Building a Small Chest of Drawers - Part 3

Hand cut Dovetails

The top of the carcass will be joined to the sides with through dovetails.

I cut the tails into the top and carefully chisel out the waste.

A coping saw removes most of the waste, and the remainder is done with sharp chisels.

Here is the finished top showing tails on both sides.

I use the finished top as the template for the pins in each side.

I like to clamp this in place while I mark out with a sharp marking knife.

Carefully mark all the waste to be removed.

It sounds so elementary, but it is so easy to remove the wrong parts - .............don't ask!

The pins are straight, so a small marking square is all that's needed to finish the layout.

I like to establish a shallow shoulder with a chisel, that creates a clean line to work towards.

As the waste is chiseled out I try to create a slight undercut, so that there is nothing protruding to stop the tails from sitting snug.

A skew chisel is a great aid in cleaning out the angled base of the pins.

I made this one from an old Jenbolaget chisel. Swedish steel is always good and holds a keen edge

Once the tails are cleaned up it's time for a trial fit.

I know some say not to trial fit but to glue up immediately, but I still have some work to do to the bottom in establishing where the feet will go, and I want to temporarily clamp some web frames to the carcass to test for square.

In part 4 I'll assemble the carcass

Happy shavings to all