Mastering the Dovetail Joint – Hand-Cut Precision

Article 75: Mastering the Dovetail Joint – Hand-Cut Precision

By: A Woodworker Who Still Prefers a Dovetail Saw to a Router

The dovetail joint symbolizes craftsmanship. Learning to cut one by hand improves your sawing, chiseling, and layout skills more than any other joint.

Materials

• Two hardwood boards (for a drawer corner)

  • Tail board: 6" × 4" × 3/4"

  • Pin board: 6" × 4" × 3/4"

• Marking tools

• Wood glue

Tools Needed

• Dovetail saw

• Marking knife and dovetail marker

• Chisels (sharp!)

• Mallet

• Bench vise

Steps

1. Mark Tails

   • Use a dovetail marker to lay out angled tails on one board. Mark with a knife, not pencil.

2. Cut Tails

   • Saw carefully on the waste side of the line. Remove waste between tails with chisels.

3. Transfer to Pin Board

   • Align tails over pin board, mark accurately with knife. Cut pins next.

4. Chop Pins

   • Use saw and chisels again. Test fit. Adjust as needed.

5. Glue and Clamp

   • Apply glue and tap together. Use minimal clamping—let the joinery do the work.

Sketch – Corner View

 _______     _______
|       |   |       |
|  TAIL |-->|  PIN  |
|_______|   |_______|