How to Cut Half-Blind Mitered Dovetails
Follow a cabinetmaking master step-by-step as he cuts half-blind mitered dovetails
Jul 31, 2019
On my recent sideboard I used half-blind mitered dovetails for the case construction. I like the strength and integrity of the joint, the minimal interruption to the grain pattern, and the classic aesthetic they add to a piece.
You can cut them largely with machines, but I did almost all the work with hand tools. It was actually quite efficient, and I really had fun cutting them.
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Layout
As with typical dovetail joinery, I cut the tail portion of the joint first. On this sideboard, the tails are on the cabinet sides. These dovetails are distinguished from conventional dovetails because there is a half tail instead of a half pin at each end of the joint. This is essential due to the miter that will be cut later.
I…
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Comments
Rather than a file for trimming, (which works well) I have sandpaper adhered to one side of a steel rule. It leaves a nice smooth finish and is pretty controllable. The ruler will flex slightly, so I put a finger right next to it to make sure it doesn't flex too much. Usually it only takes a couple strokes to get the fibers taken down the little bit you need.
There are many many different ways to do this kind of stuff, which is why we love woodworking :)
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