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Underbench Cabinet: A blind sliding dovetail

This is the front of the cabinet, with all the vertical dividers to install.

The single lower- and the two dividers need to be fitted into a sliding dovetail ... however, unlike the dividers at the rear, this must be from inside the case. In other words, a blind sliding dovetail.

This post will show the steps taken for the lowermost, central divider.

This could not be done without the aid of blue tape. This is used to mark the apex of the tail ...

This is how the tail will be positioned. Below is where the pin socket has to be cut ...

A line is scribed at the two apex points, and the dovetailing guide is placed against it ...

Very carefully, using the dozuki, saw about 5mm from the boundary line. Be careful not to get closer than this. Saw marks must not show outside the dividers.

Do the other side ...

Swing the case around and work from the other side. Use the razor saw to cut up to the boundary line ...

Now chop out (shallowly) the trench/dovetail in the same way one would do a hinge mortice ...

Finish and level the surface to a depth of 3mm (the height of the tails) with a router plane ...

The result ...

What is difficult to see here is that the trench is fractionally wider in the rear half to allow the tail section to enter, and then slide along.

Richard Jones (furniture maker, UK) does amazing drawings of joinery. He posted this on the Wood Central forum as part of the discussion …

“Here's a sketch of essentially the same thing, what I call a 'slot and slide dovetail housing', or it could be called a 'drop and slide dovetail housing'. I can't remember how often I've used this form of sliding dovetail, but it can't be more than maybe two or three times”.

Unlike the internal tail sections, those used in the blind dovetails require a small beauty rebate ...

The divider slides along into position ...

Why do we go to all this trouble to use sliding dovetails? Well, this is how strong they are ... one hand attempting to lift the case ... neither are budging.

Incidentally, I was asked "how does the drawer run between two dividers?". Well, of course it does not - all will have a rail to guide the drawer ...

One the lowermost divider is in, the one above it can be marked ...

Progress to date ...

Regards from Perth

Derek

January 2021