Knowledge center · Workshop techniques · Dovetail joint
Technique
Dovetail joint
A joint between two boards cut as interlocking triangular tails — one of the strongest and most recognizable joints in drawer and box construction.
A dovetail is cut from both boards: trapezoidal tails on one, and matching pins on the other. The wedge shape locks mechanically against a pull in one direction, without screws or nails — the glue mainly holds the joint still. Common forms are the through dovetail, visible on both faces of the corner and traditional on fine drawers, and the half-blind dovetail, hidden from the front and common on a finished drawer face. A hand-cut dovetail, compared with one from a router jig, is a clear sign of a fine or old piece: the spacing between the pins is never perfectly even. A broken tail usually has to be rebuilt in matching wood, not simply glued back.
Related
Dovetail joint
A drawer joint cut as interlocking tails. Uneven pins mean handwork, and usually an old, authentic piece.
Mortise and tenon
A traditional joint in which a tongue fits into a socket. A clear sign of sound construction — this is how furniture was built before the age of screws.
Loose joints in chairs and tables
A wobbling chair is the most common failure. Do not fill the joint with epoxy or nails — that makes a future repair impossible. The right repair is to take the joint apart, clean out the old glue (usually reversible hide glue), and glue it again with a suitable woodworking glue. If the chair is in daily use, stop using it until it is repaired, so the break does not spread.
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