Desktop Organizer - Part 12

Follow along as I hand-cut small dovetails in ash for the small drawer, focusing on accurate layout, knife-wall technique, and careful chisel work for a tight, clean fit. I cover transferring dovetail marks, managing tiny pins and tails, creating relief cuts, and using the “step-down click” to guide the saw. You’ll see why smaller dovetails demand tighter tolerances, how to avoid a loose fit.

Tools and techniques include pencil and knife lines, a dovetail saw, chisels, chopping from both faces to avoid blowout, removing the center “hump,” and lightly easing inside corners to start the fit. I also compare ash vs. oak vs. cherry, explain why I prefer chisels over a coping saw for waste removal, and share practical tips to keep knife walls intact and your dovetails tight right off the saw.

Chapters:

0:00 Intro and plan for back-side dovetails
0:45 Layout: pencil lines, knife lines, and accuracy
2:38 Transferring marks to the opposite board
3:53 Cutting strategy and avoiding confusion
5:36 Saw selection: fine-tooth crosscut
6:51 Chiseling technique, relief cuts, and protecting the knife wall
8:17 Dealing with a very small center pin
9:11 Removing the center hump and cleaning shoulders
10:00 The step-down “click” for guiding the saw
11:55 Chisel work vs. coping saw for waste removal
13:01 Wood comparison: ash vs. oak vs. cherry
14:20 Test fit, paring for tightness, and avoiding splits
16:30 Final fit, results, and next steps (drawer fitting)


Keywords:
hand cut dovetails, dovetail layout, knife wall, chisel technique, dovetail fitting, tight dovetails, ash hardwood dovetails, pins and tails, relief cuts, paring cuts, woodworking joinery, fine-tooth saw, accurate layout, transfer marks, coping saw vs chisel, remove center hump, avoid splitting, drawer joinery, small dovetails tips

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