Timber Frame Dovetail Template

Use a template guide that has the same outside diameter as your dovetail bit to make measuring simple.

Timber frame dovetail template.

The dovetail clamping devices are almost always made from a metal base have some form of clamping system and use pressure rods and a comb sometimes called a template for cutting the dovetails. Mill the tenon with the router securely locked into. In fact the arunda dovetail system is a faster way to make strong timber frame systems. Set tenon length with set levers on fence.

It s not hard to fabricate with the arunda jigs. Log dovetail diagram profile front log dovetail diagram profile end log dovetail diagram profile back log dovetail diagram profile complete enter inches as decimal or inch and fraction separated by spaces. 3 75 3 3 4 or 3 3 4 select appropriate angle and overlap to obtain desired log gap. Next clamp your straight edge exactly where you want the sliding dovetail to go.

Adjust the milling depth on the router with the setting gauge on the tenon template only. The cutting is done with the powerful mafell lo 65ec hand router coupled with the arunda dovetail router bit. This is a geometric calculator only. Position router into guide plate with a 90 rotation 4.

The system is comprised of a mortise template and a tenon template. Their system lets you create dovetail mortise and tenons for connecting timber without fasteners. Imagine how solid a floor system with dovetailed floor joists would be. By using a dovetail bit with a template guide and this same setup you can use the straight edge to make the basic sliding dovetail shown above left.

You can chisel out mortise and tenon joints in timbers by hand program a cnc milling machine for the task or you can use lignatool s router system.