The use of dovetails can be traced back millennia to the Egyptians and the ancient Chinese, who used dovetails in their furniture. It is one of the strongest methods of joining two boards together at right angles. If the appearance of dovetails in a piece is not important, then the through dovetail can be employed, which is the simplest method to master.
Several years ago a friend of mine approached me saying that he wanted my help to make a shaker rocking chair. After looking through several reference books, it was clear that in order to get the shape needed for the back legs and the splats we were going to have to bend the wood, a technique I wasn’t terribly familiar with.
Logging and Sawmill Operations in California – 1940s Forest Documentary – A glimpse into the Redwood timber process.
It’s amazing what you can find in your local English carboot sale.