Dovetail Joint

GROUP MEMBERS: Daniel Franze, Ryan Flanagan, Ben Bannan


external image DV1.gif



DESCRIPTION AND/OR PICTURES EXPLAINING JOINT:

A dovetail joint or simply dovetail is a joint technique most commonly used in woodworking joinery. A series of pins cut to extend from the end of one board interlock with a series of tails cut into the end of another board.
Large Dovetail Joint
Large Dovetail Joint

There are four types of dovetail joints:


  1. Through dovetail
  2. Half-blind dovetail
  3. Sliding dovetail
  4. Full-blind dovetail

ADVANTAGES/DISADVANTAGES:



external image tick-green.png?timestamp=1236785866889 Strongest of all joints.
external image tick-green.png?timestamp=1236785866889 Large gluing area.
external image tick-green.png?timestamp=1236785866889 Interlocking
external image tick-green.png?timestamp=1236785866889 Resists being pulled apart.
external image tick-green.png?timestamp=1236785866889 Looks attractive.
external image tick-green.png?timestamp=1236785866889 Would hold together even with no glue.
external image red-x.jpg?timestamp=1236786025406 Can be fairly difficult to mark out and cut.
external image red-x.jpg?timestamp=1236786025406 If badly made this joint looses the advantages listed above.

WHEN AND WHERE WOULD THIS TYPE OF JOINT BE USED?

The dovetail joint is commonly used to join the sides of a drawer to the front.
It is also used to join boxes, carcases, frames, brackets and cabinets.

WHAT DO I NEED TO CONSTRUCT THIS TYPE OF JOINT?

Dovetails can be made with hand tools or machine tools, often with an electric router and using one of range of commercially available jigs or templates.Some hand tools needed to make a dovetail joint:
  1. Chisel
  2. Mallet
  3. Saw
  4. Clamp and bench protector
  5. Ruler, tri-square and pencil

REFERENCES:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dovetail_joint
http://www.technologystudent.com/joints/dovejts.htm