How To Make A Chisel Tray
beginner 12 steps

How To Make A Chisel Tray

This project is possibly the most basic real application of the dovetail joint, since it consists of a simple box held together with four single dovetails. You should, therefore, see it as a training exercise to gain confidence and build your skills, rather than expect a perfect result straight away.

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To make the tray, you will also learn how to edge-glue a solid board for a base, which involves ensuring perfectly flat surfaces. We encourage you to make at least one of these before making a dovetailed box.

Required Materials

For this project, you will need:

Wood:

  • Sides (x2): ½” (13mm) x 2” x 12 ¾” (51mm x 324mm)
  • Ends (x2): ½” (13mm) x 2” x 5 ¼” (51mm x 133mm)
  • Base: ⅜” (10mm) x 5 ¾” x 13 ¼” (146mm x 337mm) — if you don’t have a board wide enough, glue two pieces together

Tools:

Materials:

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