stryped wrote:
> Is it possible to make dovetails with only a dovetail bit and a router
> table without a dovetail jig? (Mainly for small drawers.) Or would
> rabitting be easiest way to go and still be strong?
Without a jig, rabbets are the way to go if you want to use a router
w/out a DT jig. When I'm making drawers in a hurry, I rabbet them.
I would, however, suggest you at least try doing them by hand once. My
first hand-dovetailed drawer took me about an hour (drawer was 5 inches
tall). I only did one practice joint prior to the drawer, and I started
at the back ;)
They weren't the prettiest dovetails, but they weren't bad. I got some
nice angles and irregularly patterned spacing on them so they look a
lot cooler than a regular jigged dovetail.
Anyway, rabbets will hold up fine for decades.
As a matter of fact, I built a rolling file cabinet when I was just
getting started, and I just butt-glued 1/4" ply to the pine fronts, and
let gravity hold them in place to dry. They're working like new, 15
years later...
Those were the days. I'd never try that now, but I still shake my head
that it held up.
-Mike
For through dovetails (which I prefer), I usually do them on my
tablesaw with a little cleanup with a chisel, similarly to what Duke
described. I actually lay them out on a CAD program (I use CorelDraw;
it's cheap, easy, and powerful enough for most of the stuff I need it
to do). I print out and attach the pattern to the board with
doublestick tape.
I'm happy to provide more details on what to do after that if you're
interested.
btw, thankyou for allowing this thread to be archived!
Josh
stryped wrote:
> Is it possible to make dovetails with only a dovetail bit and a router
> table without a dovetail jig? (Mainly for small drawers.) Or would
> rabitting be easiest way to go and still be strong?
x-no-archive:yes
I have heard about thembut not tottaly sure what they are, why?
dadiOH wrote:
> stryped wrote:
> > Is it possible to make dovetails with only a dovetail bit and a router
> > table without a dovetail jig? (Mainly for small drawers.)
>
> No. Dovetails did not exist before there were jigs. <sarcasm alert (for
> the literal minds).
> _______________
>
> > Or would
> > rabitting be easiest way to go and still be strong?
>
> Hey, stryped...ever hear of sliding dovetails?
>
> --
> dadiOH
> ____________________________
>
> dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
> ...a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
> LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
> Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico
Stephen M wrote: I agree, but I would call that a "no". You need jig,
either buy it or make
it, but you need a jig to *route* dovetails.
(Note to self: It's spelled "vertical".) Well, the vertical push jig is
not a single-purpose tool like the other, I'm pretty sure. The OP was
asking about a "dovetail jig", a single-purpose tool (If I'm wrong, I
hope others will enlighten me. I don't own one.) which can make through
dovetails, but you'll also need a straight bit and collars. Half-blinds
can be made with just the one dovetail bit, a fence and an easily made
jig, of course. And how's about this for picayune; I know Norm
(genuflecting) calls it a dovetail jig, but is it really a fixture or
pattern? Tom
Note: The author of this message requested that it not be archived.
This message will be removed from Groups in 6 days (Mar 1, 7:33 am).
(Not now, it won't)
stryped wrote:
No, it is not. I was reading last night about dovetails in my book and
realized my router bit set I received for Christmas has a dovetail bit
in it. I have seen mention of dovetail jigs mentioned on here and
wondered if it was common practive to do without a jig.
They wont work for a drawer would they? (A corner joint)/
dadiOH wrote:
> Because...
>
> 1. they make first rate joints
>
> 2. they are easy to make
>
> 3. no jig required
>
> dadiOH
> ______________
>
> stryped wrote:
> > x-no-archive:yes
> >
> > I have heard about thembut not tottaly sure what they are, why?
> > dadiOH wrote:
> >> stryped wrote:
> >>> Is it possible to make dovetails with only a dovetail bit and a
> >>> router table without a dovetail jig? (Mainly for small drawers.)
> >>
> >> No. Dovetails did not exist before there were jigs. <sarcasm alert
> >> (for the literal minds).
> >> _______________
> >>
> >>> Or would
> >>> rabitting be easiest way to go and still be strong?
> >>
> >> Hey, stryped...ever hear of sliding dovetails?
> >>
> >> --
> >> dadiOH
> >> ____________________________
> >>
> >> dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
> >> ...a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
> >> LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
> >> Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico
"stryped" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Is it possible to make dovetails with only a dovetail bit and a router
> table without a dovetail jig? (Mainly for small drawers.) Or would
> rabitting be easiest way to go and still be strong?
Not totally unrelated: without a router dovetail jig, it's also possible to
cut them on a tablesaw and bandsaw, or omitting the bandsaw, a tablesaw and
chisel. I think I saw the technique in a book by Yeung Chan. Briefly, you
cut the pins first on a tablesaw with the work placed against a miter gauge
and backer board/jig turned to the angle you want the dovetails. Make small
cuts on one side of the pin then reverse the jig to repeat the cut on the
other side of the pin. After the pins are cut, trace them onto the tail
piece and cut the tails either on bandsaw or handsaw and chisel. You must
be able to cut the tails accurately to a scribed line for this method to
work.
Woodcraft has an article FWW published years ago that shows how Mark
Duginske did it:
http://www.woodcraft.com/articles.aspx?articleid=350
Cheers!
Dukester
On 2/22/2006 10:33 AM stryped mumbled something about the following:
> x-no-archive:yes
>
> No, it is not. I was reading last night about dovetails in my book and
> realized my router bit set I received for Christmas has a dovetail bit
> in it. I have seen mention of dovetail jigs mentioned on here and
> wondered if it was common practive to do without a jig.
>
Why do you keep doing th x-no-archive:yes crap? Why do you not want it
archived? Are you afraid of your questions coming back to haunt you?
Too late, enough of us quoted it, and everyone can see that you keep
asking all these questions and not wanting them archived.
--
Odinn - I'm with Tom, I bet I don't get an answer either.
On 2/22/2006 5:19 PM dadiOH mumbled something about the following:
> There is more than one type/design for drawers, you know. Relatively
> few (I would guess) have sides chock-a-block to the fronts. Certainly
> not if metal slides are used on the sides.
>
> Even with chock-a-block sides and fronts one could use a sliding
> dovetail if you...
>
> 1. use fat sides and/or narrow pins;
>
> 2. are careful & precise.
>
> dadiOH
> _____________
>
> stryped wrote:
>> They wont work for a drawer would they? (A corner joint)/
>
>> dadiOH wrote:
>>> Because...
>>>
>>> 1. they make first rate joints
>>>
>>> 2. they are easy to make
>>>
>>> 3. no jig required
>>>
>>> dadiOH
>>> ______________
>>>
>>> stryped wrote:
>>>> x-no-archive:yes
>>>>
>>>> I have heard about thembut not tottaly sure what they are, why?
>>>> dadiOH wrote:
>>>>> stryped wrote:
>>>>>> Is it possible to make dovetails with only a dovetail bit and a
>>>>>> router table without a dovetail jig? (Mainly for small drawers.)
>>>>> No. Dovetails did not exist before there were jigs. <sarcasm alert
>>>>> (for the literal minds).
>>>>> _______________
>>>>>
>>>>>> Or would
>>>>>> rabitting be easiest way to go and still be strong?
>>>>> Hey, stryped...ever hear of sliding dovetails?
>>>>>
Sheesh, both of you top posting make it difficult to read Just read the
quoted above, and it is all friggin backwards.
--
Odinn
A: Because it reverses the logical flow of a discussion
Q: Why is top-quoting frowned on?
"Rich" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> stryped wrote:
>> Is it possible to make dovetails with only a dovetail bit and a router
>> table without a dovetail jig? (Mainly for small drawers.) Or would
>> rabitting be easiest way to go and still be strong?
>>
>
> Try making them freehand, with an Exacto knife, first.
No, No, No!
You must use a butter knife!
--
Stoutman
http://www.garagewoodworks.com/index.htm
(Featuring a NEW look)
stryped wrote:
> Is it possible to make dovetails with only a dovetail bit and a router
> table without a dovetail jig? (Mainly for small drawers.)
No. Dovetails did not exist before there were jigs. <sarcasm alert (for
the literal minds).
_______________
> Or would
> rabitting be easiest way to go and still be strong?
Hey, stryped...ever hear of sliding dovetails?
--
dadiOH
____________________________
dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
...a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico
stoutman wrote:
> "Rich" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
>>stryped wrote:
>>
>>>Is it possible to make dovetails with only a dovetail bit and a router
>>>table without a dovetail jig? (Mainly for small drawers.) Or would
>>>rabitting be easiest way to go and still be strong?
>>>
>>
>>Try making them freehand, with an Exacto knife, first.
>
>
> No, No, No!
>
> You must use a butter knife!
Would a sand blaster work as well?
er
--
email not valid
You CAN make sliding dovetails with just the bit and a router table. Maybe
not the conventional ones your thinking of, but hold well just the
ame. --dave
"stryped" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Is it possible to make dovetails with only a dovetail bit and a router
> table without a dovetail jig? (Mainly for small drawers.) Or would
> rabitting be easiest way to go and still be strong?
>
Because...
1. they make first rate joints
2. they are easy to make
3. no jig required
dadiOH
______________
stryped wrote:
> x-no-archive:yes
>
> I have heard about thembut not tottaly sure what they are, why?
> dadiOH wrote:
>> stryped wrote:
>>> Is it possible to make dovetails with only a dovetail bit and a
>>> router table without a dovetail jig? (Mainly for small drawers.)
>>
>> No. Dovetails did not exist before there were jigs. <sarcasm alert
>> (for the literal minds).
>> _______________
>>
>>> Or would
>>> rabitting be easiest way to go and still be strong?
>>
>> Hey, stryped...ever hear of sliding dovetails?
>>
>> --
>> dadiOH
>> ____________________________
>>
>> dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
>> ...a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
>> LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
>> Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico
Use your router to cut either blind or thru cuts in the drawer face. Use the
face cuts as a template to mark the side peices and cut them by hand.
Mike
"stryped" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Is it possible to make dovetails with only a dovetail bit and a router
> table without a dovetail jig? (Mainly for small drawers.) Or would
> rabitting be easiest way to go and still be strong?
>
There is more than one type/design for drawers, you know. Relatively
few (I would guess) have sides chock-a-block to the fronts. Certainly
not if metal slides are used on the sides.
Even with chock-a-block sides and fronts one could use a sliding
dovetail if you...
1. use fat sides and/or narrow pins;
2. are careful & precise.
dadiOH
_____________
stryped wrote:
> They wont work for a drawer would they? (A corner joint)/
> dadiOH wrote:
>> Because...
>>
>> 1. they make first rate joints
>>
>> 2. they are easy to make
>>
>> 3. no jig required
>>
>> dadiOH
>> ______________
>>
>> stryped wrote:
>>> x-no-archive:yes
>>>
>>> I have heard about thembut not tottaly sure what they are, why?
>>> dadiOH wrote:
>>>> stryped wrote:
>>>>> Is it possible to make dovetails with only a dovetail bit and a
>>>>> router table without a dovetail jig? (Mainly for small drawers.)
>>>>
>>>> No. Dovetails did not exist before there were jigs. <sarcasm alert
>>>> (for the literal minds).
>>>> _______________
>>>>
>>>>> Or would
>>>>> rabitting be easiest way to go and still be strong?
>>>>
>>>> Hey, stryped...ever hear of sliding dovetails?
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> dadiOH
>>>> ____________________________
>>>>
>>>> dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
>>>> ...a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
>>>> LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
>>>> Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico
On 22 Feb 2006 05:22:58 -0800, "stryped" <[email protected]> wrote:
>Is it possible to make dovetails with only a dovetail bit and a router
>table without a dovetail jig? (Mainly for small drawers.) Or would
>rabitting be easiest way to go and still be strong?
I'm sure this scan be done on a router table, but not without some
kind of setup. Keep in mind there are various sizes of dovetail
bits, some for hardwoods others for softwoods. A box joint is
stronger than a rabbet joint and can be made with a router.