QA

Question: What Is Dovetail Construction

What is dovetail construction mean?

Dovetail refers to a type of joint in which two pieces of wood interlock. Joints that have been dovetailed are extremely strong and secure. They are usually used to construct drawers. Dovetail drawers are recognized by their distinct pattern at the outside corner of a drawer.

What is the purpose of dovetail?

Noted for its resistance to being pulled apart (tensile strength), the dovetail joint is commonly used to join the sides of a drawer to the front. A series of ‘pins’ cut to extend from the end of one board interlock with a series of ‘tails’ cut into the end of another board. The pins and tails have a trapezoidal shape.

What is an example of a dovetail?

The definition of a dovetail is an interlocking wood joint formed by a wedge-shaped part joined with a matching cut-out area in the wood. An example of dovetail is what woodworkers use to attach the front of a dresser drawer.

What is so special about dovetail joinery?

The advantages of the dovetail joint are that it is the strongest of all joints, has a large gluing area, is interlocking, resists being pulled apart, looks attractive, and would hold together even without glue.

What does dovetail mean in cabinets?

Dovetail construction refers to the process of putting together a cabinet or drawer with dovetail joints. They fit snugly together like puzzle pieces and, with a bit of wood glue, create one of the sturdiest joints used in kitchen cabinetry.

Are dovetail joints the best?

Dovetail joints are considered one of the strongest joints used in kitchen cabinetry construction and are the best solution for a kitchen cabinet drawer box.

What is the purpose of a dovetail on a trailer?

Dovetails let you haul a car. Even with ramps, a car might high center during loading.

Are dovetail joints still used?

They are still used today by many experienced custom furniture makers. Dovetail joints are not only used to make a strong joint for drawer construction, but cabinet makers often use them to join the tops, bottoms and sides of cabinet cases, as was done on antique furniture.

Why do you need a dovetail trailer?

The 2′ dovetail makes loading and unloading much easier on the tractors, mowers, etc. plus gives me the extra room to load up Long boards, metal, etc without problems or minimum hangover if need be.

What are the different kinds of dovetail joints?

There are 5 different types of dovetail joint methods available. Through Dovetail Joints. Half-blind Dovetail Joints or Single-lap Dovetail. Half blind dovetail vs. Through dovetail. Secret Mitred Dovetail Joints. Secret Double-Lapped Dovetail Joints. Sliding Dovetail Joints.

What is a dovetail wood joint?

A dovetail joint is made from a set of hand cut interlocking wedges that fit together, joining two pieces of wood without the need for additional dowels, screws, or nails. It is a type of wood joint that takes great skill and is very difficult to master.

How do you use dovetail in a sentence?

fit together tightly, as if by means of a dovetail. I’m following up a few things that might dovetail. Their results dovetail nicely with ours. It is important that we dovetail our respective interests. My vacation plans dovetail nicely with Joyce’s. We’ve tried to dovetail our plans with theirs.

Why are dovetail drawers better?

The advantages of dovetail drawers are in the construction of their joints. They offer a stronger drawer, with a larger holding capacity. While these drawers are associated with a higher quality drawer, this is not always the case.

Why are dovetail joints good for drawers?

Dovetail Joints are strong Hardwood timbers are inherently strong, but a drawer is only as strong as its joint. By using dovetail joints on each corner, the interlocking pins and tails of the joint resist being pulled appart and remain strong, this gives high tensile strength to the drawer.

What are common uses of dovetail joints?

Dovetail joints are commonly used to build boxes, drawers, and cabinets. The shape of the “tails and pins” in the joint make it nearly impossible to break. Glue is used to strengthen the joint but no screws or fasteners are necessary.

What is the difference between dovetail and tongue and groove?

Dovetail joinery is a type of tongue-and-groove (or tail-and-pin) box joint. The tongue is a piece of the wood board that sticks out, and the groove is the space it fits into on the adjacent board. Tongue-and-groove joints are popular for making doors, flooring, and architectural paneling.

When did they stop making dovetail furniture?

Wider, uniform machine-cut dovetails were common in factory-made pieces from 1890 until the modern era. If a piece has no dovetails, it can still be a candidate for refinishing if it’s sturdy and well-designed, but it’s not likely to be an old piece with antique value.

Are dovetail drawers good?

Dovetail drawers provide the homeowner with the strongest drawer joints, ensuring the drawer won’t come apart even when used every day. They are a good choice for closets and kitchens, because of the heavy use placed on drawers in these applications.

Which is better English or French dovetail?

Both types of dovetails make high-quality drawers, and you can even find a combination with an English dovetail in the front and a French dovetail in the back. If saving space is a priority, go with English dovetails.

What makes a drawer soft close?

Soft close is a premium feature that is available on certain types of drawer slides. It allows drawers to close silently and smoothly. When you close a drawer or cabinet with this feature, just before it’s completely shut, the soft close mechanism takes over and closes the drawer or cabinet the rest of the way.