How To Hand Cut Dovetails Wood By Wright Style

How to hand-cut dovetails the Wood By Wright way!
How to cut splayed dovetails: • How to Cut a Splayed o...
The many types of dovetails: • The Many Types of Dove...
Fast dovetails: • How to Hand Cut Doveta...
Hack saw dovetails: • Making Dovetails With ...
One on one dovetails: • How To Cut A Dovetail ...
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[@StinkyParadox]

"Every project requires a blood sacrifice." At least a couple of dings... The wood gods got me good last week.

[@markbaker9459]

Once, a customer asked for their pieces drawers to all be done with Bermuda Pins and Round Tails. To make these, I simply made the rounded drawer side pieces using a band saw and foresner bits the sides to match the side pieces and drilled the center of each assembled set to insert the locking pins of each assembly according to how many pins were needed. Contrasting wood for pins could also be used. Many customers had no care as to what custom work cost, they just wanted things Just So and never wanted to hear about the cost. The actual antique Bermuda Pins AND TAILS were hand cut and beautiful workmanship of some ancient woodworker.

[@markbaker9459]

Many Japanese Tanso Drawers were built and assembled using no glue but were Pinned together using the long thorns of the trees that bore them and tapped into holes made with either a hole bored by friction or a red hot well aimed piece of iron. Since many of the ancient pieces were expected to survive flooding with the food kept safe, the joints were made to swell up and seal out the flood waters. That’s real great ancient woodwork!

[@timothymallon]

I gotta say, between you and Rex, your videos really do make woodworking feel easy for the common person. You take the mystique out of it and get your viewers excited about woodworking. Thanks James for all you do

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Thanks. That is about the best complement we could get. That means a lot. I will keep them coming.

[@luthmanphotography976]

One of the best things I've found to learn different techniques on are birdhouses. It doesntt really matter if you mess up a bit, as long as the house holds together the birds will take it (trust me). They aren't very picky customers and it's fun watching someone actually live in something you've built, even though it has got gaps all over and what not. It's great practice when you want to learn new things but don't just want to join two boards together but actually build something.

[@SpartanORGN]

I always love when something is simplified down as much as possible. Take out all the extra things that make it seem too hard to even get started. Yes dovetails take a bit of practice, but they also don't need to be perfect. Nice video

[@jayknot88]

Absolutely loved this. Skipping all of the layout lines seems amazing

[@genem2768]

Start with wooden storage boxes for your shop. That way you get through the learning process on something that doesn't have to be pristine.

[@nelsvantoor5159]

I like how you cut down the hand woodworking to the no frills basics that make it easily digestible for even the daftest of minds without making it sound childish.

[@michaelasbury2189]

This guy made me enjoy wood working again as I was just ready to give it up. Simplify is the word I would use to describe his method

[@jesh4006]

13:15 the wood demands a blood sacrifice 😂

[@runstant1]

WHAT A GREAT VIDEO, SIMPLY TOLD AND TO THE POINT, EXCELENT !

[@sethgarcia8028]

Just wanted to say thank u man. The little reminder at the end that we have to get out there n practice n mess up to learn helped. I get frustrated but I will not give up!! lol. Thanks for all the videos man

[@felineth56]

Your teaching was great, very clear, straight to the point and some very good advice, I also liked your spirit!

[@jons2447]

"Comment down below!" Great video, I appreciate the way you simplified it. So many videos they make it look like rocket science AND brain surgery. Apparently it is *not*!

[@ntyhurst]

ths is good instruction. in general i appreciate the way he explains things. I was initially put off by the "youtube-iness" of his speech and production but getting past that there is more value in this guy's videos than most of the click bait and cruft on this platform. thanks

[@michaelgardner9394]

James, this is the best video for first timers, who are a little scared of tackling the almighty dovetail. It shows how easy it actually is, and in a relatively short period of time. I love most of the other makers in the KZbin community, but they tend to overwhelm people with the dividers, ratios, marking guages, coping or fret saw, etc. This is what newcomers need. You gave me some inspiration to make a tray or box or something, I have been doing box joints and splined miters lately, but tomorrow is going to be dovetail day. Zebra wood carcass and spalted maple top. Done. Inspired. Just like that. Thank you

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Sounds like a fun time. I am looking forward to seeing what you make!

[@whittysworkshop982]

If youre in the Hive mind on FB ya gotta show us what you make 😁

[@williamkilpatrick101]

You make it look so easy which is a sign of a good tradesman. Hope I get it nearly as good. Thanks for the video.

[@glenthemann]

You're one of the best on youtube.

[@larryquinn9790]

Hi James, enjoyed the video. This is one joint I need to learn this year. I want to get back to my wood working again. There were two things I wanted to start making this year and that was Bowls and Boxes. The Bowls will be a matter of sharpening my skills and tools again. The Boxes I will be learning for the first time. i was going to start out with Box Joints and then transition in the Dove Tails. You make the Dove Tails seem so simple. Thanks so much for the video, it really helps out.

[@alanplummer]

New follower here. Glad I found your channel. Love your common sense approach to woodworking.

[@standswithfish]

James, I found a great video from 5 years ago from a channel called Wood by Wright! 😊 going to attempt my first hand cut dovetails this week😲

[@wisewoodworking2739]

Of the 100's of videos on KZbin on cutting dovetails, this is the most helpful! Simple, effective, and FUN! Certainly not BORING. Haha Great job sir!

[@bobmartin6055]

Great advice!! It’s not rocket surgery!

[@Dragon_With_Matches]

James, it occurred to me while I was driving to work just now that your dovetail advice (and really all of your woodworking advice) is really good life advice! “Just have a bit of fun with it! You’re gonna mess up, but that’s ok!”

[@billhedge]

lol @ "blood sacrifice". I have the same rule for PC building. Those cases have so many sharp edges inside!

[@nicholasmanovich4330]

I watched HOURS of videos on dovetails and thought I had it all figured out. Then I finally cut one. Oh boy, was it bad.....but after practicing every day for a week straight they started looking usable....not awesome, but usable. All the information in the world doesn't equate to skill.

[@glenallan815]

I love this approach to dove tails! Thank you! -Glen in Wisconsin

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Where in Wisconsin? I used to live in Watertown and now live just across the border in Illinois.

[@glenallan815]

@@WoodByWrightHowTo It’s a small world - I’m in the Beaver Dam area just a little north of Watertown!

[@allanwilliams679]

What a fabulous video James. You did a great job of demystifying hand cut dovetails. I’m sure that will encourage so many more people to actually TRY cutting them. Thank you for sharing your ideas, skill and enthusiasm. Keep up the good work. The craft needs more people with your approach… 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@philaandrew100]

Exactly how I was taught to cut them, with one exception being I cut the pins first but that's just what works for me. Dovetails always seem to look nicer when layed out by eye, more organic I guess.

[@marcmedeiros8857]

The reality of the wood, love that!

[@FreeRivers85]

Great video and love the attitude you describe at the end!

[@lincolndickerson1293]

Thank you for the sanity… returning to woodworking after many years away. Looking forward to a little warmer weather to get into my unheated shop. Practicing joinery with scraps is where I decided to start after seeing the cost of wood lol.

[@distortedodin]

Wow. This is sooooo good! I'm actually excited to try it!

[@mattpage9826]

Gotta say, this is the best dovetail video I have seen. Thanks for your time!

[@makermark67]

Excellent advice!! #Bringbackthefun

[@tonywwp]

You surely simplified the explanation of the art of cutting dovetails. Thanks a bunch.

[@LuizRobertoFaggioni]

Thanks

[@craigbowman1656]

Thanks, this was great. You are the first person that I've watched that references both blood and the use of a file when it comes to dovetails - which has been my experience.

[@tracysowder2023]

I find that most projects go much better with a blood sacrifice. ;-)

[@justplanebob105]

Good one, James. Thank you. Blood sacrifice. haha. I'm so glad to know I'm not the only one that leaves those on my work, most recently on the plane till. I'm getting better. I used to draw blood almost every time I took a blade out of a plane. haha.

[@snellscroft]

Thank you, I do like your straight forward approach to woodworking.

[@arthur2319]

This is great advice. Some joints on some pieces benefit from neat and tidy layout, but drawers and other less visible joints are much faster and stress free when done by eye! One more thing I’ve learned in preparing stock is that it is super important to have consistent thickness side to side on each piece (although it can differ between the two). If it tapers, that joint is going to not only look bad but angle in/out.

[@EquilibriaHealth]

I love your pragmatism. Effective and neat. Thank you.

[@markhinds1361]

Hi James. Thank you for such a easy and functional way to make joints. I agree with your logic as 100 and more years ago they didn’t have all the fancy tools we have today and their joints are beautifully done.

[@timgarner]

Thanks for sharing! You made it a lot simpler to make dovetails for me.

[@colemine7008]

I appreciate the simple basic for beginners approach. Thank you for this video.

[@stevecunningham936]

I spent 2 years practicing and watching videos. I bought all kinds of jigs and tools...I wish I would have watched your video first! I hate using the coping saw but now I know I don't have to! Thanks James

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

There's always another way to do it. It's always fun trying to find the way that works best for the individual.

[@ronaldchevalier9804]

Well done video. I needed this.

[@tonywwp]

Just went down to my shop a cut a dovetaiil the way you explained it, I gotta say it came out awesome.

[@cajademadera]

One of the best videos explaining the hows and why of things, if not the best! Really loved it, thanks, James!

[@thomashverring9484]

Kickass video, James!

[@namewithoutdigits]

Great tutorial. Thank you for sharing. This approach reduces some overthinking to making these joints.

[@J.A.Smith2397]

Funny title 😆 I like it

[@douglashopkins8070]

File is a good suggestion. I think I will add that to my process.

[@user-qg6fy4yp8t]

Thanks!

[@thebeast88_]

Nice, im just getting into dovetails. Dont tell anyone, but i havent even mastered mortises. Shhhh

[@whittysworkshop982]

Ive always adjusted the pins with a file, but never seen anyone else do it that way until I seen you do it James. Was like.... Yay, im not the only one 🤣

[@criswilson1140]

You are not alone. I adjust with a file as well.

[@adamejervall1372]

Really good video!

[@johanflodkvist80]

Great energy in this one!

[@joespilman7333]

I can do dovetails and yes they're always imperfect...great video

[@tlange5091]

Thank you for the video. It both teaches and encourage to do dovetails. A lot of stuff got made and repaired here based on your lessons!

[@MCsCreations]

Fantastic, James! Thanks a lot! 😃 Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

[@johnschillo4452]

love this video

[@qcasares]

Super encouraging _ nice vid.

[@johnpiracci3752]

Made it easier to understand thanks

[@jerryrathbone2168]

Nice job

[@dalewysinger3077]

Really enjoyed watching your method. Thank you.

[@hakank68]

This was a great video! Will try this in a couple of weeks.

[@justinstallard2120]

Thanks for the video. I actually look forward to trying dovetails now.

[@williammueller768]

Thank you for the refresher. This reminds me of when you were in Fredericksburg, Va a few years ago. Keep up the good work

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

That was a fun meet.

[@athmostafa2462]

I might practice this soon ☺️ , thanks Mr James .

[@ronniesolomon5235]

Great video as always. It’s always enjoyable knowing that making mistakes is normal. Because I make a lot lol

[@benu3185]

Great video, I am now a believer. Thank you!

[@MrAtfenn]

i somehow missed this when it came out. i know that we have talked about this before but i have to say that, as a perfectionist i almost wish that i was able to adopt your attitude toward woodworking. it would reduce alot of stress in my life and im sure i would get more done if i wasnt always so focused on perfection

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

there are a lot of people in that boat. I use to be there and it took years to change my mind.

[@BadSpock]

It would be nice to see a video where you make a gappy, cut below the line, broke a tail or pin etc and then use all your tricks to fix them. Maybe all the mistakes in one, I have examples.

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

I have done a few of those videos in the past. They never do well, but I like them. It might be time for another one.

[@BadSpock]

​@@WoodByWrightHowTo Thanks I will look

[@douglashopkins8070]

I suppose that Franz Klausz is the only guy who gets the dovetails to fit right off the saw... 😊 Good video.

[@mongocrock]

Nah.. you can do it with practice. I can do it most of the time and I am not super coordinated I just practiced.

[@andrewking1122]

Dovetailing, is that anything like pigeon holing? Lol, dad joke right back at you!

[@MintStiles]

The more I have fun, the more I do, the more I do, the better I can do it. I don't do super wide stuff so I only ever reference the two ends anyhow. You are better off practicing getting the fit right rather than the exactly side of the dovetails

[@thewalnutwoodworker6136]

I just kinked my freshly sharpened dovetail saw.

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

No fun!

[@ryanstieglitz8077]

Comment down below!

[@What_Other_Hobbies]

If you take a shot every time James says "you should" starting from 12:02, you should be black out drunk before 12:12.

[@bbrachman]

Can you please do a video using 1/4" wood and box joints? I am not sure you can do dove tails with 1/4" Maple for small wooden boxes. Like wood cigar box joints (they use power tools).

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

I have a couple videos making dovetail boxes with quarter inch material. You just have to make the tails a bit more obtuse than you would expect.

[@GavinNatur]

Yall might know that song sound of madness now we have i made the sound of sawing

[@ensen89]

This was a real nice dovetail video and trust me, I have seen a lot. :D Could you make a video about compound angle dovetails (both pieces of wood at an angle)? There is some information about that on youtube but all I have seen is not close to this video here. My mother has an old box for her firewood with compound angled dovetails. The box is coming to the end of its life and I would like to replace it, but I can not wrap my head around those joints. I also really like the proportions of your dovetails. A lot of people like to make the pins so small that the tails could never have been cut with a power tool to show of their craftsmanship, but to my eyes it looks to fragile even if I know it is strong enough.

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

that would make a fun video!

[@evelyngorfram9306]

Great video. I really appreciate the way you separate the stuff that matters from the stuff that's fancy and looks nice. Question: Do you (or someone you could point me to) have a video with a bit explaining why pins are so much smaller than tails? I think it's maybe something about which way the cutting plane is tilted with regard to the long grain of the wood; but beyond that I'm totally lost. Thanks.

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

The big reason small pins came into fashion is if you make them small enough you know they were hand made and a machine can not do that. usually the strongest configuration is when pins are 1/3 of the total joint. but that is a great way to start an argument.

[@evelyngorfram9306]

​@@WoodByWrightHowTo Thanks. I'll remember that the next time I want to start a brawl in a tough woodworkers' bar. :)

[@criswilson1140]

As James implies, smaller pins are just for looks.

[@johnhiemstra1464]

Question: If you cut a perfect dovetail does the bird bleed?

[@kencarlile1212]

Hi James! Thanks for this. Couple of questions... (of course) a) Do you need to do any angling of the chisel to account for the inner slope when cutting the waste from between the tails? b) what type of file is that you're using? Also, I can't believe you left "Cutting dovetails the Wright way" on the table... :D

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

A. yes I turn the chisel to match the angle of the pins. B. It is a Nicolson fine. It is an old one but you could use a triangular saw file to do the same thing.

[@jerrygillette854]

I think I have yet to cut a set of dovetails for a project and not given a blood sacrifice. I think it's a law.

[@DanielAKA]

Now we just need a video on how to get blood stains out of wood, lol

[@MCsCreations]

Try some hydrogen peroxide. At least it works great with clothes. 😊 But attention: peroxide, not dioxide!

[@sgnt9337]

I cut the pins first. I find smaller saw cutting errors occur when done in this order. Especially if my pin cuts are off a bit (pin cuts aren't vertical) I have run into this when joining wider boards.

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

I did that for a few years. Much prefer to cut the tails first.

[@cbryantbear6498]

James, would you have any good suggestions of “beginner textbooks” for teaching a woodworking class?

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Sorry I try to stay away from text books. they are often way too restrictive for my taste.

[@cbryantbear6498]

@@WoodByWrightHowTo oh ok. I was just trying to find one so i could teach, or suggest one, a class at my daughter’s private school

[@Sokane]

How sharp (or to what grit) are you sharpening your chisels for dovetails? Is 1000 grit enough?

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

Grit really doesn't matter that much when it comes to sharpness. My diamond plate is a finest grit is close to the equivalent of 1200. And then I clean the burr off with a strop. But I could do it to 500 and then strop and be right about the same.

[@dannewton7873]

Where'd you get that sweet little file?

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

It is a Nicolson fine. It is an old one but you could use a triangular saw file to do the same thing.

[@charlesgarrison9724]

Does it matter which side you make the tails and pins?

[@WoodByWrightHowTo]

In general no. But if there's going to be a lot of force in one direction or the other, the joint comes apart one way and not in the other direction.

[@nickmagma7745]

I love your content but damn that thumbnail tho

[@C-Mah]

Ahh, I cut it 3 times and it's still too short.

[@rossanctuary5238]

Gotta give up woodworking. Can't afford it

[@sfshilo]

Wait what? Never?

[@egbluesuede1220]

You'd better watch out James. If you keep this up you're going to ruin the "mystic" around dove tails and destroy a billion dollar industry to sell dove tail gizmos! ;-) Practice makes perfect....or in my case, practice makes the process faster and the end results liveable!