Comments on: A.J. Roubo's Sliding-Dovetail-Tenon Joint

By: Brian

Brian — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 18:57:50 +0000

Have you got the base mounted to the top yet? I’m sittin on the edge of my sit over here!

By: Jamie Smyth

Jamie Smyth — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 16:15:25 +0000

It needs a tapered end:

http://sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=136196#14

By: Scott Keith

Scott Keith — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 20:36:27 +0000

I am going to venture a guess as to the utility of this joint. I believe it offers better support against side loading of the bench top than a double tenon would. Imagine standing in front of the bench and pulling on the top toward you. Assuming the leg is not supported by anything other than this joint, it will want to rotate about point where the inside face of the leg meets the bottom side of the bench top. The dovetail tenon resists this type of load much better than a secondary tenon whose outside shoulder would be rather thin in this case. There would not me much material between the outside face of the secondary tenon and the front edge of the bench top.

Not sure if my explanation makes much since…heck I’m not even sure if I believe myslef…. but it’s at least a guess.

Scott

By: Tim Williams

Tim Williams — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 23:22:55 +0000

That back tapered, sliding dovetail is the one I am going to do on the " Royale with Cheese" bench. I have re-watched that episode ten times this week and pretty much have it laid out. Pretty intense joint.

By: Christopher Schwarz

Christopher Schwarz — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:54:54 +0000

David,

I went and re-watched that show over the weekend. It’s not a traditional bench joint according to Underhill (and my research). And it requires an angled joint at the back, too.

Very cool, however.

By: David

David — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:50:30 +0000

I saw Roy Underhill make a sliding dovetail tenon on his show. It was for the leg of a workbench he was building. The leg ended up flush with the top to allow for a lot of surface contact for items clamped in the vise. It was a bit different from this one, but it was awesome. It was the kind of dovetail that tapers as it slides in, so that nothing really more than gravity and the weight of the top holds it in. But because it tapers and locks it is an extremely rigid connection between the top and the leg. I think he said it was a Roubo bench and joint, but I don’t exactly remember.

By: Jerry

Jerry — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:42:06 +0000

There you go again using that dirty language! the ‘female part" indeed!

I bet Glen can do this joint on his band saw.

By: Zach

Zach — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:30:58 +0000

Looking good there, Chris. Can’t wait to see the finished product!

Zach

By: fred mcclure

fred mcclure — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 09:54:39 +0000

chris

i am doing the same with my bench. i am using the sliding dovetail so i can take the bench apart when i move. wish mine looked that good, but the only dovetails i ever cut are on this bench. i will get better at them though–i am trying your 30 day dovetail program

fred

By: Aluminum Extrusions

Aluminum Extrusions — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 05:47:17 +0000

Looks like quite the plan. I love dovetails, this discussion is shaping up to be a good one to follow!