Trying to get a drawer box together today.  My dovetail jig is so frustratingly complex, I'm ready to toss it.  Finally figured it out with the help of the manual, class notes, personal notes based on the three days it took me to figure it out.  So I decided, what the heck,  I should just brush off and hand cut the dovetails.   Figured out the dimensions and got the wood cut.

 

Got all 4 corners done (last one went a lot faster and better than the first).   Then I realized I did not allow enough height allowance.  No problem, trim 1/8" off the top and bottom of each side.   D'oh, er, just sawed off the orientation marks.   Ok, there's  only 2ⁿ ways they can go.  Sat down and got that recalculated.   Glued and squared them up.   Then realized they were going to be too wide as I'd measured the wrong clearance.   Oh well, I got some hand-cutting practice in.   Time to hang up the apron for the day.

Edited December 5, 20178 yr by Ron Dudelston
tags added

Here's a great write up on dovetails- Check out the video, too!

 

http://www.popularwoodworking.com/video/use-dividers-for-quick-easy-dovetail-layout-no-measuring

You must be using a Porter Cable! I know mine is not worth the $40 I paid for it.

12 minutes ago, lew said:

Here's a great write up on dovetails- Check out the video, too!

 

http://www.popularwoodworking.com/video/use-dividers-for-quick-easy-dovetail-layout-no-measuring

Thanks.  Chris Schwarz (previous editor of PopWood) had a very similar video on the same subject.   Not surprising, since he taught Megan a lot.

 

I think I learned the most from Paul Sellers and ignored Frank Klausz, who seems to think speed is the most important thing.

1 hour ago, schnewj said:

You must be using a Porter Cable! I know mine is not worth the $40 I paid for it.

 

yeah...

mine was a gift and paid too much for it too...

https://www.google.com/patents/US5318082

On a positive note, I've just hit 2k posts (2048 = 2¹¹)

1 hour ago, kmealy said:

https://www.google.com/patents/US5318082

 

What!!!!!! No pictures?

There are some days, it just does not work out, no matter what

21 minutes ago, Chips N Dust said:

There are some days, it just does not work out, no matter what

 

And so you get out the hammer and nails.

13 hours ago, kmealy said:

On a positive note, I've just hit 2k posts (2048 = 2¹¹)

With a lot of useful info.........

12 hours ago, schnewj said:

 

What!!!!!! No pictures?

If you click on the images, you'll see the various parts.   It's out of production now, so no web site or anything. 

1 hour ago, HandyDan said:

 

And so you get out the hammer and nails.

Matches and gasoline

I'll probably find a use for it, if only a garden tote.

 

I cheated and just did rabbet and dado joints (sometimes called rabbit and dadoe joint's) since it's in a low stress, infrequent application.  10 minutes time.    I used Titebond No Run / No Drip glue that works great on the end grain surfaces in that type of joint.    Maybe I should shoot it full of pneumatic brads like the Chinese would???  Nah.

Well, had to re-do some of the dovetails because I'd used the wrong bit.   One spacing can use two different bits, the other only one.

 

I don't know how I messed, up, I have a 120+ page manual, class notes, hand-outs, and my own notes.    I'm doing 4 3/4" high drawers and it takes 4 different settings to do one end's tails.

 

You must be rusty, I can make the same mistake without all that info...

I always say, every time you have to change something, it gives you an opportunity to make a mistake.

On 6/22/2017 at 6:23 PM, kmealy said:

My dovetail jig is so frustratingly complex,

 

I have the Leigh D4 and the Porter cable  Omnijig.  I hate 'em both. I hate using a router to cut dovetails. Everything  feels wrong and hectic.  Give hand cutting a go. What's the worst that can happen?   Rob Cosman has a good book and video.

Yes, I practiced hand-cut a few years ago, but got out of practice.   I guess I need to get back in the swing.