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My box build convinced me hand cut dovetails are better
Most folks in my shop say to go with a router jig for dovetails. I tried both methods on a recent box build. The hand cut joints seemed stronger and looked better. The router is quicker, but I prefer the traditional approach. For my own projects, I think the extra time is well spent.
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cameron_palmer3mo ago
Man, I gotta ask @claire999 - when you talk about that "perfect fit" feeling, is it more about how the joint looks or how it feels when you're sliding it together? Cause I've noticed some hand cut joints need a little persuasion with a mallet while others just glide right in. Which one gives you that solid satisfaction you're talking about?
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claire9996mo ago
Totally get what you mean, the router joints can feel kinda dead, right? I made a little keepsake box for my sister last year by hand and that thing feels SOLID in a way the jig ones never do. There's just no beating that FEELING when you tap the last corner together and it all fits perfect. Makes the hours of fussing totally worth it.
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the_kelly6mo ago
My grandma's old wooden spoon has these worn grooves from decades of use. It's like what @claire999 said about hand-made boxes feeling solid, there's a weight to things made by hand that factory stuff just misses. I see it everywhere, like my homemade bread always tastes better than store-bought, even with the same recipe. That perfect fit when you make something yourself, it's not just in woodworking. It's in cooking, gardening, all sorts of stuff. Makes you appreciate the time put into it, you know?
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