Make a Dovetail Box in 12 Minutes -- WOOD magazine

Through dovetail joints are as beautiful as they are strong, and work great for all kinds of casework, including drawers. In this video, WOOD magazine's Bob Hunter shows how to make a dovetail box in just 12 minutes from start to finish using a template and a router table.
Products, supplies, and plans used (WOOD receives commissions for purchases made at some links):
Keller dovetail system: amzn.to/2uClsRD
Plans for Bob's router table: www.woodstore....
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[@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.

[@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!

[@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.

[@tremor360]

I love that your 12 minutes included a test piece

[@MikeyDonna]

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

[@spydirty2530]

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

[@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....

[@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.

[@barriejones15]

A perfectly produced tutorial, many thanks

[@irblueflames69]

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

[@MORIN1964J]

Cleanest shop in the world.

[@grafzeppelin9182]

coz nobody works there!

[@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

[@teyronjayneevans3278]

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

[@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!!

[@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...

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@mheib9904]

That’s one clean shop !

[@dbj1954]

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

[@Redzircon]

Great demo, thanks Stefan, Australia

[@dgb5820]

Awesome procedure and thanks for making it look so easy

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@LUckybones25]

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

[@anthonyhitchings1051]

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

[@tterry53]

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

[@cmlindgren8546]

I wish my shop was that clean.

[@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

[@ehangloose6444]

Nice and perfect tool

[@olandeiscoleman3939]

It’s so easy with that router bit

[@marwanhaykal3330]

Beautiful & VERY ELEGANCE

[@DaveDott]

This man is like the Bob Ross of woodworking.

[@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

[@asd67lkj]

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

[@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.

[@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!!

[@cesarsalvestro6878]

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

[@GYANSupportforEverything]

Great job Sir👍👌👍♥

[@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. :)

[@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.

[@jamespooley6397]

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

[@oriastahao]

Very good tools

[@stargazer2042]

Very easy to understand. Thanks.

[@upwoodart]

Good work sir good information

[@grandmarnier3746]

How are dovetails "hallmarks" of good craftsmanship when they're machined in......

[@Timw-om6pm]

Hand cut dovetails are the hallmark of good craftsmanship. These are obviously not hand cut lol

[@subbassrules]

Since a router can produce better, more consistent joints, I find people disrespecting router cut joints silly. There are very few people good enough with a handsaw to make a better fitting joint than can be created with a router. Handmade doesn't automatically mean higher quality.

[@GB-mu9ue]

No of course it doesn’t. But that’s not the point. When they are done well by hand it’s indicative of someone who is an experienced woodworker, meaning the rest of the build will be high quality. Just because someone can do something with a machine that requires no skill, just measuring and alignment, doesn’t mean the rest of the build will be good.

[@david1benson2jonas]

Excellent video, extremely helpful, thank you!

[@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.

[@bjhfilms7708]

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

[@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

[@silentscribes]

Great job and great video. Thank you

[@anjelusbiswas7315]

Very nice joint.

[@braddragon1812]

Awesome video. Thank you

[@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 👍😃

[@tvan3395]

Thanks so much!

[@gentleman_908]

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

[@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.

[@renoholland7090]

Nicely done.

[@fungiformenow]

Fascinating

[@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.

[@bryceoliver8899]

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

[@williamschreiner4247]

Anyone know who makes that router table in the video?

[@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.👌👌

[@verycd]

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

[@alienxyt]

So simple! Thanks.

[@Guiller369]

Great work, love it

[@SMWChanel]

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

[@ashtonthomas4645]

Great nice watching this video

[@freddypichardo7478]

Hi Bob, thank you for the tips on cutting dove tails! SUPER AWESOME! 🛫🛫🛫

[@asicomovienes892]

I love this video 👍🏻

[@manbach]

Very special!

[@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

[@vonclap]

Concisely and logically explained , thank you

[@GPenergyhealer]

Thank you for the great instructions!

[@traviousandrews1015]

Wow that's easy as hell

[@cesarsalvestro2766]

GOOD JOB !!! ... THANK YOU !!!

[@jansolo55]

Pretty good !!

[@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

[@daveengel5751]

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

[@rachidbensaid4665]

تحياتي لك من تطوان المغرب

[@mofolashadeonaolapo-haastr8239]

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

[@wwilll]

Nice Video, I learned something, thanks👍

[@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.

[@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.

[@coachingangels]

Amazing video

[@kevinbuttry8135]

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

[@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.

[@DaDigger]

Easy peasy,👍 I could have used that 40 years ago. That's truly innovative. ❤

[@DaDigger]

@@dangnhahuong4092 The satisfaction of completing a woodworking project is tops. I'm sitting around dozens of lifetime. My career and hobbies were the same. Happy woodworking. Stay safe.

[@JoClinicChannel]

great video we have an idea how to make like this i need tools like this good job keep on sharing videos very helpful to us thank you my friend nice to meet you thank you again godbless and keepsafe always

[@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..

[@BuiltByBaileys]

Man I need a shop like that

[@VirginiaRealEstate]

thank you for making the video.

[@ismanismun5736]

Beauty box ❤❤❤

[@jorgecoll6212]

Excelente trabajo.Saludos desde Panamá.

[@gergemall]

Super nice 👍.

[@donniecatalano]

I love metres, centimetres, millimetres!

[@richpaul8132]

Thank you! Great Demo.