflhq4uxp.jpg
It came time to transfer the tails to the pin board ...
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Joints/Dovetailing%20aids/dovetailing-rest2a_zps6n1ipytw.jpg
What you see here is a bow drawer front which will have half-blind sockets (the area in blue). The remainder will be sawn away (into a bow front) once the dovetails have been completed. This is done later, rather than earlier, so as to retain a reference side.
The issue here is to ensure that the drawer sides are square with the drawer front.
All one needs is a simple rectangle that is about 3/4" high. It must be square on the inside.
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Joints/Dovetailing%20aids/dovetailing-rest3a_zpsr0btu1qq.jpg
It is even easier to use when joining through dovetails.
Once done, use the square as a rest for your chisels ...
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Joints/Dovetailing%20aids/dovetailing-rest4a_zpsm0llhsvd.jpg
Regards from Perth
Derek
Brian Holcombe
02-07-2016, 8:55 AM
Cool square!
Im curious as to why you chose to use so many chisels rather than say, one fishtail shaped chisel that can be used for chopping?
Derek Cohen
02-07-2016, 9:13 AM
Hi Brian
The 3/16" chisel was for the tails. I use the 1" bench chisel for splitting out the waste from the pins (it is used with a small mallet), after the baseline has been drilled. The slick is for paring the waste remaining. The fishtail is only used in the corners (that keeps it sharp for when it is needed).
Regards from Perth
Derek
Brian Holcombe
02-07-2016, 10:17 AM
Ah, makes sense since you drill the baseline. I have not chopped jarrah, but I assume it's not so enjoyable.
I switched from using a fishtail pared in the corners to fishtail bench chisels for the entire process (on the pin board). It's increased the speed significantly, but I chop.
Jim Koepke
02-07-2016, 1:06 PM
All one needs is a simple rectangle that is about 3/4" high. It must be square on the inside.
The purpose made square/rectangle is likely better, for me a framing square does the job:
331177
What ever works.
jtk
Derek Cohen
02-08-2016, 12:02 AM
Tried that, Jim. A framing square is too large and too skinny. Even with small squares they are too low to create decent reference sides.
Regards from Perth
Derek
Jim Koepke
02-08-2016, 2:50 AM
Tried that, Jim. A framing square is too large and too skinny. Even with small squares they are too low to create decent reference sides.
Regards from Perth
Derek
If you look close at the picture you can see the square is setting on some scrap and a second piece being used as a reference surface against the tail board.
Yours is an elegant solution, mine is rigged up on the fly.
jtk
ken hatch
02-08-2016, 10:11 AM
Thanks Derek,
I made a copy of your dovetail square last night. This morning I made a test set of dovetails. The base alignment was dead nuts on, I could not feel any misalignment. It is a useful addition to my shop.
http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh222/VTXAZ/dovetailSquare160208_zpsqxoa7prs.jpg
ken
Daniel Rode
02-08-2016, 10:16 AM
Thanks Derek!
I'd been using a scrap to align the reference sides and then sighting the baseline gap. While this works pretty well, your square is a step above. I'll be making one of these soon.
Derek Cohen
02-08-2016, 11:04 AM
Just for good measure, here is a through dovetail I did today ...
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Joints/Dovetailing%20aids/dovetailing2a_zpsfwt5xnmk.jpg
As you can see, it is not the easiest shape to align ..
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Joints/Dovetailing%20aids/dovetailing4a_zpsyeazer3e.jpg
Rear of drawers ..
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Joints/Dovetailing%20aids/dovetailing7a_zps9sedmthk.jpg
Regards from Perth
Derek
Prashun Patel
02-08-2016, 11:25 AM
Thanks for another technique, Derek. Question: do you rabbet your tail boards? If one does, then as long as the reference faces are flush at the intersection, wouldn't they be square too?
Derek Cohen
02-08-2016, 11:38 AM
Hi Prashun
I do not rebate the tail board. It is just one more thing to do. And even if one does, it only takes a very small deviation to cause the boards to end up poorly aligned.
Regards from Perth
Derek
Prashun Patel
02-08-2016, 11:45 AM
I hadn't considered squaring up the boards when marking. I am embarking on 8 drawers, so I will do this. Thanks!
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