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<DIV>In a message dated 1/15/2017 10:57:53 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,
woodworkers@lists.sawdusters.org writes:</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><FONT
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" color=#000066 size=3
face="Comic Sans MS">I have recently gotten motivated to make a few items with
hand cut dovetails. The how to articles I have read to date show thin
pins and wide tails. I recognize that using a router bit to cut
dovetails defines the width of the pins, but is there a reason that hand cut
dovetails shouldn't have wider pins that would be sturdier and easier to
chisel out?</FONT></BLOCKQUOTE>
<DIV>Herb,</DIV>
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<DIV>If you look at the evolution of the dovetail, the early ones both the tails
and pins were really chunky. Then in the 1700's the English decided to
make the tails wide and the pins narrow. It does take more skill to cut and fit
thin pins. I've seen many antiques from the 1700's and early 1800's with thin
pins and the drawers are still holding up fine. It also makes a huge difference
as to what type of wood you use. If you look at English antiques, they almost
always have white oak for the drawer sides, because that was readily
available. New England furniture makers used white pine and poplar, and southern
furniture makers used Southern yellow heart pine for drawer
sides.</DIV>
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<DIV>I hope this helps.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Gary Williams</DIV>
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