End On End Dovetails
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Two pieces joined that way would only be strong in two axes, but as long as you are supporting it, so it doesn’t bend, it should be fine. You would get more strength in the third axis if you used a spline joint rather than a biscuit or domino when edge jointing the next row of boards together, as the spline would run across the sides of both boards you joint. Breadboard the ends and its fairly easy. If you want the live ends showing, you would have to stop the spline groove before each end of the table top.
Potential wedding gift for my god-daughter: A “simple” candle box, made of koa – which has such a huge variety of colors and grains, doing an end on dovetail in the middle of the lid, symbolizing contrasting but united beauties. Marriage box. Wish me luck.
One thing to try and keep under control depending on the size of the box is the grain orientation of the two pieces of the lid. And, if you can, make a prototype of the joint and try it in the final environment. I recently made a box that closed perfectly in the workshop, but which cupped up about a centimeter when I brought it inside. Had to make a new lid for that box.
I can see a couple of applications for this. If you needed to end join two boards on a slight angle.
Here is an example of end-on-end dovetails observed on an outbuilding in southern Poland.
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