#1: INTRODUCTION

This is a tutorial on how I make “Inlaid Dovetails” sometimes referred to as double dovetails.

You can make them what I call in Fig. 1) “Tail Outlined”  or  Fig. 2) “Tail Faced”. 

And depending what wood you use you can get different looks as well as shown in Fig. 3. For great results good handsaw cutting is essential. This technique is labor intensive and requires relaxed but solid concentration. 

I will be showing how to do Fig. 1 in this tutorial.

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How to Make Inlaid Dovetails (Double Dovetails) #2: PREPARING YOUR STOCK

Cheers!

MrRick

#2: PREPARING YOUR STOCK

First I milled up and squared all pine  and cedar stock. I am using pine for the two main boards and cedar for the inlay. Initially I cut each to 12”L x 3-5/16” W x ½” T. See Fig. 4

Next, I divide my stock into 4” lengths and begin the marking  and layout process. I pencil mark each piece “Tails”, “Pins”, and “Inlay” as shown in Fig 5.

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"How to Make Inlaid Dovetails (Double Dovetails) #3: CUTTING THE TAILS"

Cheers!

MrRick

Thanks! Following along!

Your welcome lew!

#3: CUTTING THE TAILS

The critical step for inlaid dovetails is cutting a rabbet 1st on the tails board (inside face ). For inlays it is mandatory.

The depth of the rabbet determines the thickness of the inlay line all around. I usually make mine around 3/32- 1/8” thick. I will be using 3/32”.

Set your marking gauge to the thickness of the inlay board and scribe a line across the width of the tails board. Next set your marking gauge at 3/32” and scribe a line on the end grain and the sides. Then remove the meat as shown here in Fig 6 . I usually use a chisel and my router hand plane.

Next, I have set my marking gauge depth to thickness of Pin board as shown in Fig 7. Then I lightly scribe a line all the way around on the Tails board as shown. Be careful not to cut too deep. It’s better to scribe lightly and then darken with a pencil.

Then I complete the layout the spacing for the Tails and Pins per Fig 8. When choosing the size for the tails remember you need to allow for the actual finished inlay outline that you want. Normally your tails should be a little narrower because the inlay outline will add width to it. As previously mentioned, this will be 3/32” (0.094”). Therefore at the bottom of each cutout (as measured from the gauge line made) I chose to make this spacing at 7/16” as shown. I highly advise you to pencil everything out so you can be sure it’s what you want before cutting.

In Fig 9, I use a ratio of 1:6 to mark out the Tails from the 7/16” spaces made.

Next, per Fig 10, I make knifewalls which are key in guiding the saw blade and making accurate cuts. You could use a jig or trust your ability to cut down the line.

As seen in Fig 11, the sawing begins and the Tails are cut.

Here in Fig 12  you see the completed cut rabbet and tails. 

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"How to Make Inlaid Dovetails (Double Dovetails) "#4: CUTTING THE CEDAR INLAY"

Cheers!

MrRick

#4: CUTTING THE CEDAR INLAY

First I marked up the pins positions using the tails per Fig 13. Next I set my marking gauge to account for the rebate on the tails board in Fig 14. Then a scribed line is marked for the depth of the inlay pins per Fig 15. The “X” marked portion will be the openings for cedar inlaid pins.

Once the laid out, the pin openings for the cedar are cut as per Fig. 14. In Fig 15 I check the fit to the tails board. Then assemble and glue up. The “Green arrow” shows the cut line for removing the rest of the pin inlay board ( yellow “X”) after glue up and assy is dry. You can choose to do this on the table saw or by hand with a flush cut saw or any hand saw.

WARNING!: The table saw can be dangerous with this step and I recommend doing it by hand. 

The “Red arrow) points to the portion that will be your inside outline of the tails after cutting per Fig 16.

Continue marking up the outline for cutting out the rest of the pin inlay per Fig 16. For reference, Fig 17 shows the cut pins. but Double check the outline width as shown before cutting. This should be 3/32” or very close to it. Whatever you measure make sure to use it when marking up the pins outline. Then proceed to cutting. It will look like Fig 17.

Now proceed to cutting the main pins board out and test fit to Inlaid Tails board as shown  In Fig 18. 

Assemble and glue.  When dry, touch up where necessary,  sand it, check over, etc.

#5: Finished!

This is the finished Inlaid Dovetails. Keep in mind this is only one corner of a box! When doing a complete box a lot of the steps can be done in tandem.  I’ll let you figure that out.  However, If you have any questions you all know where to find me !

Thanks for following this!

Cheers!

MrRick

Nice tutorial, Thanks!!

Thanks for the detailed tutorial Rick. Excellent work. Probably above my patience level, but nice to have the resource available.