ePrivacy and GPDR Cookie Consent by Cookie Consent
Close

How to Cut a Large Through Dovetail Joint

A Single Large Through Dovetail in European Olive Ash and European Walnut.

Author: John Bullar
Rating: Rating of (5)Rating of (5)Rating of (5)Rating of (5)Rating of (5)
See Comments
How to Cut a Large Through Dovetail Joint
Mark the Shoulder Line

Use a skew chisel to knife-mark a dovetail shoulder line. Lay the flat underside of the chisel on the socket wood, grip the tail wood safely above the chisel while you slide its end across the bench. The skew chisel point will mark the tail shoulder line at just the right height. Swap the woods around to mark the socket shoulder line.

Mark the Shoulder Line
Fig 1
Using the Skew Chisel

Use the skew chisel to pare the dovetail side down to the shoulder. The skewed edge cuts with a clean slicing action.

Using the Skew Chisel
Fig 2
Remove the Bulk with a Saw

Using a coping saw efficiently removes a large chunk of waste from a dovetail socket but it leaves a rough edge that needs straightening with a chisel.

Remove the Bulk with a Saw
Fig 3
Using the Bevel Edged Chisel

Chop away waste from the rough edge with the widest bevel edge chisel that fits. Hold the chisel sideways on so you can watch that its back remains vertical.

Using the Bevel Edged Chisel
Fig 4
Cut Back Carefully

Make the first chop about a millimetre ahead of the shoulder line, then pare back to the line.

Cut Back Carefully
Fig 5
The Completed Joint

Test fit the joint, paring with a skew chisel to remove any excessive tightness.

The Completed Joint
Fig 6
Tools Used for this Project

CH/S-12R Right Hand Skew Chisel 12 mm

CH/B-26 Bevel Edge Chisel 26 mm