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Another dovetails question-tail size

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Another dovetails question-tail size

#1

Another dovetails question-tail size

bill tindal, E.TN

>One's mind can wander/ponder while chopping away, which got me to thinking about tail size. I have never seen a discussion on the optimum number ( size) of tails for a drawer side. I would think that as one increased the number of tails that the joint would become stronger, but the incremental increase in strength would rapidly fall of at some point. Because it takes more time to make more tails (in my case a lot more time) it suggests that in days of old where cabinet makers needed to feed a family that they would have found an optimum balance between time to make and strength. It is useless to study modern pieces to answer the question because appearance has become as important as function. I don' t have much access to old pieces to gather data on tail size vs survival rate, though it seems that drawers seem to hold up well.

There are lots of discussion of pin size, both from perspective of appearance and strength. Anybody have any thoughts on tail size as it relates to strength?

Re: Another dovetails question-tail size

#2

Re: Another dovetails question-tail size

Paul in NJ

>If you want maximum strength you would make the pins and tails equal in size and the smaller the better. In practical terms, small pins and tails at the corners with larger ones in the center.

Paul Dzioba

Re: Another dovetails question-tail size

#3

Re: Another dovetails question-tail size

paul womack

>Anybody have any thoughts on tail size as it relates to strength?

Kirby (in his book) essentially says that the DT joint is so over-spec (in many of its uses) that strength can be taken for granted within wide limits.

BugBear

Re: Another dovetails question-tail size

#4

that would explain....

bill tindal, E.TN

>the wide variation I observe. I have one old family piece, nice, but obviously made by someone trying to make a living by getting acceptable product out the door. It has but two tails in a 4" drawer and they were made by someone that was only concerned by function. It seemed too few, but it has held up fine for 150+ years.

Re: Another dovetails question-tail size

#5

width of pin = 2/3 side thickness, tail = 3xpin W

Andrew F in Australia

>The above is conventional trade training.

I was reading an old Hayward book, and noted that he put a couple of narrowly-spaced dovetails at the corners of wide boards to resist cupping. First time I'd ever seen this in a book written by a tradesman.

Cheers,

eddie

Re: Another dovetails question-tail size

#6

Oops, wrong name

Andrew F in Australia

>I'm "eddie the eagle" on another one.

Re: Another dovetails question-tail size

#7

pairs of fine pins

David Charlesworth

>Andrew,

This stuff is in Joyce as well and is good practice for carcase dovetailing, whether through, single lap or secret mitre.

Extra pins means extra glue surfaces, and a run of dovetails is unlikely to fail in the centre.

David Charlesworth

Re: Another dovetails question-tail size

#8

Thanks David, wasn't aware of Joyce. Cheers,

Andrew F in Australia

>

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