Manual of Purpose-Made Woodworking Joinery

36 Joinery joints

out (progressively pivoted with alternate divider- points
remaining lightly pressed in the timber) by trial- and-
error stepping, five steps from left to right. The fifth
step, where one divider- point is off the timber, over
the edge, is only needed initially to allow visual judge-
ment to be made as to whether half- a- step, more or
less, has been achieved.
If under half- a- step appears over the edge, try again
after adjusting the dividers. If slightly over half- a-
step, you could adjust the dividers and try again, or
you could let it go. Letting it go will result in slightly
wider dovetails.
When satisfied with the divider- setting, commit
four steps from left to right and then four steps from
right to left. Depress the leading divider- leg slightly
at each step to mark the timber. With a bevel or a
template, mark the alternating dovetail angles through
these points and square them across the end grain.
This will give tails which are equal to the shape and
size of the supporting pins; but the half- pins on the
outer edges tend to look oversized. Even so, it has to
be said that this arrangement of equal (or near equal)
tails and pins presents a structurally strong joint – and
should therefore be used on certain jobs where a load
has to be carried.

Large tails with smaller pins

Figures 3.29(a)(b): If small pins and larger dovetails
are preferred or required, the technique of setting out
is the same, but the distance marked X, shown over
the edge in divider- step 5 in the illustration, must be
well over half- a- step. Once again, trial- and- error step-
ping out will bring about whatever size tails and pins
are required. After stepping out four divider steps one
way, say left to right, then step out and mark four steps
the other way. As before, mark the alternating angles
through these points and square them across the end
grain.

Dividers

Figure 3.30: Two types of dividers are illustrated here.

The spring- loaded pair, shown in Figure 3.30, is rela-

tively cheap to buy and the other pair is hand- made

from mild- steel sheet of 1mm thickness. They are

100mm long. The degree of tension required between

the two legs was achieved by careful tightening of the

rivet at the top.

Making dovetails by hand

Figures 3.31(a)(b): Joinery and cabinetmaking

techniques are generally universal, but are often

12 3 4

5

(a)

Figure 3.29 (a) First setting out: four divider- steps to the
right.

Figure 3.29 (b) Second setting out: four divider- steps to

the left.

4 3 2 1

(b)

Figure 3.30 Spring- loaded dividers.