How to Cut a Sliding Dovetail
Choose a joint size that works best for your project.. Mark the size and placement of your cut with a pencil.. Fit a router with a straight or spiral downcut bit of an appropriate size.
Steps
Choose a joint size that works best for your project.
Choose a joint size that works best for your project.
Mark the size and placement of your cut with a pencil.
Mark the size and placement of your cut with a pencil.
Fit a router with a straight or spiral downcut bit of an appropriate size.
Fit a router with a straight or spiral downcut bit of an appropriate size.
Set up a fence or separate edge guide just outside your layout lines.
Set up a fence or separate edge guide just outside your layout lines.
Pull on a pair of earmuffs and some protective eyewear.
Pull on a pair of earmuffs and some protective eyewear.
Glide the router along the marked section of the wood.
Glide the router along the marked section of the wood.
Switch out your straight bit for a dovetail bit and repeat the process.
Switch out your straight bit for a dovetail bit and repeat the process.
Rotate your piece 180 degrees and make a final pass to complete the socket.
Rotate your piece 180 degrees and make a final pass to complete the socket.
Leave the dovetail bit in place on your router.
Leave the dovetail bit in place on your router.
Attach an auxiliary fence to your main router fence.
Attach an auxiliary fence to your main router fence.
Stand your piece up vertically on your work surface.
Stand your piece up vertically on your work surface.
Guide the rear edge of your piece along the fence to start your first set of cut
Guide the rear edge of your piece along the fence to start your first set of cuts.
Rotate your piece 180 degrees and make an identical cut on the other side.
Rotate your piece 180 degrees and make an identical cut on the other side.
Continue shaving down both sides of the tenon until it's just the right size.
Continue shaving down both sides of the tenon until it's just the right size.
Slide the completed dovetail into the socket to assemble the joint.
Slide the completed dovetail into the socket to assemble the joint.
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