The dovetail is both a decorative mark of fine woodworking and a strong and long-lasting joint. In a through dovetail, both of the pieces go entirely through one another, leaving the joint visible on the outside.
With the pins cut, the next step is the pare them. This takes a steady hand, a sharp set of chisels and plenty of patience. Take your time – rushing with increase the likelihood of a mistake. Be sure to clamp the board into place using a clamp and piece of scrap wood. Watch this video!
STEP ONE:
Prepare to pare down the pins
With the pins cut, the next step is the pare them down to the marking gauge line. You’ll be working with chisels in this step. Make sure they are sharp!
STEP TWO:
Press down on the marking gauge line
With a wider chisel, press down on the marking gauge line with a little bit of pressure. Don’t press too hard. It’s advisable to avoid using a mallet.
STEP THREE:
Remove a small chunk from the shoulder
With the same chisel (or a smaller chisel), remove just the small section up to the marking gauge line. Continue this across the board, removing the small chunk right up to the marking gauge line.
STEP FOUR:
Chisel out the waste
Use a chisel and a mallet to remove the rest of the waste. Don’t take too much wood with one cut. Only cut halfway down. Continue in this manner all along the line of the board.
STEP FIVE:
Flip the board over and continue chiseling out the waste
Flip the board over and follow steps #2 – #4 to chisel out the other half of the waste down the board.
