Being a lazy young pup my dovetails were a ‘hit and miss’ affair 78% spot on, 10% like a well aimed gumboot up a corridor and 12% ‘acceptable’ for an apprentice. Until one day a wise man made me look at ‘the back of the board’. “look here” says he, so I peer over the top; “you are no where near the ‘line’ on the back.” “No bloomin line there” says I – ‘Precisely” says he.
What he meant – and I am to this day grateful to him was – when you first start a’dovetailing mark the ‘back of the board’ – look over the top and get the vertical cut there right – let that flow (think triangle) to the square across the top cut then, down to the depth line. Still badger the odd one (or two), even with the best of saws – because I allowed the ‘back’ line to drift.
Old school stuff – but ‘square’ still rules the dovetail – off the saw. Just saying…
