Sliding Dovetail Bookends

Step 4 Cut a groove

Now comes the task of cutting the dovetail. There are a couple different ways to do this. The easiest way it to clear out as much material as possible before cutting the angles, which is basically cutting a groove. I like to use my table saw to do this, but a router will work, as well as using just chisels.

Place the base face down on the table saw and adjust the fence so that the groove line farthest from the fence is lined up to the saw blade. Adjust the blade height so that it cuts just shy of the depth line you marked on the end in the previous step. Run the board over the blade, turn the board around so that the other edge is against the fence (base is still face down!), and run over the saw again. Now adjust the fence in increments closer and closer to the center and remove the material in the groove. You could use a dado blade to do this, but why bother with the hassle? Whatever method you choose, though, use pushsticks to guide the workpiece over the blade. Even though the workpiece is covering the blade, if it suddenly splits you may find that the library of curse words you have in your head is woefully insufficient to express your regret for having lost a digit or two.