Dovetail Joint Design Guide
Choosing Your Angle
- 1:8 ratio (~7.1 degrees): Best for hardwoods like oak, maple, walnut
- 1:7 ratio (~8.1 degrees): Good general-purpose angle
- 1:6 ratio (~9.5 degrees): Best for softwoods like pine, cedar
- 1:5 ratio (~11.3 degrees): Very soft woods, maximum mechanical lock
Tips
- Half-pins at the edges should be at least 1/4 of the board thickness
- Tails should generally be wider than pins for aesthetic appeal
- Mark your baseline at exactly the mating board's thickness plus 1/32"