A dovetail joint is one of the most common woodworking techniques for joining wood with good tensile strength. the joint is appealing and effective at joining two pieces of wood at the right angle.
There is a different method of making the joint, and it can be cut by hand, which must be done by an experienced woodworker. However, power tools such as a table saw or a router and jig make the process easier and faster.
Well, in this reading, we’ll explore what a dovetail joint is, its applications, diagram, types, advantages, and disadvantages. I’ll also explore to to cut a dovetail joint.
What is a Dovetail Joint?
A dovetail joint is a process of joining pieces of wood at a right angle in order to put them together and give good tensile strength between them. The joint is often used on modern furniture and cabinets and timber framing, though it has been in existence for many now.
With the pins and tails shape, it is difficult for the joint to be pulled apart. Glue can be used to strengthen the joint, but it requires no mechanical fastener.
One of the most recognized joints and an indication of skilled craftsmanship is the dovetail joint. They are composed of a sequence of trapezoidally shaped pins and tails that interlock.
Dovetail joints are widely recognised as one of the strongest and most durable joints in woodworking and add value to users’ cabinet jobs.
Although veneers have long covered them, they are now usually kept exposed to show off the craftsmanship that went into making them.
They are usually used in drawer construction because of their quality, which is their resistance to being ripped apart. A simpler dovetail alternative is a box junction, which does not have the trapezoidal form.
The secret to making dovetail joints is to set your baselines precisely before you start. Make sure your gauge is sharp since a dull one may rip the wood’s fibers.
Related: 14 Types of Woodworking Joints and their Uses
Applications
Below are the applications of dovetail joints:
- The joint is used to join the sides of a drawer
- It is used on a small box-like jewellery box
- For joining shelves to cabinet sides
- And other furniture joints where strength is required
- The sliding dovetail is used for joining neck and body in violins and some guitars
- Used for joining horizontal partition to shelves
- The joint is also applied to adjacent sections of expandable table frames
Diagram
Types of Dovetail Joints
Below are the different types of dovetails performed by woodworkers:
Through Dovetail:
A through dovetail is also known as a plain dovetail joint, which common in carcass and box construction. In the joint, the end grain of both boards is visible when the joint is assembled. The joint is often referred to as an “English dovetail”.
Half-Blind Dovetail Joint:
The half-blind joint is performed by craftsmen to fasten the drawer to its sides, which is an alternative to through dovetails. The end grain is not visible to the front of the joint, as the tails fit into mortises in the end of the board that’s the front of the item.
A half-blind dovetail joint, also known as a lap dovetail, is a woodworking joint where the tails of the joint are hidden within the pins, typically used for drawer construction, offering strength and a clean aesthetic on the drawer front.
The joint is called “half-blind” because when assembled, the ends of the tails are hidden inside the joint, and only half of the joint is visible.
In a half-blind dovetail, the tails are embedded in the pins board without going all the way through, leaving the pins and tails only exposed on the sides.
This joint is frequently used to secure drawer fronts to drawer sides, as it allows for a clean, uninterrupted grain on the front of the drawer.
The interlocking nature of the dovetail joint provides excellent strength and prevents the drawer front from being pulled away from the sides.
While the term “half-blind” is common, you might also hear this joint referred to as a “lap dovetail”. Half-blind dovetails can be cut by hand or with the help of a router and a jig.
Secret Mitred Dovetail:
These types of dovetail joints are called a mitred blind dovetail, full-blind dovetail or full-blind mitred dovetail. It offers same strength just as other dovetail joint but it faces is totally hidden from both sides.
This is achieved by forming the outer edge to meet at a 45-degree angle while hiding the dovetails on the inside.
Secret Double-Lapped Dovetail:
The secret double-lapped types of dovetail joint are similar to the previously explained type. The difference is that a very thin section of end grain on one edge of the joint shows. It is also used for carcass and box construction, which completely unveils the dovetail.
Sliding Dovetail:
The sliding types of dovetail joints are used to join two boards at right angles, with the intersection taking place within the field of one of the boards. The joint is achieved by sliding the tail into the socket, which is tapered.
Sliding dovetail offers interlocking strength of dovetails. The tapered socket makes the joint slightly tighter towards the rear which allows the two parts slides easily. The joint became much tighter as it reaches the end.
How to Cut a Dovetail Joint
Dovetail joints are available in different types, which will be further discussed in this article, but the most popular are half-blind and through dovetail joints.
In the half-blind version, the dovetail will not show the end grain of the joint from the front, making it suitable for drawer faces. Whereas the through dovetail joint shows the end grain of the joint from both sides.
Knowing how to make a dovetail joint is very competitive; when cut, it is hand-cut, but it will also help to increase the experience of the worker. The joint consists of an interlocking and snugly fitted series of pins and tails.
The tails are cut on one piece of the wood, which is called a tailpiece These tailpieces are generally used as a template for marking and cutting the pins on the pin piece.
The dovetail explained is a diversity of a typical through. in the making of dovetail, it is dressed up with a mitred corner which will be best achieved by hand cutting. There are many other types of dovetail joints with subtle variations.
Dovetail Machine
DT18 Dovetail Machine is one of the most common dovetail machines. The Laguna DT18 Dovetail machine can also create perfect dovetail joints effortlessly at a production rate of approximately 40-50 boxes per hour.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Dovetail Joints
Advantages
Below are the benefits of dovetail joints:
- There are different types of dovetails
- It can be performed in different ways
- It has good tensile strength
- A dovetail can slide over each other
- It is fast and easier when perform with power
- Tighter and invisible joint can be produced
Disadvantages
- Skill worker needed to cut a dovetail
- It takes time if the cutting is done by hand
- Mistake easily occur while cutting the tails and pins
FAQs
What is a dovetail joint?
A dovetail joint is a common technique used in woodworking to join two pieces of wood. The two pieces of wood are joined at a 90-degree angle. The two parts of the joint are called ‘tails,’ which is the wedge-shaped piece, and the ‘pin,’ which are grooves cut out to fit the tails.
Why is it called dovetail?
Dovetail joints are made up of two parts called pins and tails. When a master craftsman wants to marry two boards together, they cut a series of pins on one board and matching tails on the other. They are trapezoidal in shape, resembling the tail feathers of a dove (hence the name dovetail).
Is dovetail the strongest joint?
Dovetail is arguably the strongest joint in woodwork. It’s made so that it can’t be twisted or pulled in any direction except for one. This means that it’ll take more force to break or damage the joint.
What are two limitations of a dovetail joint?
The disadvantages of dovetail joints are that they can be fairly difficult to mark out and cut, and if they are made badly, these joints lose the advantages listed above. Depending on the project, function, and design, there are a number of different types of dovetail joints to choose from.