I am fixing to dovetail up a case. The top and bottom (horizontal pin boards) are two pieces with one glue line. The vertical side panels, tail boards, are three pieces with two glue lines. Species is American Beech, KD at purchase and seasoned inside my house for three years before glue up. The panels have been stickered in my shop for about a week now with no visible stupidity.
I am inclined to pass the glue line through their respective pins or tails, and leave some meat on both sides of the glue line in both the pins and tails.
On the one hand those London pattern dovetails with the microscopic pins sure are pretty. On the other hand American Beech moves a fair bit seasonally, and my shop has a fairly wide seasonal humidity/ temperature/ equilibrium moisture content swing.
My fundamental question is how small can I make my pins on the horizontal pieces with the one glue line, while being prudent about wood movement but tipping my hat to the micro pin London style?
I do have a 1/10 LN mortise chisel, but that seems like a precious small pin given movement on Am Beech with a glue line in the middle one. I routinely see plus 55 degrees F and 6-8% RH in the winter but plus 80 degrees F at 70-80% RH in the summer.
I will try for a pic tomorrow. I set out for my glue lines to be symmetrical and think I hit in the 1/8 to 1/4 window. All the panels are edge to edge. I considered slipping in a quarter sawn ribbon more or less on center during glue up but chickened out.
Appreciate the help folks. I started my “vacation” at 1630 on Friday. I got called in Saturday morning at 0420 and got home at 2000. Sunday I spent 8 hours moving snow, today I finally got to sleep. Hope to be in the shop Tuesday laying out dovetails.