What Is A Dovetail Joint?
The dovetail joint is a way to connect two pieces of wood. It is considered one of the most durable methods and it is visually attractive. It is done by creating a channel in one piece of wood that is wider at the bottom and more narrow at the top. Then the other section of wood has the edge of the board tapered to match the channel. To assemble the two sections craftsmen slide the tab into the channel and then use a rubber hammer to tap the tab board into the channel board.
Best Uses
There is a wide range of products that are built using the sliding dovetail joint. Because of its strength it is used in shelving, cabinet bottoms, table frames, cabinet sides, wooden musical instruments, and especially in quality drawer boxes. From weekend warrior home projects to mass produced wood furniture the sliding dovetail joint is one of the strongest and most attractive types of wood joinery that you can find. It takes the skill and patience of master woodworkers and the right tools to make this type of joint that provides the best durability possible.
Advantages Of Dovetail Joints
Large Surface Area – The sliding dovetail joint provides 3 surfaces for glue to be used in joining the sections of wood. This means that in addition to a snug fit and already being the strongest joint available the increased glue helps lock the sections of wood tighter.
Looks Attractive – With other types of joints you will see hardware on the outside of the piece. Whether it be metal anchors, screws, staples, or other hardware there will be a disruption on the surface of the wood. The sliding dovetail joint is a beautiful woodworking technique as it does not show visible evidence of how the wood was joined together.
Interlocking – Dowel joints and staples rely on the tension and adhesive strength of small areas inside the sections of wood to provide strength. Even with perfect machining these types of joints do not physically interlock like the sliding dovetail joint. Sliding dovetail joints have the ability when machined by talented craftsmen to hold together without ever needing glue.
Durable Joint – Because of the interlocking nature and glue these are the longest lasting and most durable type of wood joinery. Quality wood working projects that are made with pride are made to last lifetimes.
Expert woodworkers are required to make full use of these advantages. Measuring out and cutting the tab and channels used to make sliding dovetail joints are fairly difficult and take patience. If these are not made by passionate craftsmen the advantages listed above will not be as present in the piece. Any type of dovetail joint is more costly than staples or other types of hardware, but it last much longer and look a lot better.
Quality Sliding Dovetail Joints
The woodworkers at Drawer Connection have the training, skill, and patience to make the perfect sliding dovetail joints for your drawer box needs. If you are a homeowner or cabinet maker our company can build the best built, longest lasting, and affordable drawer boxes for your bathroom and kitchen cabinetry.
Stay tuned for more from the expert drawer box manufacturers at DCDrawers.com
