Got Dovetails?

I do both. I use the same method you use to hand cut them and a Leigh jig to machine cut then.

If I have 15 drawers with half blind dovetails, I’m using the jig.

If I’m looking for something special, I will do them by hand.

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

Hi Gary,

Which Leigh jig do you have? would you recommend it? I think you are right on using both. The largest single project I have done handcut dovetails was on an entertainment center which had 9 drawers. Anything beyond that seems insane.

-- Brian, Folsom, CA http://www.brianfullerdesigns.com

Hand cut now. Setting up the jig takes as much time. hand cut looks better and is more unique too.

I’m on the same road as Gary. If I have a boat load to do, I have a Keller jig. If only one or two drawers, I cut them by hand. Even if I need to do half blind, I will cut the tails with the jig and the pins by hand. You are right, if you want to stir up an argument, just ask- Pins or tails first? I even saw a post a day or two ago, where the poster said he cuts the pins first with a Keller jig. My Keller is a tails first, then pins. Personally, I’m a tails first guy. I use a Japanese dovetail saw and chisel to do hand cut dovetails.

-- Tim -- http://tmuli.com

Hand-cut for me. I use a ryoba saw, but if I had a dozuki I’d use that. The ryoba works just fine though. I’ve tried pins first and tails first, and I still haven’t decided which I like better.

-- Eric at http://adventuresinwoodworking.com

Like the others have said it just depends on the size of the project.

I read an artical the other day about useing a tablesaw to cut doves, anyone use that method? How does it come out?

-- www.Exclusivecellars.com

All by hand, all the time.

If I had a Leigh though, things might change

-- The only easy wood project is a fire

I have cut dovetails in the past and did get acceptable results. I have I just recently bought the Porter Cable 4012 jig. The time and experience needed to do good work by hand can easily be done with some good practice on the jig, atleast from opionions I have read of others. I was debating on the Leigh but with the added cost and from all the reviews I read of others, unless your projects intail constant production of dovetails, the Porter cable jig is ideal for the average intermediate woodworker.

-- AllWood

by hand pins first. scribe lines, dovetail saw, then chisel waste out. Make sure my pins are square and true and transfer to tail board. Then cut and chisel tails to fit.

but i would like to maybe get a jig someday not really for drawers but for larger boards, like like the top of case work.

-- Brian, Eternal Furniture & Design http://www.eternal-furniture.com Repurpose Reclaim,Stay Green

I think everyone should know how to cut’em by hand but for pure speed and repeatability I use the incra for small drawers and decorative double dovetails ,and Leigh Jig for larger projects

-- DocK, WV

i don’t have a jig so i as you say “hand cut” them. i don’t really hand cut them though as i use a router and hand tools to make them.

Hand cut them exclusively, pins first most of the time, dozuki to cut sides, coping saw to remove most waste on the pins, chisels to cut to the line. Works every time like a charm.

I do not own a dovetail jig and I am not planning to get one. If I would have customers, I might freak out that it takes too long but I do not and I enjoy cutting dovetails.

Most people get into a religious argument about pins vs tails first. I am myself a pragmatist: on most of my boxes I like to make skinny pins so pins first is a must since you cannot mark the pins from the tails (nothing fits in the hole). I do tails first when I put dovetails on rails for furniture.

By the way, I made a 37 minute on how I cut dovetails that I posted in a blog entry on this website:
http://lumberjocks.com/jocks/alindobra/blog/2755

Alin

-- -- Alin Dobra, Gainesville, Florida

I’ve been cutting them by hand for about 30 years now,have never used a router to do it.There surely isn’t anything wrong with doing them by machine,it’s just one of my personal thngs,much like solid wood drawer bottoms.Since I do this for a living it is one of the features I use to sell my work.
Obviously either way is a great joint,it’s just a lot more personal and visually attractive to me by hand.It certainly isn’t necessarily wise financially as I really don’t believe I get “paid”for the extra time.But then again if that was my main motive I wouldn’t do this anyhow.

Cowboy

Haven’t hand cut any yet. Had been using a ShopFox jig, mostly with softer woods, but just had a devil of a time cutting some nicely figured cherry, culminating in parts of the jig failing and the piece slipping, damaging things such that I’m probably going to have to cut the pins off and try again on one side, mucking up a grain match and making the whole piece 3/4” narrower. That episode was shortly followed by my sweety dragging me off to the Woodcraft and talking me into a Leigh with 24” capacity and the dust collection rail (vs the Akeda, which looked more versatile, but not as fast for knocking out the loads of kitchen drawers on the schedule).

I’ve only cut one dovetail so far with the Leigh, but I’m way impressed with the difference.

-- Dan Lyke, Petaluma California, http://www.flutterby.net/User:DanLyke

I vote with GaryK-do mine both by hand and Leigh jig. If you’re making an heirloom piece, handwork adds to the character. If you’re banging out a kitchen worth of cabinets use the dovetailing jig-takes longer to set up, but producing the dovetails is faster once it is set up.

-- Gerry

I agree with Gary. If it is something personal I’ll hand cut them, however, it there is just to many to cut in a day, grab the router. Another way I have been doing them is a combination of tool and hand. David Marks from Woodworks shows it here using a band saw and chisels.

Bandsaw and Chisel method by David Marks

BTW, I have had great success using these cheap disposable Zona saws for dovetailing. Anyone else?

Tom

-- Anybody can become a woodworker, but only a Craftsman can hide his mistakes.

I have a Zona. Great price for a decent small saw. I had done only machine cut dovetails using the Incra system until recently, but have been practicing hand cutting dovetails using the 5 minute method My accuracy is improving, and I find it relaxing and fun.

-- North Texas

I use my leigh D24 for my dovetails. I have hand cut to prove to myself that I can, but I prefer to machine cut. I can set up and use my jig much faster than I can hand cut, and with the adjustability of the pins, I can make layouts that look like I hand cut.

-- making sawdust....

I’m one of the fortunate unfortunates that can’t afford a dovetail jig or a descent router to run on it. So, when I have to do dovetails, I use a pull saw, chisel, marking gauge, and bevel. The process takes considerably longer to make even one box, but it works for me. I’m probably a better craftsman for being poor in such a respect, but one day I hope to be able to run it a bit faster at least.

-- Happy Ripping!!!