This tip and technique video was created by Norman Pirollo from WoodSkills. With over 16 years of experience using a dovetail jig, Norman shares his approach to precision hand-cut dovetails—highlighting the subtle techniques that set quality joinery apart.
This isn’t just about following steps—it’s about understanding the process, building accuracy, and developing the skill set to consistently cut dovetails by hand. The insights Norman offers are ideal for woodworkers looking to improve their joinery and elevate the look and strength of their projects.
Watch the full video and subscribe to Norman’s channel:
Why Use a Dovetail Jig?
A dovetail jig helps woodworkers maintain consistent spacing, alignment, and accuracy when laying out and cutting dovetail joints. It acts as a physical guide, especially during layout, allowing users to avoid some of the common alignment errors that occur when working by eye alone.
Norman explains that accuracy is everything in dovetail joinery. Even small inconsistencies can lead to visible gaps or structural weaknesses. That’s why he consistently uses a metal engineer’s square in combination with the jig to ensure tail and pin boards are aligned with precision.
Starting with the Tail Board
The dovetail process begins with preparing the tail board. This board is clamped securely in the jig, ensuring it is perfectly square to the jig’s cleat.
Once aligned, Norman uses a sharp chisel to begin removing material between the tails. He alternates between different chisel widths to clean out waste efficiently, and emphasizes using light mallet taps rather than heavy strikes to avoid crushing wood fibers. This allows for greater control and minimizes the risk of splintering or compression.
Transferring Layout to the Pin Board
Once the tails are cut and cleaned, the next step is marking the pin board. This is done by clamping the pin board vertically in the jig, then using the already-cut tail board as a reference.
A marking knife is used to scribe the outline of each tail onto the pin board. To improve visibility and follow the lines accurately during cutting, Norman highlights each knife mark with a fine mechanical pencil. This careful marking step is crucial to creating tight-fitting dovetails and avoiding misalignment during the cut.
Chiseling the Pin Sockets
After marking, the pin board is re-clamped in a horizontal position. This allows the woodworker to begin carefully chopping out the pin sockets.
Chiseling is performed with the baseline of the socket kept perfectly square to the jig’s cleat. Norman advises using a combination of vertical chops and horizontal pairing to remove the material cleanly. He underscores the importance of razor-sharp chisels—without them, even good technique can lead to poor results.
Testing and Adjusting the Fit
Hand-cut dovetails almost always require some fine-tuning, especially if you’re still developing your technique. Norman encourages taking your time at this stage, gradually paring away any high spots until the joint fits together snugly.
He also recommends keeping scrap boards handy for practice or for making test cuts before working on the final pieces. This way, you can work through any challenges without sacrificing the main material.
Cleaning Up and Final Details
Once the joint fits properly, Norman focuses on cleanup. One of his favorite finishing techniques is to flip the board and make a final clean pass from the opposite side. This helps remove any leftover fibers or splinters and creates a clean, crisp edge.
Attention to detail in this phase helps distinguish hand-cut dovetails from their machine-made counterparts. It also contributes to tighter glue joints and cleaner finishes once the pieces are assembled.
Developing Your Joinery Skills
What makes this tutorial stand out is Norman’s clear, methodical approach. He doesn’t just show what to do—he explains why it matters, where errors typically happen, and how to avoid them.
With regular practice and the right habits, woodworkers can move beyond basic box joints and begin incorporating dovetails into drawers, boxes, and casework. It’s a skill that pays off in both appearance and durability.
A Valuable Resource for Serious Woodworkers
Hand-cut dovetails represent a level of craftsmanship that many woodworkers aspire to. Norman’s technique, combined with the use of a dovetail jig, bridges the gap between traditional skills and modern consistency.
His process helps take the mystery out of the joint and gives woodworkers a repeatable way to improve their results over time. The focus on careful layout, tool sharpness, and patience makes this video a great resource for anyone looking to step up their joinery game.
Support Norman by visiting his website: https://www.woodskills.com/