Black wallnut
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First choose a dovetail bit and mount it in your router table. Any size or angle will work just be sure to size it for your project parts. If you have options install the plate with the smallest opening for the bit, this will make the work safer. My one bad shop accident was making sliding dovetail joints on a curved workpiece. While my finger was healing I came up with a jig to hold odd shaped pieces. With square parts and proper set-up using a push block has been safe enough for me. Your safety is your choice so think it through.
Set the fence so your dovetail grove (pocket) is where you want it. If you are joining two pieces the same thickness then you will want this centered. For table aprons centered may or may not look right.
The dovetail grove (pocket) is a stopped grove. Mark your fence or table or set up a stop block so that the dovetail pocket is shorter in length slightly than the pin board is wide.
Set your pin board next to the pocket and mark the width. Move your fence so the the mark closest to the fence is barely away from the top edge of the bit when the cutter is 90° from fence.
Use a push block to push the pin board through the cutter keeping your fingers as far as possible form the cutter while having control. Pass one side through then the other so you have a pin the full width of the pin board.
Check the pin for fit.If you set your fence correctly the pin will be slightly oversize. as below.
Use a mallet or hammer and gently tap your fence exposing a tiny bit more of the cutter.
Pass your pin board though both sides again and check the fit. This is where trial and error will teach you how slight movements make huge differences. It really would be wise to practice cutting this joint with disposable stock, offcuts and the like until you get a feel for how the slight adjustments work.
That just right fit barely has any room for glue. Once the fit is correct you will need to remove part of the pin to seat it in the pocket. Stand your pin board up and push it past the cutter without changing either the height or fence.
The above pic shows the general idea but I cut it both horizontal and vertical. Another way is to use the table saw to nibble away at the end.
Final two pics are the complete joint. Including set up this took less than 15 minutes. Like I said in the table post this joint is pretty easy and plenty strong. It provides a large amount of glue surface without requiring deep mortises. This was assembled with an off cut and scrap.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk; edited via laptop.
Set the fence so your dovetail grove (pocket) is where you want it. If you are joining two pieces the same thickness then you will want this centered. For table aprons centered may or may not look right.
The dovetail grove (pocket) is a stopped grove. Mark your fence or table or set up a stop block so that the dovetail pocket is shorter in length slightly than the pin board is wide.
Set your pin board next to the pocket and mark the width. Move your fence so the the mark closest to the fence is barely away from the top edge of the bit when the cutter is 90° from fence.
Use a push block to push the pin board through the cutter keeping your fingers as far as possible form the cutter while having control. Pass one side through then the other so you have a pin the full width of the pin board.
Check the pin for fit.If you set your fence correctly the pin will be slightly oversize. as below.
Use a mallet or hammer and gently tap your fence exposing a tiny bit more of the cutter.
Pass your pin board though both sides again and check the fit. This is where trial and error will teach you how slight movements make huge differences. It really would be wise to practice cutting this joint with disposable stock, offcuts and the like until you get a feel for how the slight adjustments work.
That just right fit barely has any room for glue. Once the fit is correct you will need to remove part of the pin to seat it in the pocket. Stand your pin board up and push it past the cutter without changing either the height or fence.
The above pic shows the general idea but I cut it both horizontal and vertical. Another way is to use the table saw to nibble away at the end.
Final two pics are the complete joint. Including set up this took less than 15 minutes. Like I said in the table post this joint is pretty easy and plenty strong. It provides a large amount of glue surface without requiring deep mortises. This was assembled with an off cut and scrap.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk; edited via laptop.
But I'd love to learn how to do them on the router table. Heck I'd love to learn how to do them by hand too
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