I am looking for reference material on how to make full blind dovetails. so far I haven’t found anything that describes in detail how to do it. my own attempts have resulted in very sloppy fits. thanks in advance
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Replies
Secret mitred dovetails?
Double rebated dovetails?
the above search terms may help.
Cheers,
eddie
I believe in the US they refer to it as Full-Blind Dovetail and in the UK either Hidden or Secret Dovetail. This is the first that I have heard of Double Rebated. I will try searching on that term. Thanks.
If you refer to secret mitre DT's (?) as Eddie mentioned.. I just did a set on the base runner of a chest at the front corners. Learned them from Ian Kirby and I think he has a little book on the market concerning DT cutting?
Sarge..
Thanks I will pursue the Ian Kirby thread.
I just did a Google on secret mitered dove-tail.. I didn't go past the first page as there were many. Some of the site's told how to do it from their on-line info and Ian Kirby's book.. The Complete Dove-tail: Hand-made Furniture's Signature Joint is available at Amazon for $10.
I have cut crown molding on occasions for 36 years, but every time I do it I have to sit down and think it through as I don't do it everyday. The secret is kind of the same thing.. a little complicated compared to through and half-blinds. If you are going to use them more than just one occasion it would probably be a good idea to get a book such as Kirby's to have on hand to reference too when you do to avoid mental mistakes as mistakes will happen without the right sequences.
Good luck...
Sarge..
g, while browsing the latest FWW E-letter I saw brief mention of full blind DT's in a Tage Frid article on carcase construction, FWW#5. That's a tough looking joint, my head hurt just thinking how to lay it out. All the best, Paddy
There's some info in Joyce's Encyclopedia of Furniture Making, under "Secret (double lap) dovetails," and "Secret mitre dovetails," on pp 173 to 175 of the 1987 revised edition, complete with diagrams. He claims that the double lap are "not much more trouble to cut" than lapped dovetails, but says that secret mitre should "not be attempted in long lengths before experience has been gained." No kidding?
Jim
I had used Joyce as my reference but found it isn't detailed enough. Following and with some interpretation I was able to produce a mitered dovetail joint but I am not happy with the result.
"David Charlesworth's Furniture Making Techniques" (Volume I ) has an excellent article on the "secret mitred dovetail" His books are very good and all of his articles are very informative. Hope this helps.
Regards,
Sean
Tage Frid's book on joinery has a very good section on that joint. He then goes on to say the full blind multiple spline joint is far superior in both ease of construction and strength. It is pretty easy to cut with just a router and a home made template. Since it is fully hidden why go to the trouble of DT’s?
thanks for the reply. I will check out this reference as well as the other two offered by others.as to why bother with a secret miter joint if its hidden? well, I suppose the challenge of doing woodworking in a very traditional way is what motivates me. given a choice between using hand tools or power tools I always opt for the hand tool (and I have a lot of the power tool toys as well as hand tool toys)
Since it is fully hidden why go to the trouble of DT’s? .. Napie
***
Just because you can.... :>)
Regards...
Sarge..<!----><!----><!---->
He wants to hide them, but he knows they are there.
Just kidding.masrolsumairi
I know how the "mob" would handle that one to keep it a secret. :>)
Regards...
Sarge..
Sarge,
I too would hide several things - if I could...
Best wishes,
Metod
All my work is most definitely worthy of hiding, Metod. As soon as I finish a piece I throw a 20 x 20 canvas tarp over it.. nail it down and move on to another secret project in "Shop 51" in the Appalachian foot-hills. :>)
Regards...
Sarge..
Sarge,
"All my work is most definitely worthy of hiding"
From what I have seen, yours is of the non-hiding type. I sincerely mean it. Maybe you are not that good at documenting your possible hide-ables. <g>
Best wishes,
Metod
Thank you, kind sir!
Regards...
Sarge..
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