I'm curious if it's possible to create dovetail joints with a shaper. I was initially considering using a router table but then found a great deal on a shaper. Can anyone share their thoughts on this?
2 Answers
From what I've seen, dovetail joints typically require a jig and a handheld router, and they can be quite a hassle to set up correctly. It's tough to achieve the right geometry for these cuts on a table. If you want something simpler, box joints could be a great alternative—you can even do those on a table saw with a custom jig.
Using a shaper for dovetails seems a bit tricky. Shapers are mainly designed for bigger jobs like moldings, and you wouldn't want the cutter head exposed too much. So, I’m not quite sure how you'd effectively cut dovetails on one.