How to Make Inlaid Dovetails (Double Dovetails) #4: CUTTING THE CEDAR INLAY

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This is part 4 in a 5 part series: How to Make Inlaid Dovetails (Double Dovetails)

  1. INTRODUCTION
...
  1. CUTTING THE TAILS
  2. CUTTING THE CEDAR INLAY
  3. Finished!

 First I marked up the pins positions using the tails per Fig 13. Next I set my marking gauge to account for the rebate on the tails board in Fig 14. Then a scribed line is marked for the depth of the inlay pins per Fig 15.  The “X” marked portion will be the openings for cedar inlaid pins.



 
Once the laid out, the pin openings for the cedar are cut as per Fig. 14. In Fig 15 I check the fit to the tails board. Then assemble and glue up. The “Green arrow” shows the cut line for removing the rest of the pin inlay board ( yellow “X”) after glue up and assy is dry. You can choose to do this on the table saw or by hand with a flush cut saw or any hand saw. WARNING!: The table saw can be dangerous with this step and I recommend doing it by hand. 

The “Red arrow) points to the portion that will be your inside outline of the tails after cutting per Fig 16.


 
Continue marking up the outline for cutting out the rest of the pin inlay per Fig 16. For reference, Fig 17 shows the cut pins. but Double check the outline width as shown before cutting. This should be 3/32” or very close to it. Whatever you measure make sure to use it when marking up the pins outline. Then proceed to cutting. It will look like Fig 17.



Now proceed to cutting the main pins board out and test fit to Inlaid Tails board as shown  In Fig 18. 

Assemble and glue.  When dry, touch up where necessary,  sand it, check over, etc.



Great directions1 I too have trouble with single dovetails!! I use them on drawers most of the time and use a jig. I tried hand cutting and I got a few good ones but had too much time invested. I watched Rob Cosman ( the king of dovetails) many times and get a few tips each time. I usually have 5 projects going at once  so they have to move through the shop!!
Cheers Jim

Cheers, Jim ........................ Variety is the spice of life...............Learn something new every day

Jim.... there are two people on YouTube I watch for dovetails: Rob Cosman and Paul Sellers. I'm at the point now that cutting by hand is pretty fast and easy for me. However... inlaid dovetails is almost twice as long to cut. One slip and your work is toast. It's not for the faint of heart and usually for that once in a while special project. 
I can see the need for a soft secondary wood, one slip or grain splint and it's starting over a step back. Sure does put an exclamation point on an otherwise fine joint all on its own 👍
Very true SplinterGroup. This joint will test many of your skills. It's important to be excited about doing them and enjoying the attempt. This joint will certainly test your ability to getting " knotted up".
Why not wait until after you have applied the cedar veneer  to the tails to layout the pins?  

--Nathan, TX. Hire the lazy man. He may not do as much work but that's because he will find a better way.