OldTools Archive

Recent Bios FAQ

271926 Patrick Olguin <paddychulo@g...> 2020‑10‑14 Re: crown molding application to bookcase
GGs,
Regarding sliding dovetails, I have a confession. I have cheated. No, not
using a tailed demon. As Frank described, cutting and applying small,
short-grain male dovetails is accepted practice, but cutting two beveled
strips and gluing them long-grain to long-grain to the backside of your
moulding, where it's never seen, is a dirty little secret. I got the idea
from hanging cabinets with French cleats I'd made myself, way back when I
was installing kitchens as a part-time gig. Well, what is a French cleat,
but half a sliding dovetail? Getting the proper alignment on the "cheater"
female dovetail is simple enough. I just use the short-grain male pieces as
spacers for lining up the cleats. Put a little wax on the males before
gluing the cleats in place or they might get stuck. Don't ask me how I know
this. The side pieces of moulding are thinner than the front, because
instead of excavating a dovetail, you're gluing on two cleats. It's not
that pretty, but no one will see it. I start with the moulding/dovetail
assembly slightly thick, and then plane it down so that I get a really snug
fit, and check that the miters (mitres, Richard) are tight. This is way
simpler than cutting a sliding dovetail. Yes, I realize it's kind of a
Galoot rite of passage. Glue/brad-nail as normal.

Best,
Paddy - who's better at planing than chiseling


On Tue, Oct 13, 2020 at 11:41 AM Frank Filippone 
wrote:

Recent Bios FAQ