I was perusing a book on Swedish 18th century furniture (and how to make
them), and noticed a heavy use of hald sliding dovetails for
shelfs (i.e. the lower half has dovetailed, the upper was straight. Now
my question is; what tools was (likely) used in making the "slots"?

/Par

-- 
Par Leijonhufvud                               par@h...
All extremists should be taken out and shot.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

As i understand it they would make a dado (rectangular groove) across
the width of the panel then follow with a special plane to get the
right angle for the dovetail -  at the recent williamsburg conf ted
ingrham had a plane that would cut on either side for this type of
work.... although i think you can saw it at an angle too if you have
good saw control and are brave, i think that they would use a saw
similar to stair saw for that (has depth stop)... they are generally
tapered so they are driven home tight when fully assembled.  you also
have to get the special plane for the other (male) half.... I believe
ECE still makes one of them.  havent ever done one myself, just some
recollections from books....

Hunter
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sliding dovetails can also be made with a saw and a chisel.

- Bill T.

-----Original Message-----
From: oldtools-bounces@r...
[mailto:oldtools-bounces@r...] On Behalf Of OT list
Sent: Wednesday, January 16, 2008 9:25 PM
To: porch
Subject: Re: [OldTools] 18th century tools for sliding half dovetails?

As i understand it they would make a dado (rectangular groove) across the
width of the panel then follow with a special plane to get the right angle
for the dovetail -  at the recent williamsburg conf ted ingrham had a plane
that would cut on either side for this type of work.... although i think you
can saw it at an angle too if you have good saw control and are brave, i
think that they would use a saw similar to stair saw for that (has depth
stop)... they are generally tapered so they are driven home tight when fully
assembled.  you also have to get the special plane for the other (male)
half.... I believe ECE still makes one of them.  havent ever done one
myself, just some recollections from books....

Hunter
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Par Leijonhufvud wrote:
>I was perusing a book on Swedish 18th century furniture (and how to make
>them), and noticed a heavy use of hald sliding dovetails for
>shelfs (i.e. the lower half has dovetailed, the upper was straight. Now
>my question is; what tools was (likely) used in making the "slots"?

Coincidentally...

As I just mentioned in another message, four new episodes have just been
added to the on-line videos for the 27th season of the Woodwright's Shop.

Episode 2710 involves a visit to the Moravian based workshop at
Old Salem village (late 18th/early 19th cent).  In it, the woodworker
gives an example of cutting sliding-dovetails using various period tools.

(BTW, in Paul Hasluck's book he gives an example of tools to help cutting
sliding dovetails; specifically a modified wooden rabbet plane and a regular
wooden plow plane with a modified cutter.)

N

------------------------------------------------------------------------

...and let us not forget that our own Steve Knight makes one that will
handle both male and female components:

http://www.knight-toolworks.com/speciality.htm#Dovetail   

> As i understand it they would make a dado (rectangular groove)
> across the width of the panel then follow with a special plane to
get
> the right angle for the dovetail -  at the recent williamsburg conf
> ted ingrham had a plane that would cut on either side for this type
> of work.... although i think you can saw it at an angle too if you
> have good saw control and are brave, i think that they would use a
saw
> similar to stair saw for that (has depth stop)... they are
> generally tapered so they are driven home tight when fully
assembled.
> you also have to get the special plane for the other (male) half....
I
> believe ECE still makes one of them.  havent ever done one myself,
just
> some recollections from books....

------------------------------------------------------------------------

At 09:09 PM 1/16/2008, you wrote:
>...and let us not forget that our own Steve Knight makes one that will
>handle both male and female components:
>
>http://www.knight-toolworks.com/speciality.htm#Dovetail

there is also one for sale at "tools for woodworking"

Thomas W. Hoyt
Warda, TX

------------------------------------------------------------------------

On Jan 16, 2008, at 19:15, Thomas Hoyt wrote:

> At 09:09 PM 1/16/2008, you wrote:
>> ...and let us not forget that our own Steve Knight makes one that  
>> will
>> handle both male and female components:
>>
>> http://www.knight-toolworks.com/speciality.htm#Dovetail
>
> there is also one for sale at "tools for woodworking"

The ECE dovetail is only capable of doing the male portions, note.   
Steve Knight is one of the only folks I've seen claiming their plane  
can do the female portion; I know Stanley sold an immensely  
complicated dovetail plane that could manage it, but from what I've  
gathered they are not overly useful.

I have seen photos of someone cutting the female portion by making a  
dado and then using a standard side rabbet held at an angle before.   
Not sure how well this works, but it's got me looking for cheap side  
rabbets.

Graham
------------------------------------------------------------------------