Creating a dovetail joint with hand tools

Lie-Nielsen Toolworks, Inc, which designs, manufactures and sells a wide variety of woodworking hand planes and tools, held 2 days of interactive demonstrations in the Building Construction Technology's area during January 2009. This demonstration, presented by woodworking instructor Paul Sellers shows how to make dovetail joints by only using hand tools.

[@sumbook]

that video really shows how simple it is to do a dovetail.. with skills.. and not with expensive jigs and tools.. I loved it.. it shows how peaceful woodworking can be ;) noiseless :)

[@Donegaldan]

Very good instruction and skills, There is nothing as sweet as the sound of a sharp plane.

[@PaulLundgren1970]

I hate to sound like I'm gushing, but this is an impressive and inspiring demonstration of skills. Thank you for posting it.

[@ansiaaa]

Paul Sellers ftw!

[@madwilliamflint]

Wow. As someone who's just getting started this is really spectacular to see.

[@odietarceo]

so I'd never cut a dovetail before (too afraid)...but after just watching this video a few times, it took me three attempts with a miter saw (all I've got) and a coping saw to get at an accurate, though VERY rough joint (the first two times I wasn't paying attention to what pieces I cut out. It really is intuitive. All's I can say is that this guy has just taught me a hell of a lot about something I could never do, and if I get the right saw and practice alot, I feel I can do this!

[@juliettewood2969]

This is so much nicer than using loud power tools. I can do something like this. Thanks!

[@daffyduck6169]

As with any professional, they always make it look easy. Just did my first hand cut dovetail project and they didn't go together quite as nice as this guy's. It still worked but had to use a little filler to patch imperfections.

[@Snooki2000]

there is a quick and accurate way of marking the width of the dovetails, I tried it and it worked. put the bits of wood in the vice, vertical and lined up exactly behind each other and mark where you are going to cut the dovetails on one of the bits of wood, then draw a line down all the bits of wood ,resulting in not just marking them all at once ,but also (if they are exactly behind each other) when you cut the dovetails they will be very accurate to each other

[@SgtBooker44]

Paul Sellers is a genius. If you are a beginner, check out his Artisan Series of DVDs.

[@SamKimpton]

Dovetail joints aren't always perfectly flush. So planing the joints after you've fit them together allows you to get a very smooth joint.

[@Funkussionist]

Speaking of sharp tools, an old woodworking guy sharpened my chisels. Now they are razor sharp and very easy to use. There's quite a difference between "sharp" and "old woodworking guy sharp". I just have to watch my fingers 'cause you don't even feel the blade slicing into you until it's too late.

[@ericgoetzmasterbuild]

such a very skillful individual! thumbs up!

[@achilles22382]

brilliant. how nice to have such a great skill such as yourself. im a beginning woodworker, and think that having these abilities are priceless. why buy something crummy at ikea, made of particle board, when you can build something yourself, that is of infinitely better quality, and likely half the cost, in the long run (after youve got your tools). thanks for the vid.

[@tremolux13]

Man thats beautiful..

[@bufton6]

Quite possibly a ninja

[@franktcarver]

This is good, but have you seen John Bullar cut fine dovetails on you tube - wow

[@elchuyitojr]

exelente video facil esacto rapido y muy bien detallado

[@MrDeadwater]

You just make the first half by eye and then you get the measurements for the second part of the same joint by drawing off of the first. All your dovetails will be slightly different but it won't matter because all of them will fit together respectively.

[@charade97]

I'd like to see it again with a little less noise and arms in the way.

[@Offshoreorganbuilder]

I agree. But then, if the timber is to be planed down later, and the blows are gentle, does it matter, from a practical point of view?

[@Fipplelight]

Complete pro!

[@AidanSchurr]

That's a beautiful thing :-)

[@KevKevAllen]

Great vid on how to saw out a dovetail! But I would have just used sandpaper instead of a planer...

[@betlogboy]

damn, i really want to be a master carpenter.

[@helenlovespaul]

how do you make sure the dove tails are all the same size and fit in to the joint?

[@TimpBizkit]

I can cut the joints but just can't chisel the bits out neatly, and they don't fit together very well either.

[@pitchperfectone]

How much harder is it to create an obtuse angled dovetailed joint such as a small splayed leg bench would use?

[@MultiMarou]

Question : Is there an inner and outer side for the wood? I read somewhere that planks were likely to move (with time and external conditions) towards one direction, and this should be taken into account when assembling a door for instance. Is it relevant for a smaller scale such as a drawer? Thanks for the video.

[@zonkozonko]

@KevKevAllen I would have used a Mallet, or a piece of scrap wood with the hammer. Just Nit picking very good video.

[@T3hJones]

@Funkussionist how sharp is a razor? Razor sharp is a relative term which is often missused for paper cutting-sharp...

[@Offshoreorganbuilder]

But can you fix the shift key on your computer?!

[@perto75]

At what degree should I start when making the tails?

[@Offshoreorganbuilder]

He did say that, if the piece was intended for drawer sides, it would be left on the full side, so as to be able to plane it down to a fit in the opening. In a similar video by Franz Klaus, the same point was made. "Fit it snug in the winter and free in the summer, so it won't bind." This advice was not given to a friend of mine who, as part of a degree in furniture making, produced an excellent Davenport reproduction, the drawers and doors of which now BIND. Crap tuition!

[@toxicbutterspread143]

why did he plane down the wood which he had finished the joint?

[@twoyearslate]

awesome vid and thank u ...but seriously is your table set in the middle of wall street?

[@TheRedbeardster]

Lie-Nielsen smoothing plane ? :)

[@Offshoreorganbuilder]

Hmmm ... The big sarcastic one! (I agree, by the way!)

[@Colaris99]

Can I come to your class!!! :)

[@CroppyBoy1798]

Knocking the joint together with a hammer? :p Shouldnt there have been a bit of waste timber used to protect the wood? I know he planed it down afterwards, but still.

[@sonorgeek44]

damn that guy must have at least a couple grand in his shirt pocket at 3:45

[@funkensteingfunky]

not if your good enough trust me a flexible enough coping saw blade can do the trick and olny seriously good pros can use a chisel to carve out an even dovetail on both sides of the joints, its easier to make a tighter than normal fit to a dovetail joint and to hammer it into place then to try a chisel, and yes glue is pretty much preffered if you want the joint to last a long time, wood glue doesnt cost that much

[@perto75]

The surroundings are noisy.

[@Offshoreorganbuilder]

Weed? WEED? What planet do YOU live on?

[@jamkakful]

I've done better with my axe