As a person whose woodworking skills never really progressed past 5" nails and 3lb ball pein hammers, I must say that it is a pleasure to watch you working.
I love to think about the first time this was invented - just a craftman thinking logically and practically about how to solve a problem. Human ingenuity at its finest.
Wow. This brings back memories. I used this joint to make a cabinet for my ' O ' level in carpentry and design technology some 50 odd years ago. Half a century. I still have the cabinet which although unused I have kept just to admire the joints which as teacher agreed , were perfect.
Hi Mitch - Great demo of all the stages. I have cut one of these joints before which took hours, but the result was very satisfying. Not sure if one would make a full piece using this joint. Tons of work that nobody see's
Thanks Daniel. I'm currently making a rosewood writing slope whose case is joined with these for my followers on patreon. The sides are only 3/8" thick and it's a real challenge. Hopefully post a video or two for all viewers during the summer.
Best explanation of the full blind dovetail. Making it look effortless. But it definitely is a log of effort. Kudos on that last few seconds there where the fit is just right. That was the show stopper!!! Much respects. N man those chisels wud b sharp
Thanks so much for taking the time to make this video! Yours is the most clear and nicely slow-paced one I have seen so far. We newbies need that. :-) I have wanted to use this joint for a gift cherry box for a long time. Now I can.
You show great skill in achieving such an excellent result. I have a dining table apron to make with full secret dovetails and was hoping to get a jig for the job. I seem unable to find one. However having watched your video I am inspired and challenged to do this by hand. Thank you for your patience.
My book, Dovetails The Hand Tool Approach (ISBN 978-0719844454), has just been published and is available in paperback and ebook from all good bookshops. RRP is just £14.99 and there are great launch deals available right now. Just in case
Awesome! I was thinking about making a wooden rackmount for 2U-4U and so on, but didn't go for it, since I wanted maximum strength ( too much weight and pressure on rackrails) but also wood to look nice in the front! This joint is what I needed! Thank you so much, your video is more than easy to follow and well made! Congrats!
Hello, Mitch. I want to let you know that I thoroughly enjoyed your video. From the moment I started watching it I knew I could not stop until it finished. Mi wife might have called a few times for supper, but I barely noticed it until your video was done. LOL. I already sent it to a friend of mine here in Cartagena, Colombia. I want to thank you for your time and effort. I wonder if you could make a video about making molding planes, or at least about how to use one, although it would be pointless if one is not able to get a hold of one of those beauties. Some years ago I read a very old English book that did not go into much detail about them but it was enough to spark my interest once I knew they were widely used in the past. I have never held one in my hands. Maybe making my own would be the only way. Anyway, thanks for such a wonderful video. I am definitely a fan and will be joining your channel.
Thank you so much for your comment. I hope your supper wasn't ruined! Making a moulding plane sound like a good idea, so keep watching and I'll see what I can do. Happy woodworking, Mitch
Mitch, you have exceptional hand tool skills, which are displayed in this video. The secret miter dovetail joint is a strong and beautiful joint when completed correctly. You executed this joint (and video) exceptionally well. Thanks for the video on how to make this challenging joint. I will definitely have to try my hand at this joint.
Very fine! What a result! Lead on! Don't mind my excitement, it's just that what you're doing is really the way to go. I've been 'erring on the side of caution' by using machines, lacking any training when I started, but you and others are equivalent to mentors, so thanks!
I do, I do, I do hand work: 70 hrs. week, thirty years, but I only build fortepianos, and the traditional bench is too limited, for one thing. I have an extra workroom, and it's opening old curiosities, traditional joinery item one. I found you while flat on my back with the flu, so the treat will be most welcome, soon. Have a look:www.flickr.com/photos/mcnultymusic/sets/72157648227037786
Paul Mcnulty That's a thing of beauty to be sure. Can I ask how many 70hr wks go into one of those? Should you ever film or time-lapse the process, I would love to watch it.
4000 hrs, not counting my work, which is drawing, supervising 10 people, soundboard, bridges, strings & mechanism. The shellac finish is my recent recipe of HVLP sprayed Landis shellac (larch resin, hard, fast drying, durable) scraped level, then french polish, then benzoe, sandpaper always at a minimum. finish amounts to victory, will gladly elaborate.
Excellent video. Nice to see some really great hand tool skills, as opposed to all these videos with expensive power tools. I would say your finish is even nicer than the machines too.
Excellent Mitch, although I can't help thinking that's more a labour of love than an absolute necessity. I always like to see good clean dovetails I think it's a feature of the piece but full marks for an excellent example in fine motor skills.
I'm starting to see how this joint is now possible, I have recently did some dovetails with mitred edges, this isn't actually that different except the rebates, going to give it a go anyway, thanks for the clear instructions
WillEyedOney Cheers. I hope the length wasn't too long, I like to include enough footage so that the techniques sink in. That's why I did a short version for anyone put off by 32mins!
Very well done. Thank you for the time and effort you put into this fine video. I've not got the talent, but I applaud you for yours and for sharing it.
You left out perhaps the most important part - you can’t tell anyone that the joint uses a secret mitered dovetail… unless they know the secret handshake! (Seriously, though, really excellent video! Props for cutting everything upside down to get such clear camera angles. I’d love to know more about that beautiful marking knife.)
Cheers Donny. It's been a while, but I would guess that would be the Japanese knife, purchased from Axminster Tools here in the UK. It takes a great edge and holds it well. All markings are in Japanese, so I can't tell you the manufacturer. I'll post a photo of the two I have on social media, showing the labels.
I am inexperienced novice but its a joy to see such a beautiful clean joint and so much skill and precison in your work. I was wondering where or what application would such a joint be used? Obviously the corner haha but i mean in practical terms in furniture for example
Thanks. Visible joinery is more accepted these days, however there are still circumstances where minimising things like dovetails is desirable. Mitred corners are the best we can do, but they have little strength. Biscuits and dominos are widely used to reinforce them these days, but hidden dovetails were the way to go in the past and still have the advantage that they help clamp the joint whilst the glue cures. Carcass corners were frequently made with this joint in good quality cabinetry.
Just made a little shelf unit with this joint, was fun making it but I had two problems, one was the miter opened up a little during assembly (most likely because of my lack of skill) I also made the mistake of using some very old vertical grain douglas fir that is very hard and splintered easily so making the cuts and laying out the lines was harder than I thought it would be. All in all very fun and I appriciate the video.
Thank you so much for sharing this technique. Do you have any favorite brands/models for good saws and chisels? I feel like I have to use a lot of force with my basic store bought ones and so it's hard to be accurate. I do have one Japanese saw which is much better but I think all of us would love to know what you recommend.
Pfeil chisels are my current recommendation, after reviewing some for a magazine last year. They take an excellent edge and are nicely finished. Gyokucho Japanese saws are a pleasure to use and don't break the bank. And Adria make a superb dovetail saw. Some of my best chisels and saws are ones I've inherited, bought second hand, etc. and that are no longer made. For example Footprint forged chisels, and Marples saws. That said, learning to sharpen effectively can produce great results from basic store bought ones. This is particularly true of chisels, since preparing them and sharpening them really is simple, once you've watched a decent tutorial 😉
If the mitres are well prepared and tight fitting, at the ends and along the length of the joint, then there is plenty of scope to sand the corners without revealing the dovetails.
gary24752 Hi Gary, Large chisel is 'AmTech' from a local discount store at about £3, the others are all second hand, a 'Dastra', 'Mandix', and an unmarked one. I do any major regrind on a Tormec wet grinder, but the majority of sharpening is with water stones, although recently I've been trying some budget diamond plates and a fine india stone. Always finish with honing paste on MDF for a mirror finish to the micro bevel. Most of my sharpening is covered in my early videos, although I need to add some more for my recent ventures. Happy woodworking, mitch
Thanks. Anyone can do this, if they follow the steps and don't rush it - easy for me to say, maybe, but broken down all the steps are pretty simple, honestly!
Lovely piece of work carried out with skill and patience. It is a shame that none of the work is visible when complete. I saw another video where the woodworker used a thin scraper and a hammer in the saw cut to cut down the sides of the pins and tails. Very neat work.
+rdon53 One was skewed when I picked it up used, the other I ground from a straight bevel edge. Dead easy to do yourself, just pattern from the shallowest angle of dovetail you intend to make.
Amazing. I have always wondered how carpenters managed to make this joint. Although it covers every aspect it requires a level of patience and manual dexterity I simply don't possess.
Hi Rob. Carcase construction in fine furniture I would say. Locking the sides to the top most especially. Today these mitred corners are easily locked with machine joints and modern adhesives, but in the past this joint would have been the one of choice. Actually, nowadays, displaying the joinery details is very popular, so you might find a mitre dovetail joint used, where only the edge of the corner receives a mitre. Not sure if I've done that one in my series, yet. Because the dovetail detail is all hidden, there is a temptation to rush this part of the joint, but that will often result in a sloppy fit, patchy adhesion, and a short lived joint. Sorry, got a bit carried away!
The thing I always think when making anything is that the person using it would notice if you didn't put the effort in. If you had used a less sturdy joint then it wouldn't hold as well and maybe start creaking. If you used a normal dovetail then you'd be able to see it and it might not look as nice. I make things completely different from this (iPhone apps) but I take pride in putting the effort into making them so that it seems like magic. This joint looks so simple from the outside but is so strong it seems like magic :-)
I would fall in the intermediate + area Mitch. I build Cabinets, Furniture, Custom Inlay Picture Frames ( I make all of the Inlay Patterns I use. I love to build Custom Butcher Blocks, custom Bandsaw Boxes and custom Tac Boxes for the horsey people. LOL and I should mention some Scroll work when things slow down. Other than that, not much. :)
LOL You tagged it ! I have been trying to get back to using hand tools as much as is possible and I really enjoy your videos and approach to a task. You have a great channel Mitch and I look forward to seeing your future videos.
French polishing is a nightmare, but shellac can be rubbed down just like polyurethane, with the benefit that the medium is alcohol, which, as we know, can be ingested. Spraying is done indoors, you see, and the G3 grade of filter removes the overspray from the work, which otherwise covers everything you own with grainy dried droplets. A fan in a homemade filter housing does the necessary, and a facemask fills the bill. Spraying more volatile solvent based finishes can't be done without full ventilation and introducing outside air, so there goes the heat bill. In short, skip the French polishing, and rub it out the way people do their electric guitars, laboriously, but polished regardless, and don't forget shellac is tops on the refractive index.
Thanks for doing this joint have been waiting ages to see one done properly. I wonder was this joint used much in cabinet making since it takes so long to make
jerry o connor Thanks Jerry. The highest quality hand made furniture often still uses this joint. Arguably, equally strong mitre joints can be made with machines/power tools and modern adhesives, faster and therefore cheaper. And some say that's progress ;) It doesn't really take that long to prepare once you get into the zone. Doing it whilst trying to get good video of it on your own, now that's another matter!
I think it’s clear…an accent is required before one can work to the exacting standards found in this video. Will you have a video on accents, Mitch? ;-)
Thank you. It does seem a shame, but there are reasons for learning this joint. The fashion to show off joinery came in fairly recently, and, no doubt will go away in the future. Even now, the crisp mitre that will stay strong and tight is still appreciated, and biscuits, dominoes, etc. often won't cut it with fine furniture.
Mitch Peacock - WOmadeOD yes I agree . In the future when people are trying to repurpose the fine furniture because it has seen better days, let’s not make it easy for them
No cnc. I can't make computer drawings. The pianos I make are clones of antiques, which eliminates second guessing proven masters, who knew what to do. I take out some insurance policies in my joinery. No single set of instructions exists, but gradually the questions lead along paths that are sometimes definite, and I've solved some puzzles. The depth of my shellac is untypical, but a very thin French polish will wear away quickly, and who will renew it?
Paul Mcnulty It sounds an interesting job. I have yet to master French polishing, and have very mixed results. Consequently my finish of choice is several coats of a wipe on finishing oil. Of course that would benefit from either regular top-ups or waxing, and who would do that? I remember Sam Maloof saying that he regularly maintained some of his commissions, making a very profitable side-line to the job.
That's an absolutely breathtaking piece of craftsmanship. Thank you for sharing your work with us.
Cheers James
Thank You Sir,
for the privilege of watching. Top notch craftsmanship is to hide joints but to keep inherent strength as much as possible. Bravo.
Momir Zecevic Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed it.
If I only had found this video a couple of weeks sooner,... Amazing work and very well explained and demonstrated!
Excellent video. Takes the mystery out of an intimidating joint. Layout and a bit of care. That’s all it takes.
Cheers, that's all there is to it
As a person whose woodworking skills never really progressed past 5" nails and 3lb ball pein hammers, I must say that it is a pleasure to watch you working.
Terry Miff Thanks very much Terry
I love to think about the first time this was invented - just a craftman thinking logically and practically about how to solve a problem. Human ingenuity at its finest.
Yep. How can I hide my finest joinery? Haha
Didn't these hidden joints became popular because visible joints were considered "provincial"?
Wow. This brings back memories. I used this joint to make a cabinet for my ' O ' level in carpentry and design technology some 50 odd years ago. Half a century. I still have the cabinet which although unused I have kept just to admire the joints which as teacher agreed , were perfect.
That's great. Shame they don't teach woodwork like they used to.
Lovely work Mitch, I was considering buying the David Charlesworth DVD but I can't argue with that result! Cheers
Matt Estlea - Furniture cheers - I hope I covered enough detail for you to have a go
Most certainly did! I'll have to give it a go this week
Matt Estlea - Furniture Great. Let me know how it goes
Narrator: "little did he know, he would not give it a go that week. On camera at least"
Wow!! Watching this makes me really want to get out in the shop and just practice, practice, practice.
Thanks for taking the time to show that joint.
Patrick Monaghan My pleasure. Get out in the shop and give it a go!
Hi Mitch - Great demo of all the stages. I have cut one of these joints before which took hours, but the result was very satisfying. Not sure if one would make a full piece using this joint. Tons of work that nobody see's
I'm speechless. I work hard on my visible dovetails and they never look as good as this hidden one. Amazing work.
Thanks Daniel. I'm currently making a rosewood writing slope whose case is joined with these for my followers on patreon. The sides are only 3/8" thick and it's a real challenge. Hopefully post a video or two for all viewers during the summer.
Great craftsmanship. I don't think I'll be trying it any time soon, but thank you for showing us how to go about it.
wow mitch, beautiful joint. patience, patience, and a steady hand wins all the time
Arnold Espenberg Thanks Arnold
And don't forget sharp tools
dont know how I ended up here but it sure is deeply satisfying to watch wood get carved so meticulously
Thanks! Feel free to come back whenever you want
Wow. Great result. Thanks for taking the time to record and share your knowledge and skills.
Best explanation of the full blind dovetail. Making it look effortless. But it definitely is a log of effort. Kudos on that last few seconds there where the fit is just right. That was the show stopper!!! Much respects. N man those chisels wud b sharp
Many thanks
Thanks so much for taking the time to make this video! Yours is the most clear and nicely slow-paced one I have seen so far. We newbies need that. :-)
I have wanted to use this joint for a gift cherry box for a long time. Now I can.
+Roibeárd Billson My pleasure. Thanks for the feedback. Send me a photo of the box if you remember.
You show great skill in achieving such an excellent result. I have a dining table apron to make with full secret dovetails and was hoping to get a jig for the job. I seem unable to find one. However having watched your video I am inspired and challenged to do this by hand. Thank you for your patience.
Thanks Nigel. Good luck with the dining table.
Thank you for an excellent instructional video. Just what I’ve been looking for.
My book, Dovetails The Hand Tool Approach (ISBN 978-0719844454), has just been published and is available in paperback and ebook from all good bookshops. RRP is just £14.99 and there are great launch deals available right now. Just in case
This is excellent. The only problem is nobody can see how much craftsmanship went into making it!!
Dontmakemereregister Thanks. Yes, that's so true. At least I know :)
Best video about dovetail joint (even not full blind) which i ever saw!!!
Андрей Кольвах Thanks!
Awesome! I was thinking about making a wooden rackmount for 2U-4U and so on, but didn't go for it, since I wanted maximum strength ( too much weight and pressure on rackrails) but also wood to look nice in the front! This joint is what I needed! Thank you so much, your video is more than easy to follow and well made! Congrats!
Thanks Kostas, good luck with your rackmount build. Send me a photo when it's finished if you remember.
Thanks for the detail on making this joint Mitch. You make it look simple!
GuysWoodshop Thanks Guy. It really isn't as daunting as it might at first look.
Hello, Mitch.
I want to let you know that I thoroughly enjoyed your video. From the moment I started watching it I knew I could not stop until it finished. Mi wife might have called a few times for supper, but I barely noticed it until your video was done. LOL.
I already sent it to a friend of mine here in Cartagena, Colombia. I want to thank you for your time and effort. I wonder if you could make a video about making molding planes, or at least about how to use one, although it would be pointless if one is not able to get a hold of one of those beauties. Some years ago I read a very old English book that did not go into much detail about them but it was enough to spark my interest once I knew they were widely used in the past. I have never held one in my hands. Maybe making my own would be the only way. Anyway, thanks for such a wonderful video. I am definitely a fan and will be joining your channel.
Thank you so much for your comment. I hope your supper wasn't ruined!
Making a moulding plane sound like a good idea, so keep watching and I'll see what I can do.
Happy woodworking, Mitch
Mitch, you have exceptional hand tool skills, which are displayed in this video. The secret miter dovetail joint is a strong and beautiful joint when completed correctly. You executed this joint (and video) exceptionally well. Thanks for the video on how to make this challenging joint. I will definitely have to try my hand at this joint.
Fine Woodworking of South Carolina Thank you, that's most appreciated. Let us know how you get on. Cheers, Mitch
The true beauty of the full blind dovetail joint is that in 500 years it will still be there, strong where all other joints will have failed.
Thank you!
Very fine! What a result! Lead on! Don't mind my excitement, it's just that what you're doing is really the way to go. I've been 'erring on the side of caution' by using machines, lacking any training when I started, but you and others are equivalent to mentors, so thanks!
You're too kind, thanks. Treat yourself by going off grid for a day and feeling the pleasure of hand tool work.
I do, I do, I do hand work: 70 hrs. week, thirty years, but I only build fortepianos, and the traditional bench is too limited, for one thing. I have an extra workroom, and it's opening old curiosities, traditional joinery item one. I found you while flat on my back with the flu, so the treat will be most welcome, soon. Have a look:www.flickr.com/photos/mcnultymusic/sets/72157648227037786
Paul Mcnulty That's a thing of beauty to be sure. Can I ask how many 70hr wks go into one of those?
Should you ever film or time-lapse the process, I would love to watch it.
4000 hrs, not counting my work, which is drawing, supervising 10 people, soundboard, bridges, strings & mechanism. The shellac finish is my recent recipe of HVLP sprayed Landis shellac (larch resin, hard, fast drying, durable) scraped level, then french polish, then benzoe, sandpaper always at a minimum. finish amounts to victory, will gladly elaborate.
That doesn't surprise me at all. I wonder how long it would have taken two hundred years ago! Great work.
That is advanced joinery executed to perfection. Makes me want to go and practice. Thank you for the inspiration!
esa062 That's appreciated, thanks. Make sure you sharpen those tools first!
Excellent video. Nice to see some really great hand tool skills, as opposed to all these videos with expensive power tools. I would say your finish is even nicer than the machines too.
The666Reaver Thanks. So much more pleasure to be had working with hand tools, in my opinion. Happy woodworking, Mitch
Incredible!! If I did such beautiful work I could never face gluing it. Well done.
Beautiful workmanship! I followed a referral from Matt Estella’s channel. I’m subscribing to see more. Thanks for sharing.
Cheers, always nice to hear
Excellent Mitch, although I can't help thinking that's more a labour of love than an absolute necessity. I always like to see good clean dovetails I think it's a feature of the piece but full marks for an excellent example in fine motor skills.
+Bashnja1 Hi, many thanks. Happy woodworking
Thanks for taking the time to post this excellent tutorial. Beautiful work.
Cheers Adrian
Watched this when you first published it and again just now. Super impressive. It's a shame it is hidden!
+Brandon Blaine Thanks Brandon. At least this one is being seen ;)
I'm starting to see how this joint is now possible, I have recently did some dovetails with mitred edges, this isn't actually that different except the rebates, going to give it a go anyway, thanks for the clear instructions
Beautiful work there, Mitch.
Thanks
what can i say but THANK YOU for a brill and clear vid i would like to be this good one day thank you
+joseph woodhouse My pleasure. Patience and practice, and you'll get there.
Very nicely cleaned up, accurate execution.
Sebastian Skalski Thank you Sebastian.
I've been looking for a good video on this joint. Thanks for making one!
WillEyedOney Cheers. I hope the length wasn't too long, I like to include enough footage so that the techniques sink in. That's why I did a short version for anyone put off by 32mins!
WOmadeOD - Made in Wood with Mitch Peacock Didn't seem overly long to me, I'd rather see the full nuts n bolts version than a quick skim any day. :)
You're too kind. Cheers, Mitch
Hallo Mitch, sehr gut gemacht, sehr ausführlich und genau. Ich liebe Handwerkzeuge und Du zeigst die Arbeit damit in Perfektion. Gruß Uwe
PERFEKT !!!
Uwe Salzmann Hallo Uwe, Danke, sehr geschätzt. Genießen Sie Ihre Holzarbeiten, Mitch
Jack Wolfman Thanks Jack. Happy woodworking, Mitch
Very well done. Thank you for the time and effort you put into this fine video. I've not got the talent, but I applaud you for yours and for sharing it.
Striider Aragorn Thanks, my pleasure. Happy woodworking, Mitch
wow this is amazing work and really taking the time to describe every single movement. Thank you.
Thanks
Mitch really enjoyable video, I want to try this joint on a table I'm making for my daughter.
Thanks Chris. That's great, I like to hear that these old joints are being attempted in an age where everyone seems to be using dominos!
You left out perhaps the most important part - you can’t tell anyone that the joint uses a secret mitered dovetail… unless they know the secret handshake! (Seriously, though, really excellent video! Props for cutting everything upside down to get such clear camera angles. I’d love to know more about that beautiful marking knife.)
Cheers Donny. It's been a while, but I would guess that would be the Japanese knife, purchased from Axminster Tools here in the UK. It takes a great edge and holds it well. All markings are in Japanese, so I can't tell you the manufacturer. I'll post a photo of the two I have on social media, showing the labels.
Beautiful craftsmanship!
Thanks David
I am inexperienced novice but its a joy to see such a beautiful clean joint and so much skill and precison in your work. I was wondering where or what application would such a joint be used? Obviously the corner haha but i mean in practical terms in furniture for example
Thanks. Visible joinery is more accepted these days, however there are still circumstances where minimising things like dovetails is desirable. Mitred corners are the best we can do, but they have little strength. Biscuits and dominos are widely used to reinforce them these days, but hidden dovetails were the way to go in the past and still have the advantage that they help clamp the joint whilst the glue cures. Carcass corners were frequently made with this joint in good quality cabinetry.
Thank you so much for sharing. This has been very educational. Your precision is impressive.
Wow. That's fantastic. This is definitely Master Wood Craftsmanship. I didn't see a flaw!
Wayne A. Cheers Wayne. Thanks for watching and happy woodworking, Mitch
Beautiful Joinery, almost a shame not to be seen!
+scottymac713 Thanks, much appreciated. Happy woodworking, Mitch
Beautifully done.
Steven Cofer Thank you. Happy woodworking, Mitch
Beautiful precision work.
Nicely done, I am going to try this for a project and your video is a big help. Thanks
Troy Staten Thanks. Let me know how you get on Troy
Just made a little shelf unit with this joint, was fun making it but I had two problems, one was the miter opened up a little during assembly (most likely because of my lack of skill) I also made the mistake of using some very old vertical grain douglas fir that is very hard and splintered easily so making the cuts and laying out the lines was harder than I thought it would be. All in all very fun and I appriciate the video.
Cool. Yeah, the alternate hard and soft areas across the grain in softwoods like Douglas fir make it a real challenge.
I wonder if this joint would be good for a minimalist style coffee table? If you imagine it as just three sides of a box?
I made a lap desk that way which was pretty cool. How minimal it is I wouldn't like to say
This makes good homework for the Butsudan build-along
Sure would, but there's no secret in the Butsudan mitre dovetails, so everything is on show!
Thank you so much for sharing this technique. Do you have any favorite brands/models for good saws and chisels? I feel like I have to use a lot of force with my basic store bought ones and so it's hard to be accurate. I do have one Japanese saw which is much better but I think all of us would love to know what you recommend.
Pfeil chisels are my current recommendation, after reviewing some for a magazine last year. They take an excellent edge and are nicely finished. Gyokucho Japanese saws are a pleasure to use and don't break the bank. And Adria make a superb dovetail saw.
Some of my best chisels and saws are ones I've inherited, bought second hand, etc. and that are no longer made. For example Footprint forged chisels, and Marples saws.
That said, learning to sharpen effectively can produce great results from basic store bought ones. This is particularly true of chisels, since preparing them and sharpening them really is simple, once you've watched a decent tutorial 😉
Is it possible to sand the corners smooth without damaging the blind dovetail?
If the mitres are well prepared and tight fitting, at the ends and along the length of the joint, then there is plenty of scope to sand the corners without revealing the dovetails.
What is the brand of the chisels that you are using and what do you use to sharpen them?
gary24752 Hi Gary,
Large chisel is 'AmTech' from a local discount store at about £3, the others are all second hand, a 'Dastra', 'Mandix', and an unmarked one.
I do any major regrind on a Tormec wet grinder, but the majority of sharpening is with water stones, although recently I've been trying some budget diamond plates and a fine india stone. Always finish with honing paste on MDF for a mirror finish to the micro bevel.
Most of my sharpening is covered in my early videos, although I need to add some more for my recent ventures.
Happy woodworking, mitch
👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏 Beautiful. Liked the process and the handy tips. Cheers.
Glad you enjoyed it!
that is really great craftsmanship..thanks for the video !
Thanks, appreciated. Happy woodworking, Mitch
Amazing tutorial. thanks for taking the time to film your technique
great job!!!
very well performed and very well filmed!!!
+carlos m. zaccaro Many thanks Carlos. Happy woodworking, Mitch
Beautiful work
ezod52 Thank you. Happy woodworking, Mitch
What is the plane that you use on the miter? Looks like a shoulder plan.
+gary24752 Hi Gary, Yes it would have been a shoulder plane. Probably my Stanley No.93
Masterpiece, better than Netflix 👍
Thanks 😃
Very clean! If I could learn to be so good! Thanks Mitch.
Thanks. Anyone can do this, if they follow the steps and don't rush it - easy for me to say, maybe, but broken down all the steps are pretty simple, honestly!
Beautiful work!
Marcelo Iván Rojas Hernández Thanks Marcelo. Happy woodworking, Mitch
Phew !!! Much work. But very beautiful, congratulations.
Alcirnei Oliveira thank you so much. Happy woodworking, Mitch
very skilfully done Thanks
Michael Flynn Cheers Michael
Lovely piece of work carried out with skill and patience. It is a shame that none of the work is visible when complete. I saw another video where the woodworker used a thin scraper and a hammer in the saw cut to cut down the sides of the pins and tails. Very neat work.
Thanks
Beautiful. Thanks very much.
+Ariel .Enriquez Thank you!
That's beautiful!
freedomsadvocate Thank you
The beauty inside
Cheers
Did you make the skewed chisels?
+rdon53 One was skewed when I picked it up used, the other I ground from a straight bevel edge. Dead easy to do yourself, just pattern from the shallowest angle of dovetail you intend to make.
+Mitch Peacock - WOmadeOD Thanks for making (great ) video of the process of making this type of dovetail joinery.
Mesmerising
Cheers
Amazing. I have always wondered how carpenters managed to make this joint. Although it covers every aspect it requires a level of patience and manual dexterity I simply don't possess.
Thanks, it honestly does look harder than it is.
I'm going to try that, awesome instructional video!
Mike 60 That's what I like to hear! Good luck Mike, do let us know how you get on.
Thanks Mitch, I gotta sneak back over there and subscribe. Think I'll do it now. :)
Done ...
Good to have you on board
Outstanding! Thanks for making this video.
TitusLivy777 Glad you liked it
what would be it's main use Mitch?
Hi Rob. Carcase construction in fine furniture I would say. Locking the sides to the top most especially. Today these mitred corners are easily locked with machine joints and modern adhesives, but in the past this joint would have been the one of choice. Actually, nowadays, displaying the joinery details is very popular, so you might find a mitre dovetail joint used, where only the edge of the corner receives a mitre. Not sure if I've done that one in my series, yet.
Because the dovetail detail is all hidden, there is a temptation to rush this part of the joint, but that will often result in a sloppy fit, patchy adhesion, and a short lived joint.
Sorry, got a bit carried away!
No, fine Mitch, these tutorials are like a school for woodworking for us new guys. Thanks
What tools did you use?
+Paulo da Caturrita hi. Flat dovetail template th-cam.com/video/URvzzw0uRNc/w-d-xo.html dovetail saw, shoulder plane, bevel edge chisels, try square, mitre square, marking knife. Hope that helps.
This is probably the best video on Full blind dovetails. And it’s gotten the least amount of likes and views.
Thanks James. For some reason I think TH-cam algorithm ignores this one🤣
@@mitchwoodwork that’s crazy!! I’ve watched a ton of videos and this one was the best. Love the notch tip to start the saw. Keep up the good work !!
Such a nice joint! It really is a shame no one will ever notice :(
PipeSmokingBearGuzzlingBassist Thank you. At least the maker knows, and the sense of achievement on completing a piece is that much more.
The thing I always think when making anything is that the person using it would notice if you didn't put the effort in. If you had used a less sturdy joint then it wouldn't hold as well and maybe start creaking. If you used a normal dovetail then you'd be able to see it and it might not look as nice.
I make things completely different from this (iPhone apps) but I take pride in putting the effort into making them so that it seems like magic. This joint looks so simple from the outside but is so strong it seems like magic :-)
Thanks Oliver. Seems we approach things in the same way. Sadly the end user does not always see the magic, only the price ;-)
Haha! Yeah. When it works well it always seems to go unnoticed.
Awesome job Mitch. I will try one in the next twenty years or so...... LOL
Derek
GiddyUp994 Thank you Derek. Twenty years! what stage are you in your woodworking? /Mitch
I would fall in the intermediate + area Mitch. I build Cabinets, Furniture, Custom Inlay Picture Frames ( I make all of the Inlay Patterns I use. I love to build Custom Butcher Blocks, custom Bandsaw Boxes and custom Tac Boxes for the horsey people. LOL and I should mention some Scroll work when things slow down. Other than that, not much. :)
Ah, now I get your TH-cam username!
LOL You tagged it ! I have been trying to get back to using hand tools as much as is possible and I really enjoy your videos and approach to a task. You have a great channel Mitch and I look forward to seeing your future videos.
Cheers, happy hand tools to you, Mitch
French polishing is a nightmare, but shellac can be rubbed down just like polyurethane, with the benefit that the medium is alcohol, which, as we know, can be ingested. Spraying is done indoors, you see, and the G3 grade of filter removes the overspray from the work, which otherwise covers everything you own with grainy dried droplets. A fan in a homemade filter housing does the necessary, and a facemask fills the bill. Spraying more volatile solvent based finishes can't be done without full ventilation and introducing outside air, so there goes the heat bill. In short, skip the French polishing, and rub it out the way people do their electric guitars, laboriously, but polished regardless, and don't forget shellac is tops on the refractive index.
Paul Mcnulty You know, I may just have to give that a try! Thanks for the tip Paul.
Thanks for doing this joint have been waiting ages to see one done properly. I wonder was this joint used much in cabinet making since it takes so long to make
jerry o connor Thanks Jerry. The highest quality hand made furniture often still uses this joint. Arguably, equally strong mitre joints can be made with machines/power tools and modern adhesives, faster and therefore cheaper. And some say that's progress ;) It doesn't really take that long to prepare once you get into the zone. Doing it whilst trying to get good video of it on your own, now that's another matter!
I think it’s clear…an accent is required before one can work to the exacting standards found in this video. Will you have a video on accents, Mitch? ;-)
+Navigator777777 One would find that awfully spiffing. Toodle pip. 😉
Sweet
+Rick Davenport Cheers Rick
you work so carefully, i tought ur about to make a stradivarius.
Haha! Possibly a guitar soon 😉
Just perfect!!!!
Cheers
Musicians know no two pianos ever are alike, except maybe Yamaha, but sometimes I make enough to choose among.
@15:14 - now that is a SHARP chisel!
beatifull
+Miguel Acuña Biernay Thanks Miguel
what is the material?
Hi Emil, I'm using sapele, which is very similar to mahogany.
This is great and all, but how does someone achieve this as if they live in the 21st century?
Is it the 21st century already ;)
Why would you want to hide such great joinery?
Thank you. It does seem a shame, but there are reasons for learning this joint. The fashion to show off joinery came in fairly recently, and, no doubt will go away in the future. Even now, the crisp mitre that will stay strong and tight is still appreciated, and biscuits, dominoes, etc. often won't cut it with fine furniture.
Mitch Peacock - WOmadeOD yes I agree . In the future when people are trying to repurpose the fine furniture because it has seen better days, let’s not make it easy for them
Asombroso, genial.
No cnc. I can't make computer drawings. The pianos I make are clones of antiques, which eliminates second guessing proven masters, who knew what to do. I take out some insurance policies in my joinery. No single set of instructions exists, but gradually the questions lead along paths that are sometimes definite, and I've solved some puzzles. The depth of my shellac is untypical, but a very thin French polish will wear away quickly, and who will renew it?
Paul Mcnulty It sounds an interesting job. I have yet to master French polishing, and have very mixed results. Consequently my finish of choice is several coats of a wipe on finishing oil. Of course that would benefit from either regular top-ups or waxing, and who would do that? I remember Sam Maloof saying that he regularly maintained some of his commissions, making a very profitable side-line to the job.
Can't you just make huge dovetails then chop out the miter?
Sadly not
".. You'll know what it's like so let's try to make it nice. "
Absolutely, cheers
Couldn't you just nail it together?
Kevin Sherf Damn, why didn't I think of that!
First class workmanship, but such a pity those meticulous dovetails aren't on show. Brilliant though.
Cheers David! Yes it is a shame :-)