My first try at cutting dovetails the right way, with pics?

For a first try looks like your on your way, I tried by hand a few times and couldn’t come close! So I bought an Incra Jig.
Sorry I can’t help but keep practicing, I know we got alot of LJ’s that hand cut.

-- MARK IN BOB, So. CAL

CJ

Looks like you are getting a pretty good start. Maybe it is the camera angle, it looks like your center pin may have the angles backwards. The tails look great.

I would like to see how you made and use your dovetail gauge. I have thought about making one but never really saw one in use.

Lew

I made the dovetail guage by taking my bevel guage and putting the angle I wont on a peice of poplar and then I cut it out with my skil saw.

-- CJIII Future cabinetmaker

I think I did cut one backwards.

-- CJIII Future cabinetmaker

CJ,

Great Start; yours look better than my first attempt :)

-- Chris

Practice, practice, practice. There are some good DVDs to watch. Rob Cosman’s comes to mind.

-- Betsy - GO BUCKS!

looks like your off to a great start. i did hand cut dovetails once. i got them alright but it took about 2 hours to do 2 sets about the size of yours. i still hand cut them once in a while but i got a Leigh jig. practice, practice, practice and you’ll be cutting them like a pro in no time.

Keep at it mate. You have picked a tricky one to hone your skills but as Betsy says practice practice practice.

-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python

Better than my first attempt. at least your fit. I went through a lot of cut offs and then bought a jig !!!! ;+)

Thanks guys I am going to keep practiceing, I never will own a router jig or buy one I think it will limited you when cutting dovetails and also dont like the even spacing or the machine look.

-- CJIII Future cabinetmaker

First try will only lead to perfection…keep the spirit and you will master it…good luck Blkcherry

Beginning———there are jigs that you can adjust the spacing on – they make the dovetails look better than the even spacing jigs—- but still machine jig.

Like I’m sure your mother told you——never say never—- may find that the jig is the way to go. If you want to make money making cabinets——a jig may be the best way to go. If you plan to stay completely as a hobbiest then hand cut is the way to go. I personally like the hand cutting. It’s quieter and more relaxing.

-- Betsy - GO BUCKS!

I am planning on doing cabinetmaking on the side.

-- CJIII Future cabinetmaker

I’ve never even used a router jig to cut dovetails…
but I have often cut them by hand on finer work.

Just keep practicing – try different methods too.

For most through dovetailing I use a 24” bowsaw
I made. I fitted it with a butcher saw blade with
almost all the set filed off and refiled for ripping.

I wax the blade. The wiggle room in the kerf of
a regular saw is what makes cuts go wild. I like
the blade to almost stick in the kerf.

-- http://amherstcabinets.com - also a marketing consultant with expertise in direct response marketing for woodworking and online businesses - http://COPYMATCH.COM

Try practising on thinner material. All you want to do right now is practise layout and tool control. Remember to cut on the waste side of the line. Keep at it, you are on your way!

-- Don, Pittsburgh