How to Layout Dovetails with Equal Pins | Paul Sellers

Dividing for dovetails using an angled line makes it easier to layout for equally sized dovetails but, the standard method used leaves half pins on the outside edges. In some projects, this can be a weak point.

This video shows you how to layout for equally sized dovetails and pins. In this case, the board is 5 1/4" (133.35mm), and we want five 1/2" (12.7mm) pins and four dovetails but, this system can be adapted to any variation of numbers and pins sizes.
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[Ham]

For those that give this a thumbs down, obviously don't know anything about dovetails. Difficult to beat someone who's been doing this for 50+ yrs. Great video as always, cheers :)

[richardherbert]

"I am going to strike a line..." and then you chose a two inch division on your compass. What you didn't say, was that you deliberately chose a distance (8") easily divisible by 4 when you struck the line. I had to go back and check!
Brilliant, as always.

[WeedMIC]

When you had the ruler between the two half inch marks, all you needed to do was angle the ruler until exactly five inches was visible (0 on one line - 5 on the other), then just mark the 1 2 3 4. Saves a lot of steps for the pin centres.

[fredrehbein]

Really appreciate your information. You are very good at explaining things. Thank you.

[davidtimperley]

Simple What more do you need. and I say that with over 40yrs experience of working with wood. Thank you Paul I have a project that requires a set of 5 draws and will be using this method. Many thanks for all your straight forward information and help.

[malcolmsmith]

I like these simple straightforward process/skill videos. Pulling out the metal dovetail guide too has reminded me I have one I rescued from my father's rust bucket that I need to clean off now. (As well as the machinists squares and needle files in the wooden tube/holder to be salvaged).

[swkohnle]

Thank you Paul. That is absolutely brilliant.

[ErikZe]

it's a joy watching you eyeball things or skip straight edges and still have great results. I feel like I can barely keep things accurate doing them with all the extra tools/guides. Guess I have a lot of practicing to do!

[stuartosborne]

Simple but genius, thankyou for sharing Paul.

[hypnoraythompson]

As usual Paul a very informative video. Thank you.

[mattevans-koch]

Thank you Paul for another handy technique for laying out joints. This method also works very well for layouts for spindles, stairs and anything you want to have uniform spacing within a given distance.

[alexisgarridotecnologia]

This technic shown corresponds to an appplication of the Thales theorem. I used to teach it to my students as soon as we start to work with wood at the school´s workshop.
Best regards from Alicante, Spain.

[MCsCreations]

Really interesting, Paul! 😃
Thanks a lot for the tip!
Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

[cttoh]

That is great. Great use of simple geometry and math.

[johncarey]

Starting life as a draughtsman on the drawing board, I've lost count of the times I've used that angled line of easily divisible length to divide something into equal segments.

KISS at its best.

[EddyW]

Just wish I could remember this next time I do dovetails :)

[kostasradulescu]

Great idea! I'll try this today. I have a box (no lid) with some rotted ends on the dovetail. I will cut them off, and use this vey method. Thank you!

[alanwilliamson]

Thankyou very much for this. I made my first ever dovetail today using your layout technique and they worked very well. Bit dodgy looking in some bits but i need to do better work on saw & chisel.

[MrMarkpeggy]

Thanks for sharing your great video with us Paul.

[thomasarussellsr]

Almost too brilliant to be so simple. Thanks for the tip.