Removing The Waste – Tail Piece

When making a single dovetail, the pin recesses (waste wood) on the tail piece is straightforward to remove, as you can just saw down the shoulders on either side of the tail.

Start by creating a step down on the waste side of the shoulder line using a sharp chisel. This will help to prevent the saw jumping out of line when starting the cut and damaging the good wood. Place the teeth of your dovetail saw into the step down and begin to rub the surface gently. Use the very end of the saw to begin with, placing your thumb against the saw plate for alignment. Once you have a clean, straight saw kerf, move your thumb away and take longer strokes with the saw.

When you’ve finished your cut, turn the piece around in the vice and repeat on the other side. You can then use a sharp chisel to pare down the shoulders, but make sure not to undercut the tail.