Angle for skewed chisels?

Re: Alternative method???

What you are imagining is a lot of extra work, Gary. Once you have removed the shaded portion in your diagram, you are one tap of the mallet away from doing the blackened portion, and the chisel is already in position. You are talking about maybe a second per socket. There is no way you want to spend time doctoring the tails.

Re: Alternative method???

Gary, on reflection, it is unlikely that a minute chamfer will cause the dovetail to pivot. Plus glue will keep it firm. But my thought is the same, that is, why bodge a joint when it is as easy to make it properly first time? 

Regards from Perth

Derek

Just to clarify

Warren, are you saying go ahead and chisel far enough to clear all the waste, cutting into the back wall?  No need for a skew or fishtail chisel if you are just willing to cut just past the “line?”

Re: Just to clarify

Yes. A 3/16 chisel has to go .029 inches into the wall to do its job.

Thank

Warren, thanks for clarifying that.  Certainly seems to be a reasonable approach and minimizes the need for specialty chisels.