CHAPTER 16

Quick Reference
Half-Blind Dovetails
136 Q U I C K R E F E R E N C E - H A L F - B L I N D D O V E TA I L S

Chapter 16 D4 User Guide

Chapter Foreword
You haven’t used the jig for a while and just
need reminding of some of the basics. Here
they are for Half-Blind Dovetails.

IMPORTANT REMINDER!
The most misunderstood aspect of rout-
ing half-blind dovetails is how the cutter
angle affects the Depth of Cut setting.
Theoretically, there is only one “perfect”
depth of cut for a given cutter that will
produce properly mating Pins and Sockets.
Therefore, raising or lowering the cutter
during test cuts is done only to achieve
that one “perfect depth” that is determined
by angle of the selected cutter. Any other
depth will produce a joint that is too loose
or too tight.
Please read this carefully and note the spec-
ified Depth of Cut for the different cut-
ter angles shown.
 137

128 120 112 101 80

128-8 120-8 112-8 101-8 80-8

8o
o 10o
12
14o
18o
3/4"
5/8"
7/16" 1/2"
3/8" [19mm]
[13mm] [16mm]
[9mm] [11mm]

1/2" 1/2" 1/2" 1/2" 1/2"

12,7mm 12,7mm 12,7mm 12,7mm 12,7mm

Important! Read This About Depth of Cut.

• Depth of cut must be as specified when using any of the four cutters illustrated above.
• Raising the cutter above its specified cutting depth will result in loose joints and may dam-
age the jig, cutter and/or guidebush. A lower setting will result in tighter joints that may not
fit together.
• Minor Depth of Cut adjustment will change the tightness of joint fit. See 10-14 to 10-16
to find out why.
• Half-blind PINS and TAILS are routed with the same dovetail cutter and must be at the
same Depth of Cut.
• Choose one of the four 1⁄2" [12,7 mm] diameter dovetail cutters shown above, and check cut-
ter selection on page 160.
• Use only 7⁄ 16" [11,1 mm] outside diameter guidebushes.

16-1
Half-blind dovetails are laid out in the H
HB TAILS mode with the finger assembly
slightly raised above a tailboard (e.g.,
1
drawer side).
2

3
2
4
1 1
16 2
7
1
4
138 Q U I C K R E F E R E N C E - H A L F - B L I N D D O V E TA I L S

Chapter 16 D4 User Guide

16-2
Half-blind (HB) tails: Drawer sides are
1
2
clamped vertically in the jig. The inside face
i of the drawer side goes away from the jig
3
4
1
2
1
4 body. The finger assembly is in the H HB
TAILS mode, set to the thickness of the
drawer side. Use bridge pieces where required
(see 10-10).
25 –38
20
15
10
5

16-3
1
Half-blind (HB) pins: Drawer fronts are
4
1
2
cut with the board clamped horizontally
3
4
1
2
in the jig. The inside face i of the drawer
front faces away from the jig body. The fin-
ger assembly is in the h HB PINS mode,
and again set on the thickness of the draw-
5
10
er side (but adjusted for a flush fit, see page
15
20
87).
25 –38

7/16" 16-4
[11,1mm] On the Leigh jig, all half-blind dovetails
are routed using a 7⁄ 16"[11,1mm] O.D.
guidebush.