Hand-cut Double Dovetails

Martin – this dovetail is way, way more advanced than anything I’ve done. But I’d be interested to see a step by step tutorial/pictures of what you did. From your description, I’m really not sure how you did this.

It’s looks like a brilliant first/second try.

-- Betsy - GO BUCKS!

Pretty cool. I’m with Betsy about seeing a step by step.

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

Martin, I’m very impressed… I’m trying to think my way through this. Did you first cut the tails large, then fill them with solid walnut, THEN cut the pins to fit within (chopping out the walnut)? If I’m thinking right, you’d have to have rabbets on each board… I’m curious how you do this…

-- As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17)

Martin,

Excellent hand cut job you did.

This pdf file from Leigh show a process with jig. You will get the idea on how tough it would be by hand.

-- There is no such thing as scrap wood!, http://www.saltrivergallery.com

Martin,

I can’t help you with the process but your does look pretty good for a hand cut version. I agree with Betsy and Gary about seeing your process.

-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.

After studying the PDF file, I’m still confused & bewildered.

I too would like to see the Step by Step photo-shoot… if possible…

Thanks alot for your help. Looks good… Glad you could figure it out.

-- Have Fun! Joe Lyddon - Home: http://www.WoodworkStuff.net ... My Small Gallery: http://www.ncwoodworker.net/pp/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=1389"

Thats mind boggling to even make the attemp by hand…impressive…Blkcherry

Wow… yes please enlighten us! I would love to learn that… Of course it would help if I could cut a regular dovetail first.

-- Chris

Thanks for the comments and encouragement.

Steve – Yes, you’ve got it right. Since I’m a “tails first” person on most dovetails whenever I can (guess I got this from Rob Cosman’s video series), I happened to start with the walnut tails, cut, then joined into the pins in the poplar on the left in the second photo. Then I cut off the walnut (in this case) flush, then cut the smaller tails inside the walnut tails. The key is the rabbet cut in the poplar pieces before starting the tail/pin markup and cutting.

I’ve just got started on this box, and plan to do a step by step blog, but it may be some time before I progress much on this one. I need to practice the joint more before I actually start the dovetails.

I also don’t have plans yet for the lid, but was thinking of extending the walnut (I’m using maple in the actual box) up and around the sides and across the top of the lid. This could be done via inlay or maybe a properly aligned thin strip of maple during glue-up of the lid. I’d be open for anyone else’s ideas for the lid.

-- Martin, Kansas