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wrote:
All,

I am new to the dovetailing game and I need some advice. I recently
was
given a Leigh D4 as a graduation gift and am attempting to make some
boxes. The boxes will have 4 sides only (i.e. no bottom or top) and
will be used as modular storage in my new apartment. I will be using
through dovetails to join them.

According to the Leigh manual, the maximum thickness of the pin board
is 1" but the stock I have is 5/4". What dovetail/straight bit
combination do I need to join these thick pieces? I'd rather not
plane
it down as I like the look of the very thick walls.

Thanks,
Ben

FWIW, I did this project for the first time a long long time ago using
3/4 lumber (phillippian mahogany and piranha pine) and standard 1/2"
drawer dovetails. This combination has help without exception for 30
years of rough usage. This boxes 1'x 1' and 1'x 3' have supported my
weight on numerous occasions, and I can assure you I dynamic weight
puts more stress on the unit than any number of stationary books, even
if stacked to the ceiling. For these reasons, my most recent effort
used 1/2 piranha pine. These 1/2 inchers have support books five feet
high for almost a decade. All in all, I would think use 5/4 lumber is
overspecing, expecially if it is hardwood.