Keeping Track of Dovetail Pieces on a 4-sided box for V3 Dovetail Templates
When making a 4-sided dovetail box, it is important to keep track of the reference faces and edges to ensure all components are aligned when assembled.
Clamping cauls and clean cuts for dovetails
Dovetails can add strength as well as an appealing design element to a project, but they can also add a layer of complexity to get clean, tear-out-free joints and get them glued together with no gaps. These are a few easy tricks and techniques we like to implement to make the process a bit easier.
Half-Blind Dovetail
Here at PantoRouter® HQ, we strive to create templates that are easy to set up, produce great results, and are fun to use. While we don’t have a half-blind dovetail template available yet, this simple workaround allows PantoRouter users to achieve the look of a half-blind and get the strength of a through-dovetail while using the same dovetail methods they are familiar with on the PantoRouter.
Square-Ended Tenons
As most PantoRouter® owners have discovered, perfect-fitting integral mortise and tenon joints can be cut faster on the PantoRouter than any other method in the shop. Between the Essential Template set and the Segmented Mortise and Tenon Template set, over 180 sizes can be cut with ease. The only caveat is all of those sizes have rounded ends on the mortise and tenon. Structurally, this is insignificant, but occasionally when building certain styles of furniture with through tenons, a square-ended tenon looks and feels more appropriate.
Dovetails on Boards Wider than 8 Inches (200mm) - Fence Indexing Method
The PantoRouter ® has a cutting window of approximately 8” wide by 4” tall (200mm x 100mm). In most furniture-making applications, this is adequate. However, occasionally, there is a need to cut joinery on boards wider than 8” (200mm). One of the most common situations is when making large drawer boxes or chests. Once glued, a large drawer with dovetails or box joints will be incredibly strong and last for generations. This step-by-step Tech Tip describes the process of locating, indexing and cutting dovetails on wide boards.
Micro-Adjust for precision dados
The Micro-Adjuster allows fine adjustments of the height of the Template Holder, perfect for sneaking up on the perfect fit when cutting dovetails. It is also great for cutting irregular sized slots, dados, locating the router bit height when cutting angled joinery, dialing in the thickness gauge and so much more! It is compatible with all PantoRouter models with an aluminum Template Holder.
Easy way to set half-pins on ends of dovetail arrays
One of the best features of our dovetail templates is the option to cut fixed-space or variably-spaced dovetails. This simple setup trick for variably-spaced dovetails produces accurate results and saves you time.
Setting a pleasing reveal is very easy on the PantoRouter
Setting a reveal or offset of the apron to the leg on a table takes only seconds using a spacer and your workpiece in the thickness gauge.
use the centering bar to set the template position
Using the centering bar to precisely set the position of one or more templates is fast and easy using the method from this tech tip.
flush-trimming box joints and dovetails is super fast using this simple tip
A pattern bit makes quick work of trimming box joints and dovetails.
Cutting precise slots for Brusso® hinges is fast and easy using this tech tip
Brusso® solid brass hardware is gorgeous and functional but cutting precise slots on the edge of furniture or box projects is challenging. This Tech Tip shows how to use the Slot Mortise Template to cut these stopped dados.