Cutting the Dovetails — How To Make A Chisel Tray

Begin by deciding on the arrangement of the parts. Once you are happy with the configuration, number the parts. Mark the depth of the joint on each corner using the corresponding pieces and proceed to lay out. Cut and fit all four corners with single dovetails. Refer to the dovetail guide if you wish for a comprehensive tutorial.

Note: When laying out, ensure the tails of the joint are on the two long pieces and the pins on the short ones. This is good practice for making drawers which usually (but not always) have handles on one of the shorter ends. By having the dovetail on long pieces it means you don’t risk pulling the joint apart when applying force.

Strive to work accurately on each of the four joints

Marking the pins from the tails is especially critical on a single dovetail joint

Make sure you have clear markings to identify the arrangement of the parts