On 25 Nov 2004 07:44:41 -0800, (Gary DeWitt) wrote:

I don't make dovetails, so this may be a dumb question, but in
perusing currently posted linked sites of recent work, I noticed in
looking at some really beautiful dovetail joints the still aparant
marking line along the bottom of the tails. I understand a scored line
is superior to a marked line where the tails are, to guide a chisel
accurately. But why not mark out the angled lines first, or score them
first, and then score only where you will be chiseling, so as to leave
no mark when done? Or mark all the lines first and then score only
where cuts will be? This has long been bugging me, since the first
time I saw the method laid out in pictures, anyone have an idea on
this?

If you did not score the bottom of the tails first, you would not know
how deep (angled lines) to make them. This score line is made by
putting the pinned side flush to the tail piece or offset by so much
for making blind dovetails. There just is no better way that I know
to make this scored line accurately and easily. If the score is not
too deeply made it can be sanded off after the glue has fully cured.
I have used a pencil line in the past, but a score line is narrower
and more accurate. To make good handcut dovetails accurate layout
counts.