When doves make me cry

It’s no secret that I like to incorporate lots of curved lines into my pieces. Generally I start with a concept and decide where I want to bend some lines to add visual appeal, and most of the time I have little concern for how much more complex it will make the project. As a result, I almost always underestimate the extra work involved in adding even simple curvature. So of course this piece is no different. In my mind, dovetailing into the sides of a curved drawer front is really no different than a flat drawer front.

But especially with a bow-front drawer, this is not the case at all. There are angles that need to be cut in the top and the shoulders of each tail that then need to fit into a similar angle in the dovetail sockets. So this episode focuses not on how to hand cut dovetail drawers, but more how the process differs for bow-front drawers. 

So you want to learn how to hand cut dovetails?

Now that I have your attention...I'm not a dovetailing expert. But I am living proof that pretty much anyone can do it. Like almost every aspect of woodworking, dovetails are an exercise in patience so any deficiencies in technique, skill, experience, or confidence can be more than compensated for just by taking a methodical approach. In this episode of the tool chest project, I finally start cutting the joinery - beginning with the case assembly itself. These tails will be the most visibly joinery in the project, so I made sure to take the time to get the best fit. And for me, getting the best fit is all about careful transfer of tails to pins, and fine tuning to the marking lines. Layout is important as well since it's sort of hard to go back and add in a half pin or half tail after the fact.

I'm going to take a week off for the Fourth of July, but when I get back I will introduce a new locking dovetail joint that might be my most inspired idea ever (aside from that idea for the Hyperbole Awards).



Right click to download the HD version of this video (all the cool kids are doing it)

Pins or tails....on top?

First, a warning to those who follow this video blog to see sawdust flying and wood magically shaping before your eyes (go along with me here). We got the power tools cranked up in the last episode, but before I ventured further, I decided another discussion of design was in order. After I posted the 3D model in episode one, I got what seemed like a fairly innocuous question from Mark Rhodes asking why I had designed the dovetailed case with the tails on top and the pins on the side. My initial reaction was - "that's just how I've always done it, so there must be a good reason". Fast forward another 20 minutes, and I was locked in full brain-spasm. If you think the debate over cutting tails or pins first can spin your head, this is as much if not more of a conundrum. So before you post "I thought we were past the design phase, when do we get to see speed dovetail cutting?" bear with me one more episode. Don't worry, you'll get to see plenty of hand cut dovetails in the coming episodes (over 115 by my last count). As always, I'm all ears when it comes to your comments - especially if you have an opinion on "tales top".



Right click to download the HD version of this video (you like HD right?)