Interesting dovetail layout tools – FineWoodworking

A couple of months in the past, I obtained an e-mail from a producer asking if they might quote one thing I mentioned on Shop Talk Live, our podcast. This has occurred earlier than, and I at all times need to be sure that it isn’t considered as an endorsement of a product. The quote they had been hoping to make use of was ““Outside of sawing approach, most dovetailing points might be traced again to a nasty switch from the tail board to the pin board.” I’ve probably mentioned that many instances on the podcast, so I can’t deny that one! Go forward, I’ll stand behind that quote.

Whether you begin pins first or tails first, the switch between the 2 is the make or break spot in your dovetails. I’d guess that the majority dovetail suggestions and tips you see on-line are primarily based round that very second within the course of. Christian Becksvoort makes use of a chunk of wooden within the drawer backside groove to carry all the pieces in place. FWW editor Michael Pekovich has his cool information blocks to assist align all the pieces. Steve Latta is a fan of the rabbet to present you a ledge to carry the board in opposition to, and Megan Fitzpatrick makes use of her “Moxon Vise Support” to carry all the pieces in place. There are definitely plenty of tricks to deal with this most delicate of processes, however all of them have one factor in widespread–you might be transferring from a pin board or tail board that’s already minimize. The upside of that is that in case your cuts on the primary board aren’t good, you now have an opportunity to match them on the second board. The draw back—like I’ve mentioned sufficient to be quoted—is that that is the place it goes incorrect for most individuals.

So what in the event you had been capable of lay out your tail board and your pin board prematurely? I feel each woodworker has had this thought and for some purpose or one other, irrespective of how cautious you might be, the layout simply doesn’t match up. Well, TailSpin tools might have the answer–collinear marking. The video beneath will clarify it higher than I can, however I’ll attempt to provide the easy model. When you mark a line off of a ruler, the road by no means winds up EXACTLY subsequent to the ruler. There is at all times some offset. The TailSpin tools have that offset constructed into them, so the road winds up precisely the place you need it.

So, overlook all the pieces you already know about your dovetailing workflow. If you’re already utilizing a noticed information to chop dovetails, this technique actually is smart. I’ve messed with the TailSpin collinear marking tools, they usually actually do what they promise. The strains wind up precisely the place they’re alleged to. I feel that the change in workflow is perhaps too radical for some, however for a lot of, collinear marking is perhaps the reply they’ve been searching for.