Sellers Home Side Cupboard: Episode 2
Posted 26 October 2022
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Marrying the second half of the dovetails was not so simple this time, but perseverance gets the result we need and strive for every time. We learn so much when we recognise that different woods act and react differently as we work them. Paul uses a knife to get the exactness for the dovetails, and realises the pencil would work better as he progresses to the other corners. There were problems, too, with cupping, but again he worked through the difficulties and ended up with a good corner.
Great episode. I sometimes can get the tails to seat nicely, but end up with some gaps in the shoulder lines of the dove tails. Do you have any advice on troubleshooting this problem. Thank you!
On Common Woodworking we have some troubleshooting for dovetails:
https://commonwoodworking.com/dovetail-troubleshooting/
https://commonwoodworking.com/dovetail-troubleshooting-part-2/
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Thanks Paul. For me, it is much more helpful to watch you go through the diagnosis to get your dovetails to fit. Most of the time, mine are too tight. More often than not, I don’t pare enough and end up with some splitting. Seeing what you went through on this was quite helpful.
Thanks Paul for the little details / comments as you go through the video. Some may seam inconsequential but actually address ongoing questions of mine.
Another great video, Paul. I can’t wait to get back in the shop after my shoulder is heal!
When there are that many dovetails and it is that difficult to assemble dry, I have to wonder whether glue will lubricate and help or cause swelling and big problems.
If you’ll put glue on dovetails that don’t fit dry, you’re a brave man than I!
Why is the alternate player unavailable
I made a large hickory chest and used a similar dovetail method for the joinery. The problem I ran into was that the panels warped a bit after I had already cut the dovetails. I was able to use clamps with a beam to force the panels flat and then fit the joints together, but it was quite a challenge at glue up time!
The glue up went fairly well, but it was a bit dicey getting everything done before the glue set.
ENJOYED THE PART OF TAKING APART TO FIND WHAT NEEDS ADJUSTING AS BEING NEW TO WOODWORKING ITS MY REGULAR ROUTINE NOW HAVE BETTER IDEAS WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Hi Paul, you’ve probably explained the reason in other videos, but somehow I missed it — why is it ‘a bad habit’ to undercut when chopping dovetail pins? Very much looking forward to building this piece when the plans are ready. Thank you!
I asked Paul and his reply was:
Not reaching and striving for the bullseye like not cutting square shoulders falls short in self discipline. This then establishes bad habits but mostly it’s because when you clamp the joint the pressure is applied to a skinny line on the outer edges. This pressure will compress the meeting edge of the adjacent piece rather than distribute even pressure over the full width of the shoulder and adjacent piece.