Hand Cut Half Blind Dovetails

Half blind dovetailed drawer part 2.

Hand cut half blind dovetails. Half blind dovetails often referred to as lapped dovetails in the uk are what we are going to use to hold this cabinet together. Half blind dovetails are commonly used for building drawers. The handmade half blind dovetail joint is an enduring symbol of fine craftsmanship. In part two of this episode mike builds a drawer for the cabinet taking your through his ever methodical methods for perfect half blind dovetails.

The joint shows from only the drawer side where it is lapped into the drawer face. One of the most common variations of the dovetail is known as a half blind. Very few joints are held in such high regard. To be fair though the joint is beautiful incredibly strong and requires skill and attention to detail to cut by hand.

A joint that does its job superbly delivering beauty and strength without straining for attentionthats the essence of the half blind dovetail on a well made drawer. This classic dovetail joint used to secure the front of a drawer to the sides is sometimes called a lapped dovetail or a half blind dovetail you can see it from the side when the drawer is. These are purely constructional. Dovetail jigs come with a template or comb with a series of fingers that you guide a router along to cut the dovetails.

On the other hand if your joint end up a bit gappy youll be pleased to know that the majority of them will be hidden anyway. The joint requires two different gauge lines on the drawer face because it doesnt come through. Precise hand cut dovetails a new approach to half blind dovetails guarantees a precision fit. Cheating at hand cut half blind dovetails when making hand cut dovetail joints its important to use a joint geometry that cannot be cut with a router bit.

Its just a taste of some of the fun we have in the guild. Half blind dovetailed drawer part 1. Guild members will remember this small hand cut half blind dovetails excerpt from the shaker table series. So we need to strive for a nice tight fit here.

A standard 1 2 template works in conjunction with a 1 2 dovetail bit and typically has fingers spaced 7 8 apart as shown at lefthowever weve seen some templates with 1 spacing. Every proud woodworker who has conquered the dovetail wants to show it off.