fixing workbench dovetails - advise?

[Assaf Oppenheimer]

Hi all,

by now some of you remember that I am building a bench (since march)
it has been an incredibly slow but satisfying experience. I just finished the male dovetail for the bench's tail vise.
My first attempt at dovetails too (gulp!). I think it went reasonably well with one small issue:

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I was wondering whether it would be noticeable or not, and if yes how best to fix it?

in general, I tend to overelaborate things (i.e. houndstooth dovetails instead of standard). I think I have a fix but I wanted to run it by the creekers collective wisdom. I would reinsert the triangles I cut out that made the dovetail and wedge them upwards, then shoot it on the shooting board until the line is crisp again. hopefully the wedges will prevent spelching.

I welcome any thoughts before I start to layout the pins/female part of the joint

[Derek Cohen]

Assaf, don't fret about it. Once all is together, you can either plane the surface down 1mm, or add a a mix of glue and sawdust.

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Jason Buresh]

Hi Assaf,

Personal opinion here, but I wouldn't worry about it. If anything, it will make the first dent or ding that gets put in the bench less painful.

Almost every historical bench I have seen has dents, dings, gouges, holes, etc. I understand the desire to take pride in craftsmanship, but it's going to get beat up over time anyway

[Assaf Oppenheimer]

Assaf, don't fret about it. Derek

But Derek, how else would I clear the waste? :D
(sorry, couldn't help myself)

[William Fretwell]

Assaf, looking at your layout lines the pencil line is not very clear and layout scoring only evident across the base of the dovetail. Derek’s blue tape, clear lines and scoring improve layout accuracy, which is everything. Green tape works also :D

Once your layout is accurate, commit and split the line from the waste side.

[Derek Cohen]

Assaf, looking at your layout lines the pencil line is not very clear and layout scoring only evident across the base of the dovetail. Derek’s blue tape, clear lines and scoring improve layout accuracy, which is everything. Green tape works also :D

Once your layout is accurate, commit and split the line from the waste side.

Assaf, William offers a good reminder - I did this same joint on my bench. Blue tape helped enormously (green tape is for the oppositionally defiant :) ) ...

http://www.inthewoodshop.com/ShopMadeTools/BuidingaBench4_html_2a0ad565.jpg

http://www.inthewoodshop.com/ShopMadeTools/BuidingaBench4_html_m167fdf7a.jpg

Link: http://www.inthewoodshop.com/ShopMadeTools/BuidingaBench4.html

By the way ... I think that you are awfully brave for your first dovetail!!! That is outstanding work.

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Rafael Herrera]

If you don't want the chipped corner in the final bench, then either saw off that end, glue up a couple of strips, or simply make a new piece. It's just a bench, you'll wack, dent, saw, spill, drill, etc. it over time.

[Assaf Oppenheimer]

To Derek and William:
This is what I did this morning before I opened up the computer:

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Let put it this way, when I type in to my search par "in" it completes it to "http://www.inthewoodshop.com/" :D

William: you mentioned that the pencil line isn't clear on the tails. that is because I erased it. I didn't put a lot of importance on the tail lines (except where they end) but rather on sawing at 90˚ so that the tails would fit well in the pins. beyond aesthetics, and excluding extreme variations, the shape of the tail isn't that important. it just has to sit well in the pinboard. I am laying out the tail VERY carefully.

I am using a trick I learned from Mark Spagnolo - I lay out the line in pencil, then nudge the board left and right accordingly and relay the line with a knife (to avoid making the layout wider than necessary by the width of the knife marks). To my eye it seems a little tight but I can always pare down to make it fit.

I doubt it will help much but I do want to address something that has been repeated many times: not to worry because it is shop furniture.
1) I think that is an absolutely valid point, if the person who makes the piece feels that way. personally if someone is writing that they need help with a joint or a project, telling them not to worry because it doesn't matter isn't going to help them - its rather dismissive and counterproductive.
2) in my case I just finished school and am studying for something similar to the Bar exam in the states (not in law). so I have free time. I am building the thing in my balcony, and when it is done, it will sit in the living room (I have no workshop, I live in an apartment). the way I see my future schedule, it will be for display most of the time until I find time to do a project (I don't think I will have much time). I do want living room furniture to be visually pleasing.
I don't think there was any ill intent in these comments though

Cheers (wish me luck)
Assaf

[Scott Winners]

You got this doc. Houndstooth dovetails in contrasting wood species are visually stunning forever. You have set the bar pretty darn high for your first dovetail, but I give up on talking you down from that. I cut my first dovetails in a couple small pieces of hickory with the expectation I could BBQ some pig on the evidence of my beginnerhood.

If you got to dive this deep into the hobby to let go of the stress of your day job, go for it and may whatever higher power you believe in bless you for for fighting the good fight. For what it is worth, when I type IN into my web browser I end up at the same website. That webmaster is doing a service to mankind that probably was not on his to do list when he started learning html.

[Assaf Oppenheimer]

OK so it didn't go as bad as I though it would, nor as good as I hoped. the joint layout was very tight and after A LOT of fettling I got it to seat. I think the needl point dovetails was the part where I over reached the tips collapsed... Tomorrow I need to seat it again, glue it, and patch the walnut endgrain a bit.
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First Dovetail, what do you know... :)

[Tom M King]

Looks good to me!

[Derek Cohen]

Superb work, Assaf!!

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Jim Koepke]

When your family and friends look at this they will not see the flaws they will see the beauty.

This is a high bar you have set for yourself and dovetail joints.

jtk