> In a dovetailed construction, what appears as the first joint component 
> on the edge of the board? 
> 
> A partial pin or a partial Tail?
> 
> Why?
> 
> Frank Filippone

Patial pin (half pin).  If you use a half tail, then the corner 
of your joint is basically long grain glued to end grain, i.e., 
not very strong and might pull apart and leave an unsightly gap 
if the board cups.

If you end in half pins, then the corner of your joint has much 
better long grain to long grain gluing.

When I was making a dovetailed Shaker stepstool a few years ago, 
I made a modified version of the Popular Woodworking Shaker 
stepstool:
http://www.popularwoodworking.com/features/fea20.html

I made mine with thicker boards and opted not to have supports 
under the treads.  The articles and books I had read said to have 
half pins, not half tails, so I had to modify the PWW plans, which 
used the half tails (which I think is acceptable in this case, due 
to the extra gluing surface that the tread supports provide--but 
that is an exception to the rule).

Here is what I ended up with:
http://www.wdynamic.com/galoots/4images/details.php?image_id=2935
http://www.wdynamic.com/galoots/4images/details.php?image_id=2936

I think if you compare the two versions and picture that corner 
with a half tail instead, you can see why one would be stronger 
than the other.

BTW--since I have a 3-y.o. in the house, this stool is in constant 
use and is holding up quite nicely.

Brian Welch
Worcester, MA

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