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The Other Dovetail | Sliding Dovetails | Sideboard Series Pt 6

This article was originally posted on The Wood Whisperer.
Summary
Marc attaches the sideboard’s internal dividers with sliding dovetails: he routs the female slots in the top and bottom web frames using a 14° dovetail bit and a spacer that also acts as a fence, then cuts the male profiles on the dividers at the router table, micro-adjusting and taking passes on both faces to center and fine-tune the fit. For tight joints, he advises using non–water-based glue (epoxy or polyurethane) to prevent swelling that can block assembly. He finishes by adding a rear support strip to reduce sag, and provides links to a summary video and free plans.

What’s your best tip for dialing in a sliding dovetail fit without overcutting, and which adhesive has given you the smoothest glue-up for snug joints?

I’ll attach the internal dividers of the sideboard to the case using sliding dovetails. Firstly, I’ll make the female portion of the joint. Using a router, a 14 degree Dovetail Bit, and a spacer, the dovetail slots are cut into the top and bottom web frames. The spacer not only positions the router for consistent cuts, it also serves as a convenient fence for the router.

Secondly, I can cut the male side of the joint on the dividers themselves using the router table. And this is one of the times where having a micro-adjustable fence on the router table comes in very handy. I like to sneak up on the fit taking just a few thousandths off each time. You should keep in mind that in order for the dovetail to be centered you need to take a pass on each side. Therefore, every adjustment you make to the router table fence is times two. It’s all too easy to remove too much material.

After the dividers slide in nicely, with some effort, they can be glued to the case. However,  keep in mind that if the joint is snug and difficult to assemble dry, it will be impossible to assembled when a water-based glue is on the joint. So it’s never a bad idea to use a non water-based glue for this application such as epoxy or polyurethane glue.

After the dividers were installed, I decided to add an additional support strip on the back of the case as further insurance against sagging.

Looking for the Summary version of this build? Click here!

Stuff I Used:

Download the FREE Plans:

The post The Other Dovetail | Sliding Dovetails | Sideboard Series Pt 6 appeared first on The Wood Whisperer.

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