I need to cut some sliding dovetails for new drawer fronts, and I'm stuck deciding on my approach. I can either go for a quick, messy cut with the table saw and clean it up later or attempt using a router table, which I don't have yet since my old one didn't survive my last move. What do you think would be less painful: tackling it at the beginning with the table saw or dealing with it later once I've built the router table?
3 Answers
Honestly, why not just try a handsaw? Yeah, it might be a bit of a hassle, but it's totally doable. I made a simple jig once and guided my back saw. Don't forget to chisel out the stopped end for cleaner cuts! It was a challenge, but really satisfying when it all came together!
This is such a good approach! I can't stress enough how rewarding it is to do it by hand, and using a tapered design makes it fit together nicely.
Have you checked out Paul Sellers on YouTube? He shows how to do dovetails by hand in under 5 minutes! His tutorials are super helpful, especially for beginners.
Hey, you don't really need an expensive router table to get good results. I did it just fine using a piece of plywood on a couple of saw horses. Just cut a hole in it, clamp a piece of 2x4, and you're good to go! It's surprisingly effective!
Totally agree! When I was starting out, I was surprised how much you can do with just those basic materials. A careful setup goes a long way!
I know you're half-joking, but I think you might be onto something! Might need to find my coping saw again.