Frank Klausz walks you through the steps to create through and half-blind dovetails for a drawer. There are many ways these joints can be cut, but this is Frank's way - the European Way.
The way he made the horizontal cuts puzzled me. I thought he was using a bow saw with a 1/4" blade, known as a "Schweifsaege" in Germany. Essentially a 60cm coping saw. I tried it with mine and the blade cheerfully continued to cut straight ahead, nix on 90°. So I asked a German master cabinet maker who also teaches woodworking - including an excellent course on dovetailing - to take a look. He pointed out that Frank Klausz is using a special blade in his saw. The blade is known as a "Zinkensaegeblatt (= dovetail blade)" or "Winkelsaegeblatt ( = angle blade)". The first third of the blade has no teeth. After the first third the blade turns 90°. So you put it in vertically, push and suddenly you are cutting horizontally. Obviously the vertical cut has to be wide enough to accommodate the blade, so these were done using a normal bow saw. A kerf on a Japanese saw is too thin for the final cut. If you look at the video and freeze it at 4:00 you can get a good look at the blade. It's a brilliant idea, but it was primarily used for dovetails on door jambs and window frames where the joints are not visible. Because the cuts are so rough - the wood tears on the rear - normally you would never use it for cabinet work or boxes. Frank Klausz and probably 40 years of experience show the exception to the rule. My cabinet maker friend mentioned dovetailing was commonly done in Germany for doors and windows. Within ten minutes three guys could cut, assemble and set a door jamb using dovetails. He also said, as far as he knows, the blades are no longer being made. I researched the tool sites in Germany and could not find them anywhere, but that of course does not mean they are not available. I just haven't found them. I definitely want one of those things, so my best bet will be a flea-market or similar. For any interested souls out there, a good illustration of the blade can be found at: www.woodworking.de/cgi-bin/forum/webbbs_config.pl/md/read/id/2865 or Google on "Zinkensaegeblatt" or "Winkelsaege". Ignore the German and enjoy the illustrations.
It puzzled me too. First I thought he was flipping the saw sideways. Then I thought the blade was merely twisted. I couldn't get why the cuts didn't leave a trace of the blade twisting. Then I checked your link. I see by the illustration, that the teeth start, as you said, at some point perhaps a third down from the distal end and work like a broach. They start out very small and get larger until they are making a full cut. There are true geniuses walking this earth. If each one of them could be placed into his appropriate role in life, it would be a great thing. Thank you for taking the time to research this and for supplying the link.
Anon amous Anon amous OK, I am probably way off base here and it is a very iffy thing to do anyways, but wouldn't this sort do the trick. The vertical is at the top the screen, the 90 twist is the middle in this piece of paper, one would have to remove the red parts. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-F1qsP8qL2q8.html
My wife and I had the opportunity to meet and chat with Frank at a Woodworking show a few years back. As is usually the case, he was surrounded by admiring woodworkers standing there in awe and amazement as he continuously hand cut dovetails of different kinds throughout the show, barely paying attention to the woodworking task, and then tapping together perfect dovetails every time. Yes, he said, "don't force the fit, just get a bigger hammer. And then, poof, a perfect dovetail joint and ensuing applause. My wife was more impressed by his friendliness, and gentlemanly qualities. I was.... just impressed with how he can flawlessly do that time after time. If you watch his videos, he is just as easy going and personable in person . He is a true master craftsman, and a fine gentleman.
This video is my vindication for having never bothered to do dovetails. Today, I learned that I was right, all along. Doing dovetails the way I have previously known IS a terrible waste of time. The most efficient way to make dovetails is to hire Frank. Thanks for sharing!
In over 20 years of woodworking, I have seen many master cabinet makers cut dovetails, but no one I have seen has come close to this man. I tip my hat to you, Mr. Klausz.
this guys puts every other cabinet maker on youtube to shame. holy crap is he fast and exact! even while he's explaining every step. not sure how much anyone is giong to learn from this until they play it at 0.25x, but he sure is amazing to watch.
"That's how I make a 'drahwar'". A simple sentence of intent combined with a lifetime of experience. If ever you need an example of a true master at work, just look at this video! The ease with which your man Frank there marked, cut and finished his stopped and through dovetails is just stupendous. Anyone want to add anything to that? MsG
Thanks for the referral from the podcast Joey. (I think I had seen this scraper trick done more recently, maybe with Rob Cosman selling "his" method - not sure). The part I liked was the bowsaw with the twist in the blade for going from a vertical cut to horizontal in a fraction of a stroke!
Be careful: the harder the wood... you will note he says 'if you are using pine'. Hardwood might split. I still do it, but put a clamp side to side to avoid the splitting...
What a man. Cuts right through the OCD paranoid BS. of the majority of cabinet makers on YT. The frame saw with the twist in the blade is awesome and an easy modification to make. Love the cutting guage with the twist-lock action.So simple.So quick. How lucky we are that Frank has shared this with the World.
That is still pretty much the standard saw used in Europe for all joinery. I should know. I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express one night a few months back.
Not to mention them being a bit lighter than similar length english style saws (depending on styling), WAY thinner and at least as rigid as backsaws. Plus, at least in my experience, the higher balance point is way easier to feel and keep plumb.
Since this video I made about 1000 hand cut dovetails. I feel much faster and competent so I came here to compare my progress. Now I admire the master Klausz more than I did the first time I saw him. Damn he's good!
When I discovered the enthusiastic Frank Krause, dovetails became fun! My dad showed me 40yrs ago dovetailing with a 1/2 inch router bit, confusing because the pins and tails are the same size?! But dad just used dovetails for kitchen cabinet drawers and only for upscale customers. F K widened my woodworking horizons.
F me that man has skills. That is the most impressive dovetailling I ever witnessed. a full shop with routers, jigs etc couldnt beat it unless it was full CNC
What the hell did I just see?... This is going to haunt my nightmares for years to come, I may need to unlearn everything I know about dovetails. Thank you for the video, even though it will haunt me.
This video has literally changed the way I see my shop. It’s late in the evening in northern Canada and I’m about to sneak out to the shop and practice dovetails tonight.
Amaaaazing!! Such a Master generously sharing his expertise...and 83 ppl have given this tutorial the thumbs down?!! Trolls surely...What's not to love? Thank you so much Frank.
Mr. Klausz is amazing. An example of one who can do, teach, and inspire. And perfect English, those of us born into the language could learn that from him too.
I was in awe watching this. I have never seen anyone make a dovetail that easily. I see how that saw helps him so much, but even without it I think he could do it blindfolded.
Frank, I grew up in a wood working family. My father was a boat builder with his own set of tricks he learned over the years. I must say that I’ve never seen a drawer come together as quick as what you have done. You sir, I take my hat off for. You make me look like a rank amateur. I am most humbled and enlightened by hour video. Thank you for sharing your skills.
Mr. Klausz, I have seen this video many times and at long last, after doing dovetails for many years I have long enjoyed doing the layout by eye. I lived in France for over 13 years and most if not all the dovetailing I have seen is not only very old and still in place but randomly laid out as if by eye. I have all the jigs and marking angles but I love very narrow pins and now I too do Pins First. Thank You, Maestro
I have watched this video before and I have enjoyed it the second time as much as the first. I did my apprenticeship 61 years ago and I was taught to cut dovetails your way. But I was also taught to keep the back 5 or 6 mm down from the sides. That prevents the back ever rubbing on top. But I could never compare my skills with yours. RESPECT!!! from down under.
Sir you are not only a MASTER Craftsman you are a true Gentlman. Thank kindly for sharing, but more importantly for allowing this mere mortal be awed, astounded and mesmerised by your unlimited ability. Truly one of the finest Craftsman I have witnessed to date. God Bless you Good Sir, cheers Les 🙈🙉🙊
Amazing craftmanship, the saw that changed angle/direction mid-cut really made my day. So refreshing to see dovetails done by hand without the need for a router with a jig. But on the other hand, you then need quality saws and chisels instead.
It's always a pleasure to watch a master craftsman at work. So many things in this video that got my attention. His workbench alone is fine furniture and he makes it look so effortless. I'm amused at the number of people who have disliked this video. I bet they are people that have just spent big money on a fancy dovetail jig, only to find doing dovetails by hand can be learned and they can be done in the amount of time it takes to set up the jig.
As I watch this video again and watch you pencil in the pins for the tails, I think of all the EXTRA moves to make the very precise dovetails with all the do-dads such as chiseling in a small step to register the pinboard to the tails to scrub in with a knife the pins. and even before all of that all the various scribing angel guides for the layout of the tails and pins and on and on with all the gizmos and yet your method is sooooo easy and simple and much fewer operations to do and use just to get to the same finish where your method is so fast and exact as you want to make it WITHOUT all the jig, things to do with all the do-dads that all the other dovetail specialist use and tells everyone that we need to make good dovetails. Perhaps it is all due to Commercialism. BRAVO MAESTRO
Mr. Klauz: I am one of your BIGGEST fans and I truly hold you up higher than high. Some try to imitate you only, they will never be as great as you are . I have been a woodworker since I started turning on a lathe at 5. I am 56 now. I can cut dovetails now exactly like you by eye, and if it wasn't for you and you passing on your knowledge I definitely would not be able to do them. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I really do admire your work. Your BIGGEST fan Thankyou once again
I really need one of those saws! And a bigger hammer. What an amazing and talented man! Watching him gives a false sense of ease- because I can go out and try to confidently emulate the exact same steps. But my unevenly-spaced dovetails will look like something a rodent chewed on.
I've seen videos by this person before. He's amazing. Very fast as well, no wasted motion. This is what 50-60 years of cabinet making experience looks like.
Sir your methods and skills are amazing, you certainly make it look easy, love the simple and direct teaching approach. I could sit and watch you and Paul sellers all day…but I wouldn’t get nothing done if I did. Until next time take care and God bless.
It was always my question that in the past when the woodworkers had no any table saw, band saw, Jig saw or even sanders how they made a beautiful stuff or furniture? Today, I've found all of my answer just by this very worthiness video!! I love your job and your tools!! You did it supper fast and clean??!! this is exactly what I'm looking for! Thank you very much to sharing that with us.
I have heard the words, "I am a craftsman" in many videos but I dare say that in regards to Sir Klausz I've only heard the words, "He is a craftsman!" Truly a master of his craft...the Michael Jordan, the Tom Brady, the Tiger Woods of "wood." Mr Klausz, spending time watching your mastery is a pleasure to which I have nothing to compare. You're simply an amazing talent that will likely never be equalled. Thank you for sharing your passion and your expertise with us mere mortals...
Fantastic, best dovetail system I’ve ever seen. I will use this from now on . I can save a lot of time not measuring and setting out and wasting half my day.Thanks Frank.
This man is a true legend. All them self decleared popular - pun intended - woodworkers with their dovetail templates and routers can learn something here.
An amazing expert that so clearly explains his methods! I'm amazed he can cut dovetails by hand faster than most of us could set up the best router jig! Thank you for your craft, Frank. Seeing that it can be done makes me believe I can do it with some practice.
Frank is a master, to those that said he doesn't know what he is doing, they are no where near the truth. To the Master Frank Klausz, Thank You for sharing your talent and skills.
«If it is too tight don’t force it, get a bigger hammer.» 😋 epic statement. In my workshop there is not a single hammer «big» enough to allow me to get even close to craftmanship like this. 🤗 My hat goes off to you Sir, and I bow down deep in the sawdust to your excellence.
Incroyable. Je suis resté bouche bée devant tant de maitrise. Comme le dis un commentaires, brulez le ! c'est de la magie... Je regarde mes machines et une envie folle de les bruler me prends... Une grande leçon par un monsieur charmant.
hear him mention he's going to use a router.. thinking yeah a router plane, sure. Nope! a full-on modern day Bosch router haha. that was a great surprise to see. Very nice video
.... and was sitting here with open mouth and forgot to chew my cookie...... and thought ....... this must be a trick...... no...... it's a master...... a master of black art...... this must be it...... Then i waked up. My wife cried from back 'what you are doing there?'.I was 10cm away from the monitor.
