A Tool Tray and its dovetails - Printable Version +- Woodnet Forums (https://forums.woodnet.net) +-- Thread: A Tool Tray and its dovetails (/showthread.php?tid=7378832)

A Tool Tray and its dovetails - Derek Cohen - 07-12-2025 A week ago my wife asked to build a tea tray. Something on the smaller side. At the same time, I agreed to do a dovetailing demonstration for my woodworking club. So I was thinking about construction of the tea tray, and whether it was possible to kill two birds with one stone, that is, was there a place for the tea tray in the demonstration? I am not sure why it is, but few of the furniture/case or box builds I see on YouTube or websites feature mitred dovetails. It is usually only simple through dovetails or half blind dovetails. Using half blind dovetails at the front of a drawer is obvious, as is the simple through dovetail for the drawer back. Ploughing a groove for the drawer bottom (if not using slips) is straight forward here since the groove is hidden inside the half blind front. But this is so with cases and boxes utilising through dovetails. Without a mitre to hide the groove inside, one must use a stopped groove, and this is cumbersome to make with hand tools. Not to mention the fact that mitred ends look better than stumpy square ends. I routinely use mitred through dovetails. They are more work, in fact, I think they require a lot more care when sawing. But, like everything, it gets easier with practice. Now the great majority of the members of the woodworking club are power tool users, and I was asked to come along to provide a variation for the other presenter, who will focus on finger joints. Finger joints are pretty strong, but only because they create a large glue area. Dovetails, being a mechanical joint, do not need glue (if done well). I thought I might demonstrate this by taking along a dovetailed tea tray, and not glue it up. Might be interesting to pass the tray around for inspection ... and then knock it apart in front of all!  The size of the tea tray is 500mm (about 19 1/2") in length and 380mm (15") in width. The wood is some Black Walnut scraps ... the very last I had. Such pretty wood, and possibly the best wood in the world to work with hand tools. I am not going to bore anyone with pictures of dovetailing. There is a pictorial on my website, here. Instead, a few progress photos to illustrate how mitred through dovetails aid here. Dovetails ... Grooving the sides ... Fitting together ... Four sides ... Rebating the tray bottom with a Veritas Skew Rabbet Plane. The bottom is 7mm thick and the rebates are 3mm wide and deep ... This is where a shoulder plane is best used ... to clean and tune rebates ... The fit ... The next stage is for the ends to be shaped. In this photo a template is create to make a uniform curve ... Cut out, smoothed, and then fretsawed out and finally finished with rasps and sand paper ... The underside ... The joinery is not glued but really solid. Very pleased with this. Some dusty mitred through dovetails ... Job done with one coat of hard wax oil ... Regards from Perth Derek RE: A Tool Tray and its dovetails - bandit571 - 07-12-2025 Needs something to keep the flatware in too? [attachment=55176] Like for the spoons and the tea strainers? [attachment=55177] Cauls are needed during glue up? [attachment=55178] As they might life a lot easier during the clamping up phase.... [attachment=55179] Can never have too many clamps, right? RE: A Tool Tray and its dovetails - Derek Cohen - 07-12-2025 That's nicely done Steven. Also, it is an example of square ended through dovetails. Have you thought to mitre them instead? Regards from Perth Derek RE: A Tool Tray and its dovetails - Arlin Eastman - 07-12-2025 Both have done a great job Derek that walnut bottom is fantastic and will look good when she serves people their drinks if she tips it a bit so they can see it, however it might dump the drinks too.   RE: A Tool Tray and its dovetails - Derek Cohen - 07-12-2025 Thanks Arlin I'll add these photos for the design element. It is difficult to catch the colour in this light (still not glued up) ... Perhaps those interested can discuss the advantages of using mitres in the dovetail joinery. Regards from Perth Derek RE: A Tool Tray and its dovetails - Pedder - 07-15-2025 Hi Derek, Thanks for your thoughts. These mittres are the perfect way to cover the groove for the bottom! Cheers Pedder RE: A Tool Tray and its dovetails - Derek Cohen - 07-15-2025 Thanks Pedder. Regards from Perth Derek