Hello folks!
This weekend I was practicing how to make sliding dovetails for cross braces for a table that I am making. I had a question about the dovetail way or socket (dovetail dado?).
As I attempt to rout out the dovetail way into the side of a table apron with a dovetail bit, I get a lot of tear-out from the initial cut into the apron. This of course is due to the rotating cutter bit and the tear out is only on the right hand side of the work piece as I push my router away from me into the wood. I also hogged out the middle of the dovetail bit with a straight cutter, but this to has tear out.
The way that I found around this is to put a piece of sacrificial front backing onto my piece and have that tear out. So the question is, is this the proper way? Is tear out usually normal when cutting the dovetail way?
Replies
Jointerman:
Yes, it is common to get tearout with a router. The amount of tearout is affected by wood species and direction of woodgrain. Using a sacrificial backer board as you have done is a standard and good way to deal with the problem. Starting with an up cutting spiral bit in this application helps, but doesn't always eliminate tearout.
gdblake
Oddly, none of the techniques I've been reading on sliding dovetails mention the use of a backer, nor do the photos show a backer strip of wood. That's what got me thinking if I was missing something here. Artistic license on the articles I've read?
I thought about getting a small up-cut spiral bit, but that wouldn't eliminate the problem with the tear out on the dovetail bit...
I haven't done any sliders, but I'd assume that it depends on the width of the way compared to the size of the bit. Without the sacrificial block, you're subject to tearout at one end or the other, though.
You might try scoring the other side with a marking knife, or even sawing an angled kerf .
I thought about scoring the side, with a knife but realized that it was just easier to use a sacrificial block.
Jm,
Alternatively, you could simply leave your stock a little wider than finished size, and then joint off the edge with tearout after routing. I typically do this when dovetailing for drawer blades or table battens.
Ray
ray,
what's a drawer blade?
eef
It's the center part of a drawer knife. ;-)
ralph,
corny ralphing humor aside, has spring done sprung your way? it be hoppin' here...
eef
Eef, your desert trip to AZ will be amazing this year. We have had over 6" of rain so far this year and last year has less than that for the entire year. Wildflower color will be fun to photograph!
AZMO
morgan,
at the end of march we lausd serfs get a spring break. i intend to spend at least 1/2 of it wandering aimlessly throughout anza borrego, which is the western end of your sonoran desert. the rainfall has been deep this year and, as you probably know, we burned down our national forest this year and the mudslides are taking their revenge on us. i'll perhaps get down your way come july.
eef
Spring is trying to sprung here. But, I'm at 5,400 feet, so it's a little slow. Still snowing up north, but we got into the 50s today.
eef,
On a case for a chest of drawers, the horizontal rails that define the drawer opening. Drawer divides, drawer rails, are other names frequently used.
Maybe drawer blades is a local colloquialism?
Ray
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