How to Make Inlaid Dovetails (Double Dovetails) #5: Finished!

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This is the finished Inlaid Dovetails. Keep in mind this is only one corner of a box! When doing a complete box a lot of the steps can be done in tandem.  I’ll let you figure that out.  However, If you have any questions you all know where to find me !

CHEERS!!  - MrRick

23 Comments

Read all instructions, great write up with photos. I'd like to do this but I have a most difficult time with single dovetails.
Oldtool
Read all instructions, great write up with photos. I'd like to do this but I have a most difficult time with single dovetails.

Thank you.
Oldtool It can be intimidating and frustrating if you're not proficient at doing dovetails. One thing is for sure. If you don't try then you'll never know for sure if it's something you could have done and liked. 
Don't do a whole box. Just do a corner and get a feel for it. 
Solid write up. I like using the rebate to create the inlay for the second side. 👍🏼 

Ryan/// ~sigh~ I blew up another bowl. Moke told me "I made the inside bigger than the outside".

Thank you RyanGi. The write up in some ways was harder to do then the actual inlay. It takes alot of patience stopping along the way to write down and photograph steps as you are actually in the process of doing them. 
I do hope it encourages others to give it a try. 
Thanks for writing this up!
I've seen this joinery many times but I've never bothered to understand the process.
Hey Steve... give it a whirl! I'd like to know if my write up can actually be followed and helps someone. 
Good write up.  May give it a go.  Thanks.
RWE
Good write up.  May give it a go.  Thanks.

Go for it RWE!
The biggest obstacle I see is really the prior planning. Gotta be spot on since you can't really test fit and adjust until you have the secondary wood in place an cut.

Also there is the decisions on how "bold" to make that detail. Too loud and it can detract, but the size of the item also dictates the decision.

Well done!
Thank you SplinterGroup. Your points are correct. For the reason you mention, I always use 3/32" or 1/8". I have found this best regarding how many tails you do. Another critical point is the starting tail width. Screw that up and even the 3/32" or 1/8" won't work. 
Very Interesting blog and great dovetails.  

I am not able to hand cut them but may try with a jig.
Go for it Birdseye49! Enjoy the journey. That's what it's all about!

Thank you for a great and well crafted blog.  As much as I like to be "wowed" by the projects shown here, getting "howed" is so much more satisfying.  

Huh? Whadaya mean it ain't "measure once cut twice"?

You're welcome Mike_190930! Enjoy the journey!
Very interesting, thanks!

"Duck and Bob would be out doin some farming with funny hats on." chrisstef

Nice work.. I haven't seen this in ages!  Last time I did this stuff was in the late 1990's using either a Incra Jig or later a Jointech system.. They had templates to be able to create double-dovetails.  Norman

Norman Pirollo

Hope you liked the write up Norman. Give it a try.  👍
Interesting process, MrRick. Like Steve, I’ve seen these plenty of times but never looked up how they’re made.
I agree Ron, I knew they became popular with the Incra systems (which I have but never tried), never thought it was possible by hand without a crazy number of hours and skill. Now I know the key is the skill 😀