How to cut a dovetail joint with a wood chisel?

13th August 2021

How to cut a dovetail joint with a wood chisel?


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		The dovetail joint is commonly found in woodworking and joinery. Pieces that contain dovetail joints are highly sought after because they are very strong and also considered very aesthetically pleasing. Dovetail joints are all about precision.

		The most basic dovetail is made up of one tail and two pins. The board with tails is referred to as the “tail piece” and the board with pins is referred to as the “pin piece”.

		Useful tools for marking out
		Dovetail square A dovetail square is a straight-edge tool which is set at an angle and used for marking out dovetail joints.

		Dovetail marker A dovetail marker is a carpenter’s accessory used as a template for marking out dovetail joints.

		Cutting the tail
		Step 1 – Mark baselines Lay the two pieces of wood against each other and, with a pencil, mark the thickness of each piece on the end of its mate. This line is called the baseline.

		Step 2 – Mark tail(s) Use a dovetail marker or a dovetail square to mark out the lines for your tail(s). If you do not have a dovetail square or gauge then use a ruler or straight-edged tool.

		Step 3 – Cut tail lines To get the recognisable “dovetail” shape you will need to cut down at an angle. Follow the tail lines you made in Step 2 but only cut down as far as the baseline. Make sure your saw is cutting down into the waste side of the wood. This way, your “tail(s)” will not end up being smaller than intended.

		Step 4 – Cut away excess Once you have cut in your tail lines, cut along the baseline to remove the excess material from either side of the tail.

		Note: If you have multiple tails then you will need to use a coping saw to cut along the baseline in between the tails.

		A coping saw is a hand saw which is designed to cut intricate internal and external shapes. It has a thin steel saw blade suspended between the ends of a “C” shaped frame.

		Step 5 – Pare saw cuts Once the excess material has been sawn away you can neaten up the cuts and angles with a paring chisel. Remember, precision is paramount.

		Cutting the pins
		Step 1 – Transfer tail outline Hold the tail piece of the joint against the end of the pin piece and draw around the shape of the tail(s). This will give you the outline of the pins.

		Step 2 – Cut pin lines Using a dovetail saw, cut down along the pins lines you made in Step 1.

		Step 3 – Remove excess material With a coping saw, remove as much of the excess material as you can without the saw cutting into the baseline.

		Step 4 – Clean up joint Using a paring chisel (or suitably sized bench chisel) pare down the edges until they are smooth and match exactly the shape of the tail so that they create a tight bond. Again, precision is paramount.

		Step 5 – Fit pieces together Try fitting the two pieces together. If your tail and pins do not interlock, pare down the edges a little more until the fit is perfect. Remember that it is always better to make your tail and pins a little too big and be able to pare them down to size, rather than them being too small and having a loose joint.


		Take a look at this set of 5 Mini Tools made from hardwood and brass fittings and supplied in a wooden presentation case. This set contains one each of the following mini tools: Woodworking Plane, Combination Marking Gauge, Sliding Bevel, Try Square and Dove Tail Square.