She has her own timeline, and though she’s a sweet lady born in the Philippines, she wants me to stay out there in the garage until she has a properly satisactory case for her piano books. future, I hope. P.S. I certainly wasn’t going to switch angles depending on the application (too much wasted time) and I wanted an angle that fit somewhere in the middle of the established slopes. Bending wood is one of those techniques that can have a dramatic effect on a woodworking project, but many woodworkers shy away from it because it seems intimidating. I usually use a 1:7 slope (~= 8.1 degrees) for through dovetails in 3/4 inch stock in domestic hardwoods. Is it just me? It will help you remember what you should be removing. He also discusses why it’s so important to match the…. What degree slope do you use for your dovetails and why? Dovetail angles are most notably described in degrees, but is often stated as a ratio, either 1:8 or 1:6. I never even measured the angle. Dovetail cutters are similar, but have an inverted cone which widens at the end for producing dovetail cuts. By the way, the bookcase has some eleenents of Arts and Crafts but it’s definitely different. But, what about us poor souls building drawers based on New England designs? My fingers are too big and I can’t seem to get the saw lined up clearly. Measuring the angle would slow me down too much. It’s good to mark your waste here. By the way, I don’t use degrees, just the ratios. It truly sets them off! What Types of Dovetails Does This Apply To? The increments for the ratios (1:7, 1:6, 1:5, etc) are not linear on a degree plot. I’ve found that this angle also hides mistakes better. Yes there are other combinations, but I venture to say these are the most common in American antiques throughout the major furniture periods of Queen Anne, Chippendale and Federal. The oaks we have here are live, laurel, Shumard red, but at least this far south, no round bullets. The underlying reasoning, along with some guidelines for choosing an appropriate angle for a given situation, is covered in this video. Just for the heck of it I did this AM. Learn the secrets to creating your joinery with the appropriate dovetail angle. I cannot for the life of me hand-cut dovetails, because I have not spent enough time doing the chop! Upgrade to GOLD membership and get unlimited access to our entire library of premium woodworking videos, receive discounts on DVDs, video downloads, and classes in the shop. Anytime. Why would you want to purchase tools that do the exact same task, only at a different angle? That, of course, is only a generality. Anywhere. Single Angle Chamfering Cutters have a conical, tapering cutting head for milling at a 45° or 60° angle in dovetail work and angle cutting. thing. Don’t accept the traditional ratios. It depends entirely on the time period of the piece I am copying. One angle is suggested (a better word might be mandated) for softwoods (9Ã?º) and the other for hardwoods. I usually cut them at 1:8 regardless of the wood species. Here’s my reasoning. https://www.popularwoodworking.com/wp-content/uploads/popwood_logos-01.png, Shaker Storage & Shelving Shop Resources Collection, © 2020 Cruz Bay Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved, Popular Woodworking Tool Tests, Shop Blog, Tool Reviews, Tools, Workbench Update: The Improved Sliding Leg Vise, Chris Schwarz Blog, Schwarz on Workbenches, Free Woodworking Downloads From Lee Valley, I Can Do That! – Simple Woodworking Projects. I have dovetails to cut! Dovetail cutters are similar, but have an inverted cone which widens at the end for producing dovetail cuts. The two hardwoods traditionally dictate using a 7Ã?º slope. Will you change your mind when we change to the decimal system? That’s right, in drawer construction. Maybe 1:6, not likely 1:8. Save up to 68% on 7 issues of woodworking projects and tricks. My grandfather, years ago took a rosewood square, chopped off all but an inch, and ground a 12 degree bevel on the outside edge. I am like you, I prefer the steeper angle too, especially for half-bling dovetails where the tail board is a light wood, and the pin board is a darker color. If these ratios are new to you, don’t worry, they are explained clearly in this video, along with information on why the angle matters. to Bruce Jackson, spell check is your friend . Use the dovetail square or a bevel set to the right angle to mark your slopes. It is important to incorporate the correct angle for a given project so that the joint will have maximum strength and durability. What a conundrum. Additionally, we have the development of the dovetail jigs that suggest (there’s that word again) we use a 14Ã?º-dovetail router bit to make the tails and a straight bit to cut the pins. While there are many ways to join two boards together in woodworking joinery, most woodworkers carry a respect and appreciation for the time-honored dovetail joint. What a conundrum. Here’s what I’ve learned over the years: a) Rules help you get up to speed quickly, and b) once you understand why, you won’t need rules forever and ever. What angle should we choose for our dovetails: 7Ã?º that matches the use of hardwood, or 9Ã?º used for softwoods? So I’ll use something like 1:5 (~= 11.3 degrees). Here are some supplies and tools we find essential in our everyday work around the shop. Senator Jesse Helms once said that if the Lord wanted us to use the decimal system, there would have been 10 apostles. And that’s what I think should drive your dovetail angles , aesthetics. Of course, there are exceptions to a). Aesthetically, these are more pleasing to my eye. But if I’m using thinner stock, say 3/8 inch, that 1:7 slope will look wrong and will be weak. And to bring it in line with woodworking, if you’re fitting a raised panel into a 1/4″ groove and the panel needs to be the full width of the groove as it rests tight to the bottom of the groove (a snug fit so the panels don’t rattle), you need to set a 12Ã?º-angle cut for the panels. In the end, the angle of the dovetail is in the eye of the beholder. Watch this demonstration by our expert woodworker George Vondriska to learn a simple, worry-free approach to bending wood quickly using a heated iron pipe. Here goes. Can you imagine trying to ride a bike by the book? In addition, you’ll receive eight video downloads, three full-length classes, access to GOLD member LIVE events, and so much more! chop! I never got to ask him why, but that’s the tool I use for every dovetail I cut. Many woodworkers use a combination of hardwood drawer fronts with either hardwood sides (poplar) or softwood sides (pine). The term “dovetail angle” refers to the slope at which the tails and pins are tapered to form their interlocking bond. Am I crazy? These ratios translate into a 7Ã?º or a 9Ã?º angle. Two sets of 12 hours in a day. I would guess thay are somewhere around 1:8 or 10 degrees or whatever. many ways to join two boards together in woodworking joinery, Woodworking Blog Posts, Articles & Videos to Build Your Skills. George Vondriska discusses some of the advantages and disadvantages of the common types of sheet stock you might use in your shop. When asked what angle or degree are my dovetails I answer, “I have no idea!”. As noted by the Chief Target of Spousal Vitriol, European workbenches are made from beech for a reason. I use 14 degrees, because it looks more appealing to me. Just for the record, I find it irritating to cut 7 or 9 degrees. And, where is the dovetail joint used for the most part? Woodworking expert George Vondriska explains how through-pins and tails are cut on a jig, and when to use each of the two cutters required for the process. Of course, I’ve used the 7Ã?º, 9Ã?º and 14Ã?º angles during the period I used dovetail jigs to cut my joints. You must have psychic powers. It has been long revered for its beauty because of the way that it artfully joins two boards with a compelling display of intricate angles, while at the same time providing an eye-catching effect by the contrasting display of end grain interleaved with long grain. What Are My Options When Choosing a Dovetail Angle? I prefer the look of narrow, low angle dovetails. (That’s a question I’m sure I’ll get a few comments on. Of perhaps greater importance is the tremendous strength provided by this joint, which is a function of its geometry, with particular emphasis on the dovetail angle. All I can say is I’m probably more in line with your 12 to 14 degree angles than the 7 degree you illustrate in the photo. So, where am I today with this dovetail angle question? When Do I Use Which Angle? I use a 12Ã?º angle. Speaking of that, I’m off to Big Blue or Big Orange for some of that nice red oak both insist on directing you to for my LJ bookcase project. We may receive a commission from sales referred by our links; however, we have carefully selected these products for their usefulness and quality. A 1:6 angle is typical for softwood a 1:7 or 1:8 angle is typical on hardwoods. You’ll learn how each type of stock is made,…, Enter in your email and password to create a FREE account. A piece from the late 17th or very early 18th Century, made here in America, will probably have chunckier, steeper angled dovetailed than one from the late 18th or early 19th Centuries. Then for the Arts and Craft style, do we absolutely have to use white oak because that’s what Mr. Morris and Mr. Stickley advised / mandated? Most people know that a dozen of anything is 12. But I will concentrate on them in the (near?) Figure 3 illustrates how two 0.100″-dia.