Dovetail & Recess Tool

[Tom De Winter]

I backed myself into a corner with my latest turning project and had no way to cut a recess for mounting on a chuck. It was between centers and the tailstock live center was in the way. I remembered an article written by Mike Peace where he made a tool for this very purpose. He was the inspiration for my tool.

I figured if I was going to the effort why not make it so I can do the dovetail for both a spigot and a recess. The photos show what I came up with. I made it from HSS 6x25x200mm. Most of the grinding was straight forward. However the one angle for the recess-cutting dovetail was less than 90 degrees and couldn't be done on my grinder. I tried a cutoff wheel in a die grinder but I just wasn't steady enough to get the results I wanted.

I'd just acquired a chainsaw sharpener and thought I might be able to adapt it to a poor mans tool grinder. Lots of ideas floated around involving machining a new base to replace the chain holder. All more time and effort than I was willing to commit. I found that by removing part of the chain holding parts I was able to hand hold the tool steel against the base and get acceptable results.

 

[Don Wattenhofer]

https://www.aawforum.org/community/index.php?threads/dovetail-recess-cutting-tool.15797/
This is a link to a thread in the "Tutorials" that I entered on the exact same problem

 

[Mark Jundanian]

Very clever, Tom. You might be able to sell a tool maker on the idea of making these, especially if you can get custom dovetail angles.

 

[Leo Van Der Loo]

As I basically always use a recess when turning bowls and plates/platters, I ran into that problem with the tailstock being in my way for cleaning up the recess, where I use the square corner for my Oneway jaws I only needed to get that clean corner, I used a small cheap tool to regrind the end at an angle so as to be able to do this.

I showed this tool when someone asked for help on the forum, that was in 2009, still have that tool and use it occasional, to remove this little bit of wood, one does not need a large expensive tool for it.

I can use it for a dovetail also if that would be needed

 

[Tom De Winter]

You might be able to sell a tool maker on the idea of making these, especially if you can get custom dovetail angles.

I doubt the market would be large enough. Besides, I've ruined more than one hobby by turning it into a business and have learned my lesson.

 

[Tom De Winter]

Don, I often spend time reinventing wheels.
Double-ended would have been easier, but the handle is much more complex.

 

[John Torchick]

Get it patented first! Then contract for someone to make it for you. You can market it yourself or through a number of retailers or have an online store.
"Necessity is the mother of invention."

 

[Mike Peace]

Nice job, Tom.

 

[Don Wattenhofer]

By holding at an angle I was able to get the dove tail angle on the Mega square 80 grit wheel.