Sliding Dovetail Picture
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- This topic has 5 replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 6 years, 9 months ago by Anthony Greitzer.
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8 March 2017 at 7:28 pm #309928
I haven’t started this yet but I was having problems with a picture frame jointed with mitered corners and splines. So, I decided to use stopped, sliding dovetails. Before I make this, however, I’m giving myself some practice by making a box with sliding dovetails. I’m almost done with the box sketch.
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You must be logged in to view attached files.11 March 2017 at 11:59 am #310034Seems very complicated for a picture frame. What were the problems you were having with the mitered/spline frame? Maybe we can help.
25 May 2017 at 6:54 pm #312340The corners separate during assembly or if dropped. I have since become better at them. I finished one yesterday that got good. The corners have splines and are mitered. My design, however, guarantees a strong joint. I agree, it’s more time consuming and will need practice. But, I now have an excuse to master sliding dovetails as well as options when crafting a picture frame. For example, miters with splines are a good choice for your average picture frame size but what if I was making one that is 3 feet in length? Not sure if those splines will hold. If the splines are strong (width and depth into the miter) it would work.
@greitzera — a big part of the reason frames are mitered is for decorative purposes. In your last sketch (the one that’s upside down, 20170308_141459.jpg, under the words, “Butted Corners”) you highlight the problem — the inlay will suffer a discontinuity at each corner.
I’m a huge fan of sliding dovetails, and trying to master them myself, so I’m def not trying to discourage you from going down this path, but in case it doesn’t work out to your liking, a more typical option to strengthen mitered corners, while also pulling the joint together more tightly, is with butterflies / aka dovetail keys. You can see it here:
They can go in back to hide them, or in front to emphasize them, and Simon James details the correct method to make them here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-PHg7xR5H0
26 May 2017 at 12:29 am #312346Thanks. I just watched the video. I will definitely try this. I like the idea of the key pulling the key corners tight. Here are the pics of the one I finished last night. I still need work on this. I like to use a brat nail as well.
- This reply was modified 6 years, 9 months ago by Anthony Greitzer.
- This reply was modified 6 years, 9 months ago by Anthony Greitzer.
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