sliding dovetails 4 ol time butcher blk
Many years ago when chopping wood with my father-in-law, we cut down a leaning tree and I saw bright red chips from his chain saw. He was about to cut up Indiana cherry for firewood. The tree was 18″ in diameter. I was in a small car so instead of being able to cut a long length of wood I cut 16″ cubes and later resawed it into 2″ slabs, planning on building a sliding dovetail butcher block like were made 100 years ago. Other than trial and error attempts to get the alignment right, is there any recommended short cuts to make a jig to make male and female 12″ long sliding dovetails. I have two router tables so can cut all of males on one and females on the other. I am not intending to put sliding dovetails on all 4 sides, although I would consider it but judge it to be too complex. Cutting a long sliding dovetail makes it difficult to get rid of the chips, and thus will tend to really heat up the bit. Suggestions? Has anyone built a sliding dovetail butcher block?
DoninFortLauderdale
Replies
Don,
For the female dovetail sockets, rout them in stages to aid in chip ejection and permit a faster feed rate with less burning. Start with a straight bit with a diameter equal to that of the base of the dovetail bit and cut the entire height of the socket in multiple passes. Then, without moving the fence, switch over to the dovetail bit and rout away the rest.
Chris @ www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com
- Success is not the key to happines. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
Some tips.
Food for thought. Have you thought of using a sliding bowtie spline? Maybe with a contrasting lumber ? Could be an impressive look.
Work Safe, Count to 10 when your done for the day !!
Bruce S.
STRAIGHT BIT THEN the Dovetail!
NO! but make a tapered sliding dovetail! Look it up.. Not that hard to do.. And everything fits!
My edit.. AND you can glue the entire length!
Edited 8/26/2008 10:29 pm by WillGeorge
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