March 14, 20169 yr Think your dovetail and box joints won't come apart? My study of antiques says otherwise. But I have a solution to lock your dovetails and box joints permanently.This is my favorite woodworking tip and technique of all time. I hope you enjoy the video and find it helpful. I am looking forward to hearing feedback on experience and observations of these joints. Your friend in the shop-Todd A. Clippinger
March 14, 20169 yr Thanks for the tip, Todd! I actually had to do this recently because I didn't think far enough ahead when laying out some dovetails on a gun case.
March 14, 20169 yr Author 17 minutes ago, lew said: Thanks for the tip, Todd! I actually had to do this recently because I didn't think far enough ahead when laying out some dovetails on a gun case. Sweet! It works great doesn't it? You have to be careful of that dowel size in relation to the thickness of the sides, it is easy for the end grain to fall out of each side once you drill that hole. Adding too much glue and driving the dowel will cause hydraulic pressure to blow it out. Edited March 14, 20169 yr by Todd Clippinger
March 14, 20169 yr Author 54 minutes ago, Allen Worsham said: Very nice tip! Give it a try some time and see what you think. Thanks for watching!
March 15, 20169 yr Excellent Todd! I actually have a blanket chest I made 4 years ago, and the lower joints are separating, I know I glued the joints very well, but regardless, they are separating. I'll provide images later. Thanks for the wonderful tip!
March 15, 20169 yr Author 1 minute ago, John Morris said: Excellent Todd! I actually have a blanket chest I made 4 years ago, and the lower joints are separating, I know I glued the joints very well, but regardless, they are separating. I'll provide images later. Thanks for the wonderful tip! Would love to see pics of the joint separating, and how it works out with the repair. I have repaired a number of drawers for people using this technique.
March 15, 20169 yr Unfortunately there won't be a repair on this one Todd at least not any time soon, the joints that are coming apart are just above the drawer level of the chest the where dovetails meet full edge grain. If I really wanted to I could separate the base from the case for access, and bring the joints to close, and use a long drill bit to reach the offending dovetails to repair it, but it would be a considerable amount of work and restoration, which I am up to if and when it gets worse. Here is an archive image of my chest after it was built. Note red circle is where the DT's are separating. At this point the separation is un-noticed by passerby's, but the DT's are a tad proud by an 1/8" for about 3 inches from the start.
March 15, 20169 yr Author 3 minutes ago, John Morris said: Unfortunately there won't be a repair on this one Todd at least not any time soon, the joints that are coming apart are just above the drawer level of the chest the where dovetails meet full edge grain. If I really wanted to I could separate the base from the case for access, and bring the joints to close, and use a long drill bit to reach the offending dovetails to repair it, but it would be a considerable amount of work and restoration, which I am up to if and when it gets worse. Here is an archive image of my chest after it was built. Note red circle is where the DT's are separating. At this point the separation is un-noticed by passerby's, but the DT's are a tad proud by an 1/8" for about 3 inches from the start. Oh boy... that would be involved. Gorgeous chest, sorry to hear of it coming apart as it is. Really classic piece and well executed.
March 15, 20169 yr 9 minutes ago, Todd Clippinger said: Oh boy... that would be involved. Gorgeous chest, sorry to hear of it coming apart as it is. Really classic piece and well executed. Thanks for that Todd, and yep, really involved repair! Right now it's not even worth it to bother the integrity of the chest, but who knows, down the road maybe? It may be a great lesson in repair and restoration, probably blog worthy when the time comes!
March 15, 20169 yr Author 1 minute ago, John Morris said: Thanks for that Todd, and yep, really involved repair! Right now it's not even worth it to bother the integrity of the chest, but who knows, down the road maybe? It may be a great lesson in repair and restoration, probably blog worthy when the time comes! It would be quite a journey and a nail biting thriller to follow!
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