I was asked the size of my smallest dovetail chisel. It is a Japanese Iyoroi 1/16”. And, yes, it does get used …
Shortly before Veritas were about the launch the mini shoulder plane, Rob Lee sent me one for comment. Knowing Rob’s enjoyment of practical jokes – just look at the history of Lee Valley’s April Fools tools – I came up with an idea of my own … to make a box for the shoulder plane.
First I prepared the 1/8” thick boards by hand .. USA Mesquite and Tasmanian Oak.
Sawing the tails (yes, with the 20 tpi Veritas saw) was not particularly difficult, and the waste was so small that it was removed with a single push on the 1/16” dovetail chisel (seen in the picture after the next). However, transferring the tails to the pin board was another story …
It turned out OK …
The box itself came together successfully. I added pieces at each end (just careful marking and planing, then glued), and sawed it apart for a lid.
Here is the box with the shoulder plane ..
And a last picture for perspective .. 3″ x 1 1/4″
Fun, isn’t it?
So what is the smallest dovetail chisel you have used?
Regards from Perth
Derek Cohen
Replies
Derek,
Ha ha! That's great! You're lucky you weren't asked to make 500 of them!
I don't have any dovetail chisels yet, so I'll just keep an eye on the responses.
--Jon Luthro (jonnieboy)
jonnieboy,I've got two 1/8" chisels and, quite frankly, I don't like either for small dovetails. They are shaped like mortise chisels and just too big to get clean cuts. I much prefer carving tools for small dovetails.
BG,
Thanks for the tip.
Which carving tools are go-to ones for small dovetails?
-jonnieboy
I wish more people would follow your lead and post pics of their process.
thanks
roc
Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe. Abraham Lincoln ( 54° shaves )
Sweet.
I would often get home from work with things from work left in my pockets.
I was making a case for my sons Ipod and had some glue squeeze out in the rounded corner I had to get rid of. I looked around my tools for something that wouldn't damage the surround wood. Every thing I had with a cutting edge was too big.
Then I thought about the stuff I drag home from work! I removed the catheter and it worked perfect. You couldn't find a sharper cutting edge. When putting it away I just put it cap back on, and safely store it away.
I now have a 14 Ga. Angiocath as part of my arsenal of cutting tools.
I meant to send this to "All", sorry
Edited 12/7/2009 1:59 am ET by Taigert
Holy cow!
Is the next step to get it down to the thickness of my .5 mm pencil? Or better yet, the thickness of the kerf left by a marking knife!?
Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Hey, I works great for what I had to do that day.
I used to keep that kind of stuff in a box on my dresser, and toss the junk out of me pockets in there. Then when it would get half full I'd haul back to work and mess with the inventory.
Look at the size of the pins we're shooting now 23 Ga.
Taigert
Derek:
All the professional woodworkers are scratching their heads and asking themselves, "Is this really what mental health therapists do to keep their sanity?" Always fun and inspiring to see what you are up to.
gdblake
Lovely work.
I have what is probably my usual stupid questions. When making tiny dovetails is there a rule of thumb on sizing 1/ in some inch ? angle based on the box dimensions and wood thickness?
I do not make many hand-cut dovetails except for little boxes and such. I just wing the design of the dovetail.
Sorry, I am just me.. For my small items, I cut the dovetails with a razor saw purchased at my local hobby shop (from Excel or X-acto). They are so inexpensive I can use a new one/two on every project. I use the ones with a bit thicker blade. The thin ones wander a bit but still go a reasonable job. They will cut almost any wood. Never tried Teak!
As for little chisels I just grind some tool steel rod or square stock. I find the needed scrap in dumpster at the local machine shop. YES, I asked permission to take a few scraps just in case the local police show up and arrest me. Yes, they sell the scrap. I do not abuse my privilege. I just take one thing I find, maybe twice a year.
A serious question.
I forgot to mention this is a carry over from when (long ago) I was into building models of aircraft and boats.
Edited 12/8/2009 12:26 pm by WillGeorge
When making tiny dovetails is there a rule of thumb on sizing 1/ in some inch ? angle based on the box dimensions and wood thickness?
Hi Will
Good question.
As the boards get thinner, and the length of the dovetail becomes progressively shorter, so I increase the aspect ratio of the dovetail. If you used an 8:1 ratio on a small box, such as above, the dovetail would end up looking like a finger joint. For the above box I used 5:1
Regards froim Perth
Derek
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