Make a Dovetail Box in 12 Minutes -- WOOD magazine

[@hatedcritic8066]

I just want to say how much I appreciate you speeding things up and not forcing me to watch you do the same thing over and over at speed.

[@wdavis111]

10 years later and seeing this video gave me the confidence to make my first dovetail box. Thanks so much! it worked like a charm!

[@pamtnman1515]

All I need is a router table and a Keller jig… a substantial investment probably limited to professionals

[@richardlug6139]

@@pamtnman1515 If you have a router and a flat piece of plywood for the top and some scrap pieces of lumber to make a stand you can make your own table top router table. The Keller jig though is expensive @ $250on Amazon, but if the router bits that come with it are high quality it lessons the hurt some. So @ $250 and what ever you think the wood used to make your own table costs you I would say that is not just limited to pros. If you do not have a router you can buy a combo router/table for $150 made by Kobolt @ Lowes

[@pamtnman1515]

@@richardlug6139 thank you

[@SKBond-hs7xb]

Wow! I've never seen this before. By far the easiest dove tails I've ever seen. I've seen workbench mounted jigs where you take the router to the jig that seem to have a lot of setup involved. This method of taking a simple jig to the router table seems so much quicker and simpler.

[@butterflyxf]

As an amateur with woodworker, i typically feel overpowered with the entire arrangement kzbin.infoUgkxrYREG3-7f1Aqk9ams3ZESRNzGnfdUtyQ . Be that as it may, this arrangements drove me through with much clarity and effortlessness woodplans. Works i now work like a genius. That is great!

[@MikeyDonna]

I liked the way this was presented, straight and to the point, very quiet with no distractions with loud music.

[@tremor360]

I love that your 12 minutes included a test piece

[@DellAnderson]

I was impressed that despite the obvious attention to efficiency, you did not neglect eye and ear protection. Proves to me that being in a hurry is no excuse to cut safety corners.

[@leyland9999]

Just came across your video, don’t know how and I’m not interested in making dove tail connexions or woodworking. But like someone else said too, I watched it untill the end. Very professional video, nice presentation, clear explanations and amazing results. I have great respect for skilled craftsmen who make quality stuff like you do. Maybe the combination of a quality presentation and craftmanship in woodworking did the trick for me to watch it till the end....

[@dbj1954]

Got my Keller Jig yesterday and gave it a try. After one minor adjustment, I was making perfect dovetails on my router table. This is truly the simplest, easiest, cheapest and best dovetail system out there. I can't imagine why anyone would make dovetail joints by hand! The instructions that come with the jig could use a little updating to show the router-table method shown in the video--or at least a link to it. Bob Hunter does a great job of demonstrating the process.

[@RossMitchellsProfile]

To be fair, there is one reason you'd still do it by hand... Not everyone has a router table or even hand router.

[@GB-mu9ue]

You can’t imagine why people would make stuff by hand? Because machines are noisy, expensive and teach you zero skills.

[@GB-mu9ue]

I mean listen to yourself. You complain about not having clearer instructions for your shop-bought jig and router table to do this. Doing things by hand doesn’t just teach you skills, it helps you understand how to solve problems and work things out yourself.

[@dunemetal67]

I used to party with Bob in college. He has calmed down a lot since the late 80s

[@michaellynch1159]

I call the 80's my lost decade...

[@theColJessep]

I have no idea why I'm watching this. I work in IT. I have a hammer and a screwdriver. It was very calming though. Thanks!

[@charlesroberts7557]

Thank you for teaching me that

[@troark15-m5o]

I work in IT and STILL do woodworking at home

[@Gren4te]

Elba Roark same here! Sometimes people that work with computers want to actually do something with their bare hands ;-)

[@johnnywest5445]

That's how I started out Nathan. I'm a (retired) electronics technician who, after watching a few woodworking videos four years ago, now has an almost complete workshop in his (still carpeted) spare bedroom. Hybrid table saw, 14 inch bandsaw, planer, drill press. Until I get my garage situated for the workshop, or build one in the corner of my yard, I use my tablesaw as my workbench and square stock on with my planer and tablesaw. Works out great for smaller things. I'm working on a blanket chest right now that I think may be the limit in size for that size of a space.

[@theodurcan2]

I work in IT, and when back home every day I work in my woodwork atelier.

[@spydirty2530]

This is just like a Rachel Ray 30min meal. All the ingredients are magically prepped and ready to go into the dish

[@dgb5820]

I keep watching this because you make it look so easy, can you please make a video just on your router table as I can see you seem to have made a quick release and this is very clever

[@darrengow-brown171]

I have watched this several times and will keep watching it, because you make it look very easy and your presentation is outstanding Really appreciate this video

[@GifCoDigital]

it is very easy when you have a jig and a bit that do literally ALL the work for you.

[@BjorgenEatinger]

@@GifCoDigital Right? And he doesn't state what the bit size is.

[@RDAUGIRD]

I have the same Keller dovetail jig. I made perfect dovetails first try, right out of the box, no table, just a router.

[@thebeybladearmory]

How would you do it without the stability of a table?

[@hallhouse5098]

Zakary DeLaura Picture the whole table flipped upside down and get creative.

[@deborahcooper8575]

Richard, how thick is your piece of wood that you hooked your Keller jig to?

[@bobmoe9221]

I have the same haircut. I think we use the same barber.

[@roddyframe123456]

@@bobmoe9221 👍😃

[@irblueflames69]

So far the best approach to dovetails joints thanks for the video

[@outbackeddie]

That was an excellent demonstration. I have wanted to learn how to do this for a long time and you really laid it out well. Thank you.

[@MORIN1964J]

Cleanest shop in the world.

[@grafzeppelin9182]

coz nobody works there!

[@ziggydog24]

Thank you for a great instruction using a dovetail jig. I purchased a similar jig years ago and left it to collect dust, now to give it a go after watching your vid. Thanks again from the UK.

[@ChefJeanPierre]

Thank you for taking the time to produce such a great video! I love your style, your calm and the entire production! Thank you!

[@mjremy2605]

You do woodworking too? A man of many talents, Chef JP! Nice to see you here.

[@mjremy2605]

What a great demo, beautiful! The marking of that center line is key. So well done and captured perfectly on video. Now to figure out a way to mount my router on a table. Thank you!!

[@zebulon2.198]

Thank you for sharing this. I inherited these jigs and didn't know how to use them.

[@dbj1954]

What a great and simple way to make dovetail joints on a router table! Just what I was looking for!

[@anthonyhitchings1051]

Since you and the jig make it look so easy, I bought this jig kit from Keller.

[@stevensprague7095]

I have no idea who has down-voted this. Great demonstration - i have this jig but use it so infrequently I have to refresh my memory as to how it works. Thank you for this. I ended up writing notes on my jig wood for future reference. :)

[@melemetcalf1681]

What I learned from this video is that I need a router table. Lol thank you for the information and instructions.

[@mofolashadeonaolapo-haastr8239]

same here :)

[@badaspunkbtch]

I just got a kobalt router and table kit for like $165. It's worth at least a few hundred dollars.

[@ajuric4606]

I bought small cordless makita router for 150€(180$), took a pine board I found laying around, made it flat, freehand routed a small slot for my router to sit it just so I wouldn't lose too much on bit height, you can use 2 saw horses to screw the whole set up down, make sure you drive the screws bellow the surface and you are set. Oh you will probably need to buy the bits for router to make dove tail joints, but it should be around 200€(240$) for the whole setup, takes time to set it all up but it is 1/4 of the price of a decent router table with bits and jigs

[@nickdeliso7026]

As I always say, everything is easy when you have all the right tools.

[@JukeboxJake]

So true

[@CodRameron]

and when all you work benches aren't covered in junk

[@relentlessmadman]

add a little know and experience(practice). the hardest part of solving any problem is to get started, and putting the tools away when your done...!

[@lewispewsey6843]

You don’t need a router to make joints use a jig saw

[@rmgj]

Easier... the word IS easier, you can put a none too bright, or inexperienced person inside a nice shop and get a mi mixed bag of results, from tepid carpentry to injuries, damaged tools and fire, the gentleman has a very very very nice and spotless shop, hats off to him, and his kind sharing of knowledge, I sincerely wish I will have time & health to learn carpentry, above my very crude actual level Blessings!!

[@philburrows6036]

Thanks for sharing Did my trade as a Shipwright 40 years ago and remember doing these joins the old fashioned way with a Dovetail saw and were made to do them until we got them to a similar finish as your router jig Love your shop and clear explanation Cheers.😊

[@CyrylB]

Peter, you are wrong. Only the best things are made by hand. machines help but nothing beats a true Craftsman

[@davidyaros157]

Amazing video. I am glad I listened all the way to the end, because more and more I feel I am missing a router table, but perhaps I could do something similar with a little more effort using a handheld router and clamps. I aspire to make boxes like you do.

[@richardlug6139]

Peachtree Woodworking has a good tutorial here on you tube showing on to do it with a hand held router.

[@normbograham]

My first dove tail joints, were with a handsaw, and a chisel.

[@StevenGreenGuz]

Chalk and cheese.

[@SAHBfan]

I too have just done some dovetails with chisel and hand saw. It took me a bit more than twelve minutes, though 😮

[@bsurf5004]

Good video..but was looking for a reminder to show me how I was taught as a child by hand. As said with correct tools they don't take long to do. I just wish titles would state by machine or by hand.

[@tylerstewart1226]

@@bsurf5004 Check out the video by Paul Sellers on cutting these by hand. By far the best video out there.

[@outersketcher]

Whhheeerreeee has this video been for the past twelve years of my life? Niiice.

[@heimdallr3441]

8 1/2 years later it is still the simplest way I've seen so far. Great!

[@andre_resin2208]

Nah Bourbon Moth Woodworking's method is easier.

[@anthonycooper3191]

You make it look so easy. The result of years of experience in carpentry-work. I wish that I could make a wooden-box as easily as you can. Thank you for putting your video on KZbin.

[@Balls607]

Bro the router and the jig did all the work

[@IrishSchaller]

​@@Balls607 and it makes the joints look like they were machine mass produced. The only skill here is using the jig correctly.

[@jamespooley6397]

I've learned more than I can remember from Bob Hunter. Great wood worker and a great person to boot!

[@barriejones15]

A perfectly produced tutorial, many thanks

[@asd67lkj]

Thanks. I use another brand jig which is very similar. I learned a few tips from this video....

[@teyronnewreality]

Thank you, making woodworking accessible to all. Even I want a router now 😀

[@MaryAnnNytowl]

Oh, wow! I'm going to have to find one of those jigs! I don't do Amazon (Bezos doesn't need my money. My local store does), but I didn't even realize there _was_ a jig for this process! A *whole* lot faster and more precise than using a saw! I'm glad I found this channel. 🙂👍🏼 The only thing is, I want to make really tiny boxes, like for gifts and such, to go with the special handmade earrings my friend makes, and I want to show her a sample to offer people, to even see if it's something that her clientele would be interested in, and that jig, even if I find one, is way, _way_ too big for what I'd be doing. 😄 I'll have to see if I can think of how to make one, then, for smaller projects. 🤔

[@davidjenson4512]

I'd suggest a Leigh jig for anything other than the size box shown here. kzbin.info/www/bejne/foG8qGSsndJ7esk

[@tterry53]

Great job. I should do that for my bee hive boxes instead of butt joints.

[@rachelcooper3866]

Thank you so much for this!!! I dream of having a woodshop like yours!! Saving this to use to plan my setup!! I learned more in this video about routers and dovetails than I have in all the others combined. I hope I can find more of your videos!!

[@someguyfromky]

This seems so much easier then using my rockler dovetail jig. I'm getting rid of that and doing it this way for now on.

[@daviddaniels7260]

At woodwork class in the 70's I made a dovetailed trinket box for my mum.we had woodwork for 2 hours every Friday .It took 5 months to make,using a dovetail saw , chisel,etc.i still have the box and it looks nothing like the one shown.i didn't pursue carpentry as a career,but it looks like anyone could do it now .

[@shoyrushoyru]

Remember value is not found in whether anyone else can do the task but how fulfilling it is to complete. The thing that was difficult for you years ago now has a rig that with only some effort can be used to quickly make a similar result. These have become conveniences and new struggles arise in other areas as technology advances. People who gain skill in different fields will always have a need, albeit in accordance with changing struggles and conveniences.

[@oriastahao]

Very good tools

[@LUckybones25]

This is the easiest way I’ve seen it done! Thanks!!

[@southernguy35]

Hmmm. My father used to keep bees and made his own beehives. The jig is still there or should be and I always wondered how it worked.

[@rickmcqueen9209]

I Just bought the jig and have been wanting to try it. I was just a little uneasy, but your video great tips and advise. Thanks

[@capo808]

Hey rick, I bought the Journey man jig. I'm a little unsure on how to mount the backing block. I might be over thinking it. Do you have an easy explanation? Wood size etc. Thanks

[@deborahcooper8575]

Rick McQueen Hey. Rick, where did you buy the jig? Mike

[@thomaspoppy9646]

I didn`t intend to use this woodworking book, *TopFineWoodworking. Com* but instead curious about it. I had been truly amazed after trying it. It never dissatisfied me in my desire to have more information about the art of wood working. I discovered several topics such as wood types as well as designing your workshop..

[@scottbehl216]

I used to use a jig, but now I like to do hand cut dovetails. Just practice a couple boxes.

[@desuniahardware647]

The beauty of a hand-cut dovetail lays in how thin you can make the pins. This can't be duplicated with a router (due to the minimum diameter that the router bit must be). A real demonstration of woodworking skill.

[@verycd]

Another perfect demonstration of machinery rather than craftMANship - not to dismiss or discredit the person who does it.

[@Redzircon]

Great demo, thanks Stefan, Australia

[@daveengel5751]

Thanks for this. I inherited this dovetail jig from my dad but did not know how to use it. Well done

[@cmlindgren8546]

I wish my shop was that clean.

[@olandeiscoleman3939]

It’s so easy with that router bit

[@DaveDott]

This man is like the Bob Ross of woodworking.

[@davidjenson4512]

'Couple of things - The jig will determine the width of the stock that you use, and the router bits look like dedicated bits that came with the jig.

[@mheib9904]

That’s one clean shop !

[@barkingshark6413]

While I used to have this jig, I find it more gratifying to make dovetails with my Dozuki Dovetail saw and chisels.

[@jonhohensee3258]

No you don't.

[@TheJmills39]

Cutting dovetails with a router instead of by hand just seems boring. I can understand if it's a business/revenue matter. This is a great demonstration though, and you explain it very well.

[@terencenewlin5265]

Very nice video and work. I have a few of these plates and never used them. My PC jig is just too handy. Thanks

[@jwheetree]

A quick, accurate, way to find that 8 degrees when making the jig: Using a framing square (make sure it's square first of course) scribe a line from 2 3/4" along the short leg to 19 13/16" along the long leg.

[@bigchiefbear]

Great video. Clean simple.very easy to follow. No need for thumbs down. Im a joiner in uk.been in business 30 yrs . Look forward to next video.👌👌

[@craigmonteforte1478]

Very nice demonstration , As my Dad always told me , If you have the right Tools you can make Life Easier ! i’m a retired Woodworker myself who spent over 35 Years in Commercial AtchitetualWoodwork it’s also been my Passion and Hobby for over 40 years i personally do not Trust most brands of the QuickmGrip style of Clamps especially for Routing Purposes that have the Vibration i have not ever had traditional CClamp or PonynBrand F Clamps coevlose or get “bumped loose on me during Machining but i have had Quick Grips ?

[@bryceoliver8899]

Ok I'm going to buy a router table now 👌

[@williamschreiner4247]

Anyone know who makes that router table in the video?

[@dgb5820]

Awesome procedure and thanks for making it look so easy

[@bjhfilms7708]

Nicely done, well-shot, to the point, and informative. Thanks for taking the time.

[@mgriffin4297]

I want to know where I can get the jig at 1:54 That’s what I’m missing.

[@KikoValleyMan]

I enjoyed your video and thank you for educating me on this for when I’m ready to make some furniture. I can’t give you enough thumbs up.

[@andrescosta2992]

I am 63.....U wanna know how many times in my life I watched Dove Tails Videos ? Yep.....many. But this time I think I got it. Wrote down all the steps..one by one. Coming into my shop tomorrow. (in my gar.) And I will try. For future Ref.....today 2/12/2021 & it's the 3rd day.....on the 2nd impchmnt of Trump. And thnks to Wood Mag. fellow. Great xplanation. Let U know this wk/end. how did I do. Take care !

[@Zack-xz1ph]

could this jig be used for box joints as well? using only a straight bit of course

[@upwoodart]

Good work sir good information

[@ehangloose6444]

Nice and perfect tool

[@marwanhaykal3330]

Beautiful & VERY ELEGANCE

[@rafaellondono1882]

Gracias maestro por enseñar , estaba haciendo un cofre y sus explicaciones me ayudan hacer de manera facil... abundancia, prosperidad, amor, salud, alegría, armonía,...para usted y su familia....hare krishna

[@martinh3453]

So with the making of this video you have just ensured that anyone with enough money and some practice can make a dove-tailed box, which means it is no longer really a special skill of excellence to make one. Thanks for that.

[@thomdombrowski8572]

have not bought this yet, but plan to. If I am doing just box joints rather than dovetail, do I still change bits, or use the same? never mind.. now I see one side is for tails and the other for pins.

[@KBBAKTHA]

brilliant tutorial. A separate video on jig mounting on the block would be welcome.

[@AsTheWheelsTurn]

haha your sped up version was about how fast my old boss expected me to work continuously for 8 to 12 hours a day without making any errors.its all about speed and money these days no one is allowed to be a true craftsman and do things nicely. I work for myself these days make twice as much money and its because I take my time and do things well.That is my number one tip for anyone getting into woodworking. dont rush! just set things up properly ,get it right,do it safely and most of all enjoy what you are doing!!!!

[@LoneWolf-yp2mo]

Great job ! Thank You !! Gotta give this a try ! Wish me luck !! I usually make saw dust pretty good ....

[@stuartK1966]

When you flip a board you should always end to end flip to make sure the same edge is always against the stop block. That ensures the base of the box is always flat.

[@daveengstrom9250]

That will make half of your tails slant the wrong direction.

[@kevingray4980]

That tip only works with finger joints, etc. With dovetails one end will have pins inside out, and it will be impossible to assemble.

[@cesarsalvestro6878]

NICE JOB !!! ... CONGRATULATIONS !!!

[@tonzellia]

Great video. A friend of mine sent it to me. I appreciate you making it more understanding how to get perfect dovetail joints. Great video.

[@Freespirit5371]

WOW, I am shocked and dismayed by the number of negative comments. If the people making all the negative comments are such experts then why are you here? Or, if the people watching want to learn then quit complaining that he used a template when he told you up front that this video is about making dovetail joints using a template and a router.

[@SMWChanel]

Nice videos i am very enjoy with your video 👍👍👍👍👍👍 well done for you "Greetings Wood worker"

[@jfried286]

Great concept, height of cut is always a challenge. People are so critical, lighten up it's only wood.

[@nymets1104]

Why does the clock have semi-colons?

[@alaluke7159]

This is great to learn about dovetailing overall. Nice to see this. This was just four sides to form four sides. Maybe I missed something. What about the bottom or top of this to form a box? If it was a drawer, there would be a bottom piece. What would I do with this?

[@shoyrushoyru]

Well the tutorial was about making dovetails, but if you wanted to complete the box you would probably use a different routing bit or multiple cuts from a circular saw on each plank to create a groove lengthwise on all the pieces that is the thickness of your chosen box bottom. And be able to apply some glue or not and slide all your pieces together

[@ibrocn]

@@shoyrushoyru How do you cut the grooves for the bottom without the slots being visible on the ends once the box is assembled?

[@BambooBob]

This video was very well done. Great editing! No nonsense just get 'er done! I have a dovetail jig on order, but it's not a Keller. I hope I'm not disappointed!

[@hansdegroot8549]

Did you receive your dovetail jig? What make is it? Does it do the job well, or are you disappointed?

[@GYANSupportforEverything]

Great job Sir👍👌👍♥

[@craigjohnson4271]

Very well done... But a power tool, with jig, to show a, "hallmark of woodworking," is a tad funny to me... Maybe i'm just jealous of the router and bit hahaha. But great video, thorough and a pleasure to watch.

[@kevinbuttry8135]

Thank you for the clear and precise instruction. I have always wanted add this to my skillset. Great work.

[@dmaccre8tions]

Hello! I’m late to the party - just found this video recently. Is there a way to use this jig for box joints?

[@chrisjames1924]

It's almost as good as the box I'll never get round to making.

[@HondoTrailside]

Franz Klausz said in his video that he bills 20 minuted to do a dovetailed drawer. That is stock break out to fitting, doesn't include putting on drawer handles or finishing the drawer face. Dovetails were custom spaced and hand cut.

[@AsTheWheelsTurn]

I figure about 30 minutes per drawer box plus materials of course. I doubt it actually takes 30 minutes for each one but I like to actually make a profit .

[@jcepri]

It looks like there is space on both sides of that router blade where the cut could be made anywhere in between the spaces in the jig. I'm not using the right terms because I'm very new to this. Hopefully I'm getting my point across.

[@madmaxxmad2]

I just called out my high school wood shop teacher and asked him why he didn't teach me this method. The way I was taught took sooooooooooo much longer

[@grafzeppelin9182]

because you need to know doing em without a machine ;) and tbh those in the Videos are very ugly, doesnt look like real dovetails, i dont think he is even a real carpenter

[@himynameisdavenicetomeetyou]

@@grafzeppelin9182 There is something relaxing and beautiful about doing it the old-fashioned way with a mitre backsaw and some elbow grease....until you have to make dozens or hundreds of them (that's when you go and get yourself a router jig or something similar). Production quantity call for production tools -- doesn't make him any less of a real wood worker.

[@grafzeppelin9182]

@@himynameisdavenicetomeetyou mostly Dovetails doesnt come in large quantitys, if you have to make more drawers just use "finger joints"

[@himynameisdavenicetomeetyou]

@@grafzeppelin9182 Quantity depends on demand. There are many people that want dovetail boxes for jewelry, recipe cards, all sorts of things in the US. Anyway, I suppose it depends where you are and what the customers want.

[@grafzeppelin9182]

@@himynameisdavenicetomeetyou never ever compare US with other countrys on woodworking :) we need to learn 3 years to be a carpenter, and we got teached a lot here. and why those guys want even dovetails if they arent visible? I mean, if they are visible its ok, but if they arent, wth. and i guess we cannot compare the prices here and in the US, handmade stuff here is expensive af!

[@Blueridgedog]

My only complaint about such fixed spacing jigs is that the more or less force you into cutting half tails vs half pins, so the joint starts on an incomplete tail. I don't use jigs, but if I did, I would have to get one with variable spacing so I could have normal looking joints.

[@gentleman_908]

Very unique way of carpentry, thanks for sharing...

[@anjelusbiswas7315]

Very nice joint.

[@mofolashadeonaolapo-haastr8239]

Good explanation....i also love how neat and organized that shop is...phew...got more work to do in my shop :(

[@daleney7211]

well done ! I to would like to see your router set up & quick releases. new hobby for old retired GI. thanks.

[@brucelavis4934]

Great video. I am new to making dovetail joints. I have and older craftsman jig to mount to my workbench. It appears to me that 2 boards at right angle to each other can be routed with handheld router. What is the advantage of using an expensive ( say a Keller) templates approach. I can see the benefit of using my router table. Would you show me some favor and recommend some less expensive jig templates. I think your approach is the way to go and could offer me more flexibility.Thank you Bruce