Shopsmith Forums

I needed to brush up my skills on hand cutting dovetails and although I prefer working in 1/2" stock, decided to work in 3/4" given a project I have coming up this Fall. I had some left over Southern Pine and no project in mine when I started - just testing my eye and hand at cutting dovetails. I cut the board to so as to get 2 long sides and 2 shorter ends. The size was dictated by the original length of the pine which was 48 inches. I dressed the edges with a plane so the width of all the pieces matched.

I cut the tails first.

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Then the pins and chisel out the waste

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I cut 1/4" dadoes in the sides using a Stanley 50 plane, and stop dadoes on the ends using a Stanley 71-1/2 router. Again, I was going for as much handwork as possible. When I fitted the bottom is when the project decided to become a remote control caddy.

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I bent some red oak to form a handle after glue-up. I did dress the outside surfaces using my SS conical sanding disk. I set the table to 4 degrees and made several passes on all sides to level the dovetails with the surface. I then used that Stanley 65-1/2 low angle block to soften all edges. An application orange shellack and it's going to the TV room. I am waiting to see if the remote still gets lost.

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Ziggy,

Outstanding! I have on my bucket list to make some hand cut dove tails. I am 58 now so maybe in a few years when I retire I can slow down enough to enjoy the process.

Nice work.

Jack