Making 5 Dovetail Guide in 15 Minutes

Dovetail is a useful joint although it's hard to master. But with a dovetail guide, the task will become much easier. Today, I gonna show you an extremely fast way of making your customized dovetail guide. That is making 5 pieces in 15 minutes (glue setting time not included).

You can check the video first if you want. Be sure to open the CAPTION function below the video. If you like it, please give me a thumb up.

Step 1: Material & Tools

Materials

• 30cm *10cm * 2cm dimensioned hardwood
• magnets

tools

• Miter saw with angle cut function (recommend)
• hand drill
• table saw

Step 2: Cut the Wood Into Two Piece and Glue Them Together

First, you need to rip the wood into two pieces. One piece needs to be 2cm wider than the other.

Then, you can put the thinner one on top of the wider one and glued them together. Make sure that these two pieces are perpendicular to each other.

Check the angle with a square and also clean the excess glue while it's still wet.

Step 3: The Math Work

Now it's time to do some math.

You need to calculate the angle of the dovetail.

Arctan(1/8) is almost 7degree.

Step 4: Cut One Side of the Dovetail Guide

Set the miter saw to the angle and cut one side.

You can cut it on the table saw if you have a crosscut jig.

Step 5: Cut the Other Side

Don't change the miter saw angle! it makes the cut not accurate.

You only need to flip the piece. Then you can cut the other side.

This ensures both sides of the guide have exactly the same angle.

Repeat this process until you get all the pieces with the different ratio you want.

I only cut 5 pieces which are 1:5 1:6 1:7 1:8 and 90 degrees.

After that, I lightly sanded the surface to remove the burr.

Step 6: Drill Holes on Side of the Guide

I'm a right-hand user so I only drill the right side.

The diameter of the hole should be the same as the magnets.

Step 7: Glued in the Magnets

I used epoxy to finish the task. Make sure the magnets don't extrude.

After that, I slightly sanded the surface to remove the excess glue.

Step 8: Finish With Linseed Oil and Paste Wax

I Finished the piece with linseed oil and paste wax. And also put my maker stamp on the top.

Step 9: Testing

Now, it's time to test the dovetail guide

Step 10: Done!

Very good!

If you like this build, please check my other works on my Youtube channel.

Also, there are some free plans on my website.

http://alpacastudio.org/plans/

Thanks for watching and enjoy your build.

Comments

[Carlwagner97]

Do you put magnets on both sides? From the pictures it looks like only one side.

[JimmyC120]

In step 6 the author states he is right-handed so only drills holes on the right side of the guides. This is because only the right side gets the magnets.

[GaryG195]

Once you cut the first dovetail, how far do you move it to cut the next side? How far from the end do you start?

[CraftAndu]

Simple but very clever

[Chefmike66]

This is very cool. I want to make it. I don't think my saw has good enough tolerance, but I could use somebody else's saw. Maybe.

[Alpaca Studio]

Actually, I don't think the specific angle matter. What really matters is keeping that consistency. If the pin and tail share the same angle or ratio, it can fit together easily. Try with some scrap pieces first.

[slyght]

i'm missing the point of the magnets. is it to keep the saw flush with the guide?

[Alpaca Studio]

Yes,also help you to keep the saw straight

[Kink Jarfold]

I built something similar but never got my dovetails as nice as yours. Good job. --Kink--

[Alpaca Studio]