First Successful Dovetail
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Yesterday I cut my first successful dovetail by hand. Thought I would share this as only a woodworker could appreciate that feeling of success. All I got at the office from coworkers today was “Yeah, that’s great, did you hear about the….?”. The truly impressive part is that it’s made from two pieces of 3/4″ x 2″ white pine (very soft like balsa wood), but I can stand it up on the floor like a teepee with the dovetail joint up, and stand on it without it breaking. The co-workers weren’t even impressed by my balancing act. All 200 lbs of me (14.3 stones for our British friends) no less. Impressive joint.
Well done Jeff 😉
Way to go Jeff, it feels great no matter how many you cut. The first good ones though magic 😉
Thanks gents. The second practice one tonight came out better except for a slight split when fitting it.
Question for y’all: After planing the white pine I can see what can be best described as a birds eye maple kind of holographic look in the wood. You can also see a similar thing when Paul planed the wood for the tote. What is that and what’s it called? It’s quite beautiful.
Shimmer 😉
They’re medullary rays and I agree the effect can be both striking and quite beautiful Jeff. In addition to the grain, quarter-sawn wood (Particularly oak) often displays subtle wavy patterns across the grain, as these rays spread/radiate from heart to sap wood. Flat-sawing cuts across the rays, but quarter-sawing places them on the face of the board and often makes quarter-sawn wood especially desirable for use in furniture and decorative panels. 🙂
My new year’s resolution is to cut at least one decent dovetail joint. At current rates of progress it might well take me the whole year.
Well done Jeff. Unlike your co-workers I really do appreciate your feeling of satisfaction!!!!
Jon
Yorkshireman currently living in Hampshire
Well done Jeff, pretty soon you will have dozens of boxes made. Making dovetails is really addicting and they are very attractive joint.
-Canada
Always a great feeling when you try something new, like a dovetail joint and the first attempts is a fully functional joint. 🙂
Keep practicing and it will be more fun as you progress.
Jesper.
Located in Jönköping, Sweden.
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