How To Make A Dovetail Joint In Commercial Joinery
When it comes to crafting intricate furniture and delicate features out of wood as a part of the commercial joinery process, there are a number of different joints that are commonly used. These joints can be used to create a grand staircase, a doorframe or even floorboards. One of the more common of these joints, known as the dovetail and favoured for its strength and resilience, can be quite easy to achieve, providing that you know what you are doing.
Step 1: Take a piece of timber and, after measuring, cut into one end a series of trapezoidal wedges, known as ‘pins’.
Step 2: Take a second piece of timber and, after measuring, cut into one end a series of complimentary trapezoidal wedges, known as ‘tails’.
Step 3: Apply some woodworking glue or other type of adhesive to the gaps around the ‘pins’ and ‘tails’.
Step 4: Slot the two pieces of timber together, fitting the piece with the ‘pins’ created in step one into the piece with the ‘tails’ created in step two. They should form a flush, tight bond.
Once dry, this commercial joinery joint should not need any other reinforcement and will hold for years. To ensure that there are no gaps and to avoid movement between the joined segments, the ‘pins’ and ‘tails’ must be cut with complete accuracy, which requires careful measuring. This commercial joinery method is commonly used for the creation of drawers and boxes, but also has a number of other woodworking applications.