History and Terminology
– Dovetail joint technique pre-dates written history
– Earliest known examples in ancient Egyptian furniture, Chinese tombs, and Indian temple
– Dovetail design used to distinguish different periods of furniture
– Etymology of the name comes from the resemblance to a dove’s tail
– In Europe, the dovetail joint is sometimes called a swallowtail joint or a fantail joint
Methods and Characteristics
– Dovetail joint is very strong and difficult to pull apart
– Glue enhances the strength of the joint
– Used in box constructions and furniture where strength is required
– Requires skilled workmanship to make manually
– Different types of dovetail joints exist with varying angles of slope
Types of Dovetail Joints
– Through dovetail: end grain of both boards visible when joint is assembled
– Half-blind dovetail: tails hidden in mortises, used for drawer fronts
– Secret mitred dovetail: dovetails hidden internally, outer edges meet at 45-degree angle
– Secret double-lapped dovetail: dovetails completely hidden, thin section of end grain on one edge
– Sliding dovetail: interlocking strength, used for joining boards at right angles within the field of one board
Non-woodworking Dovetails
– Dovetail slides used in machine tools
– Dovetails used to attach turbine blades in jet engines
– Clockmaking: dovetailing new teeth in clock gears
– Dovetail masonry used in lighthouse construction
– Dovetail used in 3D printing to overcome print size limitations
References
– Carcase Construction: FineWoodworking, December 1, 1976
– Etymology of dovetail: etymonline.com
– Relationship between dovetail angle and joint strength: 1958 PDF
– Dovetail Case Joints: Woodwork Details
– Different types and uses of dovetail joints: ToolsToday Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dovetail
A dovetail joint or simply dovetail is a joinery technique most commonly used in woodworking joinery (carpentry), including furniture, cabinets, log buildings, and traditional timber framing. Noted for its resistance to being pulled apart, also known as 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. Once glued, a wooden dovetail joint requires no mechanical fasteners.
