Dovetail cutting length

Dovetail cutting length

This topic has 8 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 15 April 2020 at 13:57 by Gary Wooding.

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14 April 2020 at 15:40 #464619
John Brown 18
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@johnbrown18
Is there a relationship between dovetail cutter diameters and cutting length? Most advertised cutters don't seem to specify the cutting length, Stuart Brown
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14 April 2020 at 15:40 #10171
John Brown 18
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@johnbrown18
14 April 2020 at 15:55 #464623
John Haine
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@johnhaine32865
What do you mean by "cutting length"? Looking at e.g. the Arc ones they define a depth of cut, I guess the assumption is that you leave a very small witness of the uncut surface.
14 April 2020 at 16:13 #464629
John Brown 18
Participant
@johnbrown18
Thank you, John. Viewed from the side the cutter is a right angled triangle and by cutting length I mean the vertical side of the triangle. I need a cutter which will give me 7.5mm on this vertical side. Arc cutters don't seem to have this depth but other advertisers don't specify it. I really am a beginner. What is a "very small witness"?
14 April 2020 at 17:27 #464649
John Haine
Participant
@johnhaine32865
Ok, simple trigonometry says that the base of your right angled triangle will be 7.5 tan 30 which is 4.33 mm. So you need a cutter capable of at least this depth of cut.
14 April 2020 at 17:28 #464651
John Haine
Participant
@johnhaine32865
Small witness would be a tiny bit of the vertical surface left.
14 April 2020 at 19:29 #464684
Howard Lewis
Participant
@howardlewis46836
John Brown 18.

4.33 mm is the depth, after the final depth of cut Just in case there is any confusion, it is like eating an elephant, one bite at a time, not all in one!, So think in terms of several passes, taking a little at a time.

Howard
15 April 2020 at 13:50 #464803
John Brown 18
Participant
@johnbrown18
Thanks to both. Much appreciated. The trigonometry is the obvious (with hindsight) answer to my question. I'm off to join the village idiots union.
15 April 2020 at 13:57 #464804
Gary Wooding
Participant
@garywooding25363
John, can you supply a dimensioned sketch of the profile of the dovetail you want to cut?
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