PLEASE NOTE: This is the 3rd Saturday of the month, not our normal 2nd Saturday!
To start off our program year, please join us as WPW president Bill James repeats history (kinda) and presents a program on cutting through dovetails on the table saw. But, there’s a twist. In the video of Bill’s previous February 9, 2013 program (video link is [here]), at 1:26:00 – 1:27:45 he references that there are others who have used similar techniques for cutting through dovetails on the table saw, but have added the use of spacer blocks (instead of aligning the cuts “by eye” to hit a layout line) to ensure that the dovetails on all corners and multiple pieces fit beautifully. Bill had always intended to explore this “spacer block” method, but life/work always seemed to get in the way. Rewatching this video will give you an idea of the technique, but without the much-improved spacer block methodology. At 1:13:30 – 1:15:00, Bill “misses” a layout line, which causes him to utter, “This one’s going to be loose…so be it,” which is the genesis for this improved method.
Fast forward to 13+ years later when the Program Committee was meeting to begin planning the 2026/2027 meeting schedule and Ken Bayer pulls out the June/July 2026 issue of Woodsmith magazine. There on the cover is a photo of a through dovetail being cut on a table saw using the spacer block method. Bill took this as a sign that it was finally time to update his methods, so he borrowed the magazine. The article written by Phil Huber was really well written and illustrated, but it was the more in-depth and expanded Woodsmith Plans article (link is [here]) that really impressed Bill in its clarity and completeness, so much so that he’ll be using a lot of the illustrations as a part of his presentation.
Here’s a slightly edited excerpt from Bill’s 2013 program description that is still relevant to this presentation:
…There are many ways to make through dovetails, from the completely hand-cut and chopped, to the completely machine-made, router-based versions. The hand-made versions require good layout, sawing, and chiseling skills, and for most of us are not a “fast” way to make a dovetail joint. Yet, they are fun and satisfying to make. The router-based versions are generally easier, faster, and for most of us, a more accurate way to make through dovetails. But, there’s the expense of buying the jig, in some cases the learning curve to be able to use it, and the unmistakable “look” of a router-based dovetail. This “look” is because the pins can’t be made narrower than the smallest available router bit, which usually gives a pin that is at least 1/4″-3/8″ at its narrowest. This is in contrast to the narrow pins so often associated with hand-cut dovetails, and is especially relevant when dovetailing thick stock like a cabinet carcase.The table-saw technique that Bill will demonstrate gives us the best of both worlds — an accurate, reasonably fast, and aesthetically-pleasing dovetail (the pins can be as narrow as ~5/32″ at the narrowest point), that can be made on a machine that you already own, and with no practical size limitations in material thickness or width, as is often the case with router-based jigs. Bill’s demonstration will be the making of one corner of a dovetailed “box,” and he’ll have some partially-completed parts to pass around to show the steps. Additionally, there will be drawings/photos projected on the screen that accurately depict all of the steps that Bill performed on the saw.
Because Bill owns a left-tilt SawStop table saw, which is different in its sizing and tilt than what is available in our meeting venue, Bill’s jigs will not fit on the available saws so no wood will be cut during the presentation. But, Bill’s work will be captured in photos and video, edited and annotated versions of which will used during his presentation. Additionally, Bill will have all of his jigs and tooling at the presentation to give a good idea of what things look like in real life.